8 Top Lexus RX 350 Competitors
The Lexus RX 350 is one of the most affordable luxury midsize SUVs on the new market, competing with models like the Genesis GV80 and the Acura MDX.
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Now one of the top-selling luxury SUVs in the U.S., the Lexus RX 350 SUV has been a constant success over the course of its production history. In fact, it often receives top marks from critics as one of the best luxury midsize crossover/SUVs on the market. But the RX 350 has tough competition from models like the Genesis GV80 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350.
The 2022 Lexus RX 350 offers plenty of value, with a starting price of $46,645—one of the lowest prices in its class. The RX 450 models offer more fuel-efficient hybrid options, while the 350 gets just gasoline power delivered to an exciting 3.5-liter V6 engine. The 2023 Lexus RX is entering a new generation, swapping the base V6 engine out for a turbocharged inline-4.
Before you decide on an RX 350 right away, why not look through your other options with
Jerry
, the car insurance
comparison super app, as we discuss our very favorite models among the Lexus RX 350’s competitors—and how to get the best Lexus RX 350 car insurance
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1. Genesis GV80
Starting price: $51,295 to $78,295
Selling points: Similar starting price, great performance, top safety ratings
Weak spot: No hybrid, tight third row, no sport performance packages
The Genesis GV80 may not be quite as affordable as the RX 350, but its 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine manages to match the performance of the V6 engine on the
Lexus
in pretty much every way. The GV80 gets 300 horsepower and a city/highway fuel economy of 21/25 mpg compared to the RX 350’s 295 horsepower and 20/28 mpg.The GV80 also has an optional third row for smaller passengers, along with a better engine upgrade option, sporting a 375-horsepower 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6. Yes, this is as sporty as it gets for the Genesis GV80—sportier still than the Lexus, and keeping up quite ably in terms of luxury, performance, and overall cost.
2. Acura MDX
Starting price: $49,195 to $72,700 (2023)
Selling points: Same price range, loads of luxury tech, more fun to drive
Weak spot: No hybrid, annoying touchscreen
The 2023
Acura MDX
is now available, and it’s decidedly more enjoyable to drive than the Lexus RX 350. The base MDX has a similar 3.5-liter V6 to the Lexus with 290 horsepower, but while this is about where the RX 350’s performance stops, the MDX offers its high-powered, 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with the MDX Type S.A Type S gets 355 horsepower but does lose a bit of fuel efficiency compared to its non-turbo alternative, which gets about the same fuel efficiency as the 2022 RX 350.
MORE:
Acura MDX V6
3. Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Starting price: $57,200 to $81,200
Selling points: Tons of options, great sport options
Weak spot: Tight optional third row, expensive
The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class realistically can’t compete with the price points of the Lexus and its top two competitors, but it does offer something you simply can’t get from them—high-level sport performance.
The
GLE 350
’s base-level 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine offers less horsepower than the RX—only 255 ponies, but climb up the list of options, and you could end up with a GLE 580 4Matic with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that manages to get 483 horsepower while maintaining a city/highway fuel economy of 17/22 mpg. You’d do well to at least upgrade to the 362-horsepower3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 with EQ Boost for the GLE 450. 4. BMW X5
Starting price: $61,595 to $84,095
Selling points: Top of its class in many areas
Weak spot: Quite a bit more expensive
The
BMW X5
won a Car and Driver Editors Choice Award in the Mid-Size Luxury SUV category, and it’s well-deserved. This is pretty much everything you could want in this sort of vehicle, especially if you’re already partial to BMWs.The X5 is a 5-door SUV that comes with 3 engine options. The
X5 sDrive40i
and xDrive40i
models come with a straight-six that puts out 335 hp, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) xDrive45e gets a combined 389 hp from its straight-six and electric motors, and the M50i
has a twin-turbo V-8 that gets an amazing 523 hp. That’s great power no matter which option you choose!5. Audi Q7
Starting price: $58,695 to $95,590 (2023)
Selling points: Great overall driving experience, great standard tech
Weak spot: Tight third row, less cargo space
The
Audi Q7
does offer seven seats, but truthfully, the rear is pretty snug. That, along with reduced cargo space, is due to its overall smaller size compared to other Lexus RX competitors. The base engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 on the 45 TFSI paired with a 12-volt soft hybrid system, but it hasn’t yet been rated by the EPA for fuel economy.As a 55 TFSI, the Audi Q7 gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 329 horsepower, but the engine options don’t stop there. Upgrading to an SQ7 bumps the price up over $90,000, getting you into supercar territory with a 500-horsepower 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that can accelerate from 0-60 in just 3.5 seconds.
