2023 BMW X7 vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Lexus RX continued to impress with its modern and sporty design, maintaining the aggressive styling that set it apart from competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X5. The RX was available in several trims, including the base 350, F Sport, and L, with a hybrid option in the RX 450h. The F Sport trim, in particular, stood out with its athletic appearance, featuring 20-inch wheels, black-housing mirrors, and a unique front fascia. The interior of the RX mirrored its exterior's luxury appeal, offering a variety of color combinations and materials, with the F Sport adding a sporty touch with Scored Aluminum trim and NuLuxe synthetic leather. Despite its high-quality materials, the RX's interior design felt a bit dated, with an abundance of buttons and a center stack that hadn't seen a redesign in years. Comfort was a mixed bag, with the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport trim lacking cushioning and lumbar support, making it challenging to find an ideal driving position.

In contrast, the 2023 BMW X7 received a mid-cycle makeover, adopting a bolder design inspired by the BMW 7 Series sedan. The front end featured LED accent lights and a recessed headlight design, which was polarizing due to its oversized kidney grille. While the front-end styling was controversial, the sides and rear remained largely unchanged, offering a more cohesive look. The interior saw significant updates, with a curved glass housing for the digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen, and a more elemental dashboard design. The X7's interior materials were of premium quality, with supple leather upholstery and a new Sensafin synthetic substitute. However, some glossy wood and carbon fiber trim choices caused harsh reflections, making the matte and open-pore wood alternatives more appealing. Overall, the X7's interior revisions gave it a modern and elegant appearance, despite the divisive exterior design.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h combined a V6 with two electric motors for a total of 308 hp. All RX models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard on the RX 350 and all-wheel drive available. The hybrid RX came exclusively with AWD. Despite the F Sport designation, the RX's performance was underwhelming, with an engine note more akin to a turbocharged four-cylinder and lackluster acceleration. The F Sport Handling package added features like an adaptive variable suspension and sport steering, but the differences between drive modes were minimal. The RX excelled in comfort and cabin quietness, absorbing road imperfections with ease. Fuel efficiency for the RX 350 was rated at 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, while the RX 450h hybrid achieved 30 mpg combined.

The 2023 BMW X7 lineup started with the xDrive40i model, featuring a new 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The X7 M60i model upgraded to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with a similar hybrid system, delivering 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Despite its nearly 6,000-pound weight, the X7 handled well on the road, with potent acceleration from the V8 and adequate performance from the base six-cylinder. The X7's handling was limited by its weight and ride height, but it remained composed and instilled confidence. Ride comfort was slightly firmer than some competitors, reflecting BMW's focus on engaging driving dynamics. Overall, the X7 offered a good blend of performance and comfort.

The 2022 Lexus RX offered 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in its standard two-row configuration, comfortably accommodating four adults. The three-row L models shared the same wheelbase, resulting in limited space for the third row, suitable mainly for groceries. 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 three-row version offered only 7.45 cubic feet with all seats upright, increasing to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down. The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

The 2023 BMW X7 excelled in interior space, with ample room for second-row passengers and an airy feel enhanced by large windows and a sunroof. Accessing the third row required some patience, but once there, it provided adequate head- and legroom for average-sized adults. Cargo space behind the third row was 12.8 cubic feet, expanding to 48.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The X7's split tailgate and adjustable suspension made loading cargo easier, and with the middle seats folded, capacity reached 90.4 cubic feet. Front-seat passengers enjoyed ample storage space, including a large center console bin with a wireless charging pad.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with an 8-inch touchscreen display as standard, with a 12.3-inch version available. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the screen's positioning was ergonomically unfriendly, with a lip obstructing access to icons. The infotainment system was responsive, but the touchpad controller was frustratingly hypersensitive. The RX offered a range of tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, and a WiFi hotspot. The Lexus App allowed for remote engine start and vehicle settings customization.

The 2023 BMW X7 featured the latest iDrive infotainment system, which, despite its intuitive layout, had moved many functions to the touchscreen, complicating basic operations. Voice commands offered some relief, but the lack of physical buttons for frequently used features was a drawback. The X7's infotainment system was less user-friendly than previous iterations, with a maze of settings for functions like seat heating and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 Lexus RX was equipped with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, and a pre-collision system. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a head-up display. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS when equipped with optional triple-beam LED headlights, but it missed the top-tier "plus" designation due to its headlight rating. The NHTSA awarded the RX four stars overall, with five stars in side crash tests.

The 2023 BMW X7's safety features included frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and adaptive headlights. The M60i trim added a surround-view camera system, with options for adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The X7's highway driving assist feature reduced driver fatigue on long trips. While crash test results were unavailable, BMW's reputation and comprehensive safety features provided confidence in passenger protection.