Sharing some of its underlying DNA with the popular RAV4, this luxury SUV takes the formula to a whole new level. From the moment you step inside, the difference is clear, plush materials, hushed cabin acoustics, and an attention to detail that elevates every drive.
It’s not just about comfort, though. This model delivers a refined, composed ride, advanced driver-assistance features, and a premium infotainment system that makes long trips effortless. The powertrain options balance smooth performance with impressive efficiency, ensuring you get more than just style for your money.
For buyers willing to spend a bit more, the rewards are tangible. You’re not simply upgrading from a mainstream SUV, you’re stepping into a vehicle that offers an entirely different ownership experience, blending everyday practicality with the sophistication and prestige of a true luxury brand.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed and the EPA. This article focuses on the gas-only versions of both the RX and the RAV4.
The 2025 Lexus RX Is a Fantastic Luxury Compact SUV Packed With Value
The RAV4 is the best-selling SUV in the United States, and the third best-selling vehicle overall. This is because of the fantastic value for money that it offers. However, if you're looking for something similar but more luxurious, Lexus offers the equally impressive RX 350, a luxury crossover that has been around forever, delivering excellent value for money.
2025 Trims and Pricing
If you were to get the latest RAV4, you would spend anywhere between $31,000 and $39,305 for the gas model. This means that there is quite a large premium for the Lexus model. However, the luxury brand justifies this jump in price with a plethora of standard features and a much plusher cabin, offering a much more luxurious experience overall. Both the Toyota and the Lexus can be had with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, but we focus on the gas-only models in this article.
The luxury compact SUV segment is easily the most competitive area of the luxury market. This means that though Lexus is usually the most affordable option by a large margin, the RX is priced pretty similarly to its rivals. If you're looking for something a little sportier, there are definitely better options, but if comfort, reliability, and tech are your priorities, the Lexus is easily a top contender.
While the base model definitely comes pretty well-equipped, we would jump up the trim ladder a bit to find the best model. We think that the Premium+ offers the best bang-for-your-buck, coming with fine leather upholstery, an available heads-up display, and an upgraded infotainment screen.
What's New For 2025
Lexus has added trim levels to the 2025 RX, splitting the F Sport model into F Sport Design and F Sport Handling models. The former features a number of sporty aesthetic elements, while the F Sport Handling model comes with a number of performance upgrades, including an adaptive variable suspension and six-piston front calipers.
Warranty and Maintenance
Limited Warranty: Four Years or 50,000 Miles
Powertrain Warranty: Six Years or 70,000 Miles
Complimentary Maintenance: One Year or 10,000 Miles
Compared to its rivals, the RX's warranty coverage is above average. While the bumper-to-bumper coverage is about on par with what you'd find on its competitors, the powertrain warranty on offer is better than most. The only luxury automaker offering a better powertrain warranty is Genesis, with a ten-year, 100,000-mile plan. Other options do come with more complimentary maintenance, though.
You Get a Much More Comfortable and Tech-Focused Cabin In the Lexus RX
While the RAV4 has certainly come a long way from its roots as a bare-bones compact SUV, it still takes a uniquely utilitarian approach to interior design. Lexus, on the other hand, offers luxury that is on par with any of its direct rivals, loading the RX with high-quality materials and modern technology.
Interior Dimensions and Comfort
Compared to the Toyota RAV4, the Lexus RX has pretty similar interior dimensions, with the main difference being that the RAV4 has a slightly larger cargo hold. The RX still offers plenty of room for passengers in the front or the back seats and enough room in the trunk for plenty of luggage or groceries.
The Lexus definitely kicks things up a notch when it comes to interior design, with a more appealing cabin regardless of which model you opt for. This generation is also a huge improvement over the previous one, with a much more contemporary feel and better materials used throughout. Things like open-pore wood trim help elevate the cabin that little bit further. Features like ambient interior lighting, tri-zone climate control, and heated and ventilated seats in the front and back further distinguish it from the RAV4.
Infotainment and Technology
The technology on offer in the Lexus RX is another big distinguishing factor between it and its mainstream cousin. Standard is a 9.8-inch infotainment screen mounted in the middle of the dashboard. A 14-inch screen is available instead, though. A digital gauge display is also standard kit.
Features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Cloud-based navigation, Wi-Fi, and a built-in voice assistant come with the upgraded infotainment system. While the standard sound system isn't bad, audiophiles will definitely want to upgrade to the 21-speaker Mark Levinson system instead.
A Much More Powerful Engine Sits Under the Hood of the Lexus RX
The Toyota RAV4 is built around being pretty simple and practical transportation. This means that the engine under the hood is efficient but not very powerful. Lexus definitely kicks things up a notch in the RX. While it won't be competing with top rivals when it comes to sportiness, it is definitely peppier than the Toyota.
2025 Performance Specifications
While the Toyota RAV4 comes with a naturally aspirated four-cylinder, the RX gets a more powerful turbocharged unit that puts out 72 more horses than its mainstream sibling. Both come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive standard, with all-wheel drive being optional on most models. If you're looking for a boost in performance, the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of both crossovers are quite a bit quicker.
The best way to describe the driving experience of the RAV4 is dull. Its ride quality is good without being excellent, and it is responsive while cornering without being sporty. Even in F Sport Guise, the Lexus doesn't do that much better when it comes to performance, but ride quality is night and day, with the RX offering a plush ride that is about as good as it gets if luxury is what you're after.
Fuel Economy Estimates
The additional power and performance on offer in the Lexus does come at the cost of efficiency, with the RAV4 being much lighter on fuel. However, we think that the trade-off, in terms of performance to fuel economy, is definitely worth it and that buyers in the luxury segment won't mind all that much.
If efficiency is what you're after, the hybrid RX 350h is the way to go, with a rating of 36 miles per gallon combined. It still falls short of the hybrid RAV4, though, which manages 39 miles per gallon combined.
Safety and Driver Assist Features
Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
Automatic High Beams
Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto-Braking
Lexus packs the RX with a ton of standard safety and driver-assist features, with every model coming with what the brand calls Lexus Safety System+ 3.0. Plenty of collision detection and avoidance systems come standard as does adaptive cruise control with stop and go for driving in congested traffic. The NHTSA also awards the crossover five stars out of five for safety.
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