If you’re looking for high-level performance with your luxury SUV, the SQ7 will beat out the majority of the Lexus RX’s competitors.
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6. Volvo XC90
Starting price: $51,995 to $72,195
Selling points: Proper luxury, plug-in hybrid option
Weak spot: Middling ride quality, gas engine is loud.
The
Volvo XC90
doesn’t offer anything by way of supercar-level performance, but if that’s not something you were planning on shelling extra for anyway, then the XC90 is a great alternative to the Lexus RX 350.It receives a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, same as the Lexus, and it’s one of the options on this list that still just fits about $5,000 pricier than the RX 350.
7. Land Rover Defender
Starting price: $53,650 to $112,750 (2023)
Selling points: Top-level off-road capability, established history
Weak spot: Mediocre fuel efficiency, expensive top trims
The
Land Rover
Defender has been around for 30 years now, and the newest iteration is the most off-road-ready of all Land Rovers that have come before. The 2023 Defender sports a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 with 296 horsepower, but a 518-horsepower supercharged V-8 is available if you’re willing to pay just over $100,000.The Land Rover Defender is decidedly a different animal than the Lexus RX’s other competitors, in that it strives to offer serious off-road competence. The majority of the vehicles on this list would not be able to wade in deep water, but that’s something the Defender literally has a special air suspension mode for. It can increase its ground clearance up to 11.5 inches and crawl through 35 inches of water, making it one of the best choices out there for off-road SUVs in this price range.
The Defender also deserves praise for its on-road performance, offering a much smoother and more enjoyable ride on highways and in cities than many of its more off-road-tuned competitors.
8. Porsche Cayenne
Starting price: $70,350 to $110,350
Selling points: 7,700-pound towing capacity, Porsche-quality engine performance
Weak spot: Porsche-level price point, firm ride
While its starting price may be a deterrent for folks initially considering a Lexus RX, the
Porsche Cayenne
deserves a mention in the luxury midsize SUV category, as it’s by far one of the best of the RX’s competitors in terms of performance, style, and all-out luxury.The base engine on the Cayenne is a 355-horsepower turbocharged V6, but there are twin-turbo V6 and V8 options also available. The most powerful engine, the V8, gets 460 horsepower, while a plug-in hybrid option offers up a competitive 455 horsepower.
Lexus RX 350 vs. the competition
Interested in how all these models’ specs compare? We made you this handy table to help decide between them.
Model | Starting price range | Engine options | Maximum seating capacity | Maximum cargo volume | Maximum towing capacity | Fuel economy (city/highway/combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$46,995 to $59,185 | V6 | 7 seats | 56.3 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 20/28/23 mpg | |
2022 Genesis GV80 | $51,295 to $78,295 | Turbo I-4 or twin-turbo V6 | 7 seats | 84 cubic ft | 6000 lb | 21/25/22 mpg |
$49,195 to $72,700 | V6 or turbo V6 | 7 seats | 95 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 19/26/22 mpg | |
$57,200 to $81,200 | Turbo I-4, turbo I-6, twin-turbo V8 | 7 seats | 74.9 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 21/27/22 mpg | |
$61,595 to $84,095 | Turbo I-6, twin-turbo V8 | 7 seats | 72.3 cubic ft | 7200 lb | 21/26/23 mpg | |
$58,695 to $95,590 | four-cylinder | 5 seats | 69.6 cubic ft | 7000 lb | 20/25/22 mpg | |
$58,695 to $95,590 | four-cylinder | 5 seats | 69.6 cubic ft | 7000 lb | 20/25/22 mpg | |
$56,350 to $71,650 | Four-cylinder or inline-six | 7 seats | 8200 lbs | 19/22/21 mpg | ||
$70,350 to $110,350 | turbo V6, turbo V6 hybrid, twin-turbo V6, twin-turbo V8, twin-turbo V8 hybrid | 5 seats | 60.3 cubic ft | 2948 lb | 17/22/20 mpg |
How to compare car insurance quotes in under a minute
So there you have it! Now you know how the Lexus RX 350 shapes up against the competition as one of the top-value luxury midsize SUVs on the market. And if you’re planning on getting a premium SUV of your own, you should absolutely try shopping for your car insurance policy with
Jerry
!Jerry makes finding cheap car insurance for your SUV easier than ever, and it’s designed to save you money! You can use the
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