The new Lexus RX 350 SUV at $46,645 MSRP is one of the best-selling luxury SUVs in the U.S. with top marks from critics, but Acura’s MDX and the BMW X5 are tough competitors.
QUICK LOOK
- For more power, try the Acura MDX, Benz GLE 580, or Audi Q7.
- For off-roading, try the Land Rover Defender.
- For FWD with front and rear parking sensors, try the Porsche Cayenne.
- For more seating capacity, try the Volvo XC90.
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 within the SUV segment.
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 to buy or lease, 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. While this is where the RX 350’s performance stops, the MDX offers its high-powered, 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with the MDX Type S.
An MDX Type S gets 355 horsepower but it loses a bit of fuel efficiency compared to its non-turbo alternative, which gets about the same fuel efficiency as the 2022 RX 350.
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 on price point with 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. However, 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.
For the most power, upgrade to the 362-horsepower 3.0-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 Midsize Luxury SUV category, and it’s well-deserved for both the 2022 and 2023 models. 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 three-row, less cargo space
The Audi Q7 offers seven seats, but truthfully, the rear legroom is pretty snug. That, along with reduced cargo space, is due to its overall smaller size compared to other Lexus RX crossover competitors.
The base engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine 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—although Lexus beats Audi when it comes to safety ratings.
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 with its V6 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—or less if you lease.
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 four-cylinder inline 2.0-liter 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. While the RX 350 has all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option, it just can’t compete for serious off-roading.
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, cargo space (60.3 cubic feet), 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Lexus RX 350 | $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 |
| 2023 Acura MDX | $49,195 to $72,700 | V6 or turbo V6 | 7 seats | 95 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 19/26/22 mpg |
| 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class | $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 |
| 2022 BMW X5 | $61,595 to $84,095 | Turbo I-6, twin-turbo V8 | 7 seats | 72.3 cubic ft | 7200 lb | 21/26/23 mpg |
| 2023 Audi Q7 | $58,695 to $95,590 | four-cylinder | 5 seats | 69.6 cubic ft | 7000 lb | 20/25/22 mpg |
| 2022 Land Rover Discovery | $56,350 to $71,650 | Four-cylinder or inline-six | 7 seats | 8200 lbs | 19/22/21 mpg | |
| 2022 Porsche Cayenne | $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 |
Note that the base RX 350 gets just gasoline power delivered to an exciting 3.5-liter V6 engine, but there are hybrid options now, too. Plus, in 2023, the Lexus RX is entering a new generation, swapping the base V6 engine out for a turbocharged inline-4.
The 2023 RX 350 is a two-row, five-seat vehicle. The powertrain includes standard eight-speed automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive.
Standard features of the new RX include blind spot monitoring, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise control, and intelligent high beams. There’s also available parking assist, optional 14-inch infotainment system (if you want something bigger than the base 9.8-inch screen), and optional head-up display.
If you’re committed to the RX 350 but want something better, test drive the F Sport Performance trim. You’ll get more bolstering in the front seats, paddle shifters on the steering wheel, and aluminum pedals.
Of course, there are other competitors we didn’t include on this list that may offer features you like better. If you’ve exhausted your options, try the Infiniti QX60 (more towing capacity), Toyota Highlander (more seats), Lincoln Nautilus (more space), or Cadillac XT5 (more affordable).
Learn more: How to get car insurance before buying a car
Cameron Thiessen is an insurance writer specializing in car and home insurance. Cam has written over 450 articles to deliver engaging content on car insurance and current issues. Cam’s expertise spans vehicle maintenance, licensing, and insurance coverage topics, with a dash of DIY repairs. Before joining Jerry’s editorial team, Cam worked as a research assistant and made written contributions to independent news outlets such as the Mars’ Hill Newspaper.
Jessica Barrett is a senior insurance writer and editor with 10 years of experience in the automotive and travel industries. A specialist in car insurance, car loans, and car ownership, Jessica’s mission is to create comprehensive content that car owners can use to manage their costs and improve their lives. As a managing editor for a team of writers and insurance specialists, Jessica has edited over 2,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from local insurance shopping tips to refinancing car loans with bad credit. Before joining Jerry as a senior content editor in 2021, Jessica created visual content for clients such as Expedia, Vivid Seats, Budget Direct Car Insurance, Angie’s List, and HomeAdvisor. Her content was published in Business Insider, Forbes, Apartment Therapy, and the BBC.
