2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a blunt nose, long hood, rakish windshield, and a cabin pulled back toward the rear wheels, showcasing the subtle seductiveness that has characterized Mazda’s cars and SUVs for the past decade. However, the CX-50 conveyed newfound ruggedness with blistered and boxed fender swells, lower body and wheel arch cladding, and fake front and rear skidplates. Oversized air intake and vent designs imparted performance without offending the eye.

When paired with the CX-50’s standard black grille and mirror caps and the available 20-inch wheels, these exterior design elements came together in an appealing way. The new CX-50 Meridian Edition joined the lineup with exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform. Inside, the CX-50’s interior displayed Mazda’s traditional mix of driver-focused design, quality materials, and polished metallic trim. Despite a few design quirks, the new Mazda CX-50 was a good-looking compact crossover.

Lexus invited us to Santa Barbara, California, to drive the redesigned 2023 RX models. The RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid versions of the new SUV were the focus of this review. The RX 350h Luxury test vehicle, equipped with attractive 21-inch wheels, looked identical to the standard RX 350, lacking any hybrid-specific badges or design elements. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, however, distinguished itself with a blacked-out grille, matte-black 21-inch wheels, and more aggressive bumper designs.

Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner, more minimalistic appearance with fewer switches and a new Lexus Interface infotainment system. The RX 350h Luxury test vehicle featured beautiful Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim. Despite some design quirks, the new RX models offered a contemporary and luxurious look and feel.

Most Mazda CX-50 buyers likely chose the more affordable and fuel-efficient 2.5 S model, which had a 187 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 lb-ft of torque, delivered to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda believed this base-engine version would return 27 mpg in combined driving. For those seeking stronger acceleration and increased towing capacity, the CX-50 2.5 Turbo offered a turbocharged version of the standard engine, producing between 227 hp and 256 hp depending on the fuel used, with torque varying between 310 lb-ft and 320 lb-ft.

The CX-50 Turbo provided smooth, sweet acceleration across a broad power curve, with no noticeable turbo lag. Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes worked with the SUV’s G-Vectoring Control technology to ensure natural vehicle behavior. The CX-50 felt firmer in terms of ride quality compared to the CX-5, and it handled off-roading situations well, though it lacked a downhill assist control system. The CX-50 2.5 Turbo’s towing capability was impressive, handling a 3,500-pound load with ease.

Previously, the Lexus RX 450h had a hybrid powertrain using a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 308 hp and returning up to 30 mpg in combined driving. The new 2023 RX 350h was expected to be more efficient, averaging 36 mpg in combined driving, but it was less powerful, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque. The RX 350h accelerated to 60 mph in about 7.4 seconds.

The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, produced 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. However, it was expected to get no better than 27 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance offered a dynamic driving experience with its adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering, though it fell short of its estimated fuel economy rating, averaging 20.9 mpg.

The RX 350h, on the other hand, averaged 32 mpg and felt more secure in curves and less busy on uneven pavement. The hybrid powertrain provided instant electric motor torque, a quiet cabin, and good gas mileage, making it a preferred choice over the standard RX 350.

The fully equipped CX-50 2.5 Turbo had power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. The ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control effectively chilled the cabin. The driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat were comfortable for long drives, though they could use more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy enough for adults, with rear air vents and charging ports.

Storage space in the CX-50 was adequate, though Mazda missed opportunities to include additional bins. The available smartphone charger had a convenient slot under the center armrest. The power rear liftgate revealed 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, with a maximum of 56.3 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The RX 350h Luxury trim featured ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone automatic climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The hybrids’ battery packs were housed underneath the back seat, resulting in excellent leg support but tight rear headroom.

The new RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, a significant improvement over the old model. However, it still fell short compared to some rivals.

Every CX-50 had a Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The base 2.5 S had an 8.8-inch display, while other trims included a larger 10.25-inch display. Mazda Connect historically lacked touchscreen control, but the 2023 CX-50 offered touchscreen control for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system delivered a satisfying audio experience, and the Active Driving Display provided useful data within the driver’s line of sight.

The 2023 Lexus RX received a new infotainment system, the Lexus Interface, which required activation of connected services plans after the complimentary trial subscriptions expired. The system included a cloud-based navigation system, Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The touchscreen’s size was appreciated, but it could only display one screen menu at a time, and it suffered from reflections. The head-up display and dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel had usability issues, especially for drivers wearing polarized sunglasses.

Mazda typically rated high for safety, and the CX-50 was expected to excel in crash tests. It came with a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The driving assistance systems worked well, though the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting into the gap ahead.

Every 2023 RX came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included new features like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. The RX also had Proactive Driving Assist, which maintained a safe following distance and recharged the battery pack through regenerative braking. The front cross-traffic alert system and curve-speed reduction tech had some irritations, and the driver monitoring system could be blocked by a driver’s forearm. The new Traffic Jam Assist system allowed low-speed, hands-free driving, and Advanced Park was available as a semi-autonomous parking technology.