2021 Honda CR-V vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2021 Honda CR-V was often criticized for its lack of distinctive styling, blending in with the sea of compact crossovers on the market. Its design was functional rather than flashy, with only minor details like the grille and some chrome accents setting it apart. The color palette was limited, with more vibrant options reserved for higher trims, making it challenging to find a CR-V in anything other than the standard shades of gray, black, or white. Inside, the CR-V offered a modern look with angular seat designs and a choice of cloth or leather upholstery, depending on the trim. However, competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson were noted for offering more distinctive styling, especially in mid-tier trims.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX stood out with its aggressive and modern design, especially after its 2020 facelift. The RX's sharp character lines and angular features gave it a sporty appearance, particularly in the F Sport trim, which added unique styling elements like 20-inch wheels and a distinctive front fascia. The RX offered a range of paint options, including new additions like Cloudburst Gray and Grecian Water for the F Sport. Inside, the RX maintained a luxurious feel with a variety of color combinations and high-quality materials. The F Sport trim added a sporty touch with specific badging and Scored Aluminum accents. Despite its dated center stack design, the RX's interior was praised for its comfort and high-quality materials.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was equipped with a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine across all trims, excluding the hybrid variants. It delivered smooth and steady acceleration, taking about 7.8 seconds to reach 60 mph. While not the fastest in its class, it was competitive with other crossovers. The CR-V featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which provided a consistent driving experience but lacked the engagement of conventional transmissions found in competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The CR-V's suspension setup, consisting of a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear, offered decent handling and ride quality.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower, while the hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with electric motors for a total of 308 hp. Both models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard on the RX 350 and all-wheel drive available. The RX hybrid was exclusively all-wheel drive. Despite its sporty appearance, the RX's performance was underwhelming, with a lackluster engine note and sluggish acceleration. The F Sport trim added performance dampers and an adaptive variable suspension, but the differences between drive modes were minimal. The RX excelled in comfort and cabin quietness, making it a pleasant companion for long drives. Fuel efficiency varied, with the RX 350 achieving 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, while the RX 450h hybrid offered 30 mpg combined.

The 2021 Honda CR-V prioritized functionality, offering 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. It provided ample room for five passengers and their gear, with various tailgate options depending on the trim. The top-tier Touring trim featured a hands-free power tailgate, while roof rails were standard only on this trim. The CR-V's design focused on practicality, making it a reliable choice for families.

The 2022 Lexus RX offered 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in its two-row configuration, comfortably seating four adults. The three-row L models had limited space, suitable mainly for short trips. Cargo space in the standard RX was 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 32.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The RX L models had less cargo space due to the third row. The RX featured thoughtful interior design elements, such as a smartphone slot and adjustable-height cup holders, but the cargo area had a high load-in height due to the sporty bumper design.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a basic 5-inch screen with Bluetooth, while other trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The audio system varied by trim, with the Touring offering a 300-watt system with a subwoofer. Charging ports were abundant, with USB and 12-volt outlets throughout the cabin. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger and satellite navigation.

The 2022 Lexus RX came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch version available. The touchscreen's positioning was criticized for being ergonomically unfriendly, with a lip obstructing access to icons. The RX offered voice commands and a touchpad, though the latter was frustrating to use. Despite these issues, the RX boasted a range of tech features, including six USB ports, wireless charging, and premium audio systems. The Lexus App provided additional connectivity options, such as remote engine start and vehicle settings.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It featured the Honda Sensing system as standard, offering advanced safety features like forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was blind spot monitoring, which became standard on the EX trim and above.

The 2022 Lexus RX included the Lexus Safety System 2.0+ as standard, with features like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and a pre-collision system. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The RX was an IIHS Top Safety Pick with optional triple-beam LED headlights but missed the top-tier "plus" designation due to headlight ratings. It received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash tests.