Lexus RX 350 vs Toyota Highlander

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LEXUS RX 350 VS TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: SUV DIMENSIONS

It’s no surprise that driving an SUV offers several benefits, such as offering plenty of space for you and your whole family. While you need a vehicle that’s spacious on the inside, you also need a vehicle that’s small enough externally, so you can fit in tight parking spots.

Both the Lexus RX 350 and Toyota Highlander are classified as mid-sized crossover SUVs, so they should offer an equal amount of room. Let’s find out!

No matter which model you choose, you and your passengers will have plenty of room to stretch out comfortably.

The biggest difference between the dimensions of the RX 350 vs. Highlander is that the Highlander comes standard with three rows of seats. Three rows of seating are offered with the Lexus RX 350 as an optional feature.

LEXUS RX 350 VS TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: SAFETY FEATURES

Knowing there’s plenty of room for the whole family inside the RX 350 and Highlander is great, but knowing you and your family can arrive safe and sound thanks to the advanced safety features offered with both SUVs provides the peace of mind needed to help you feel safe and secure behind the wheel.

A series of cameras and sensors are mounted around the exterior of your SUV. These features constantly monitor a range around your SUV and alert you of potential hazards. This way, you can make any adjustments needed to prevent a collision.

A selection of these monitoring features may also provide automatic intervention if there’s no reaction to the alert.

The RX 350 comes standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0. With the Highlander, you get Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+. There are several similar features found with each, such as:

• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
• All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
• Intelligent High Beams

Thanks to these features, you can feel equally safe and secure behind the wheel of your mid-sized SUV.

On top of the safety features offered with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 and Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+, these SUVs also come equipped with additional safety features to help you feel secure behind the wheel. One of these additional features is the Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Changing lanes and backing out of busy parking spots is a breeze thanks to these additional sensors and alerts. While these features are offered with both models, only on the Lexus RX 350 does this feature come standard.

LEXUS RX 350 VS TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES

Whether you plan to take rugged adventures in your new SUV or you need something that can keep up with the changing seasons, both the Lexus RX 350 and Toyota Highlander have the performance capabilities you need.

In terms of power, both SUVs come standard with a 3.5L V5 engine that offers thrilling rides.

While both are capable of producing 295 horsepower, the Lexus RX 350 has a leg up on the Highlander with its 268 lb-ft of torque compared to the 263 lb-ft of torque.

Having this power is great for everyday travels, but what about when you need to take your adventures off the beaten path or conquer the sometimes-unpredictable New England weather? Luckily, another feature you’re sure to love about these vehicles is that they’re both offered with all-wheel drive capabilities. This way, you can travel the town in nearly any driving condition.

Where we see some differences is with the long-term performance capabilities of both SUVs, particularly the fuel efficiencies.

On the surface, it would appear the Highlander offers better fuel efficiency with EPA-estimated 21 city/29 highway MPG compared to the EPA-estimated 20 city/27 highway MPG rating of the RX 350. However, once you factor in the fuel tank size of these SUVs, you see their efficiency is essentially the same.

Lexus RX 350 vs Toyota Highlander Fuel Tank

Let’s now take a look at the fuel tank capacity of the RX 350 and Highlander:

• Lexus Rx 350—19.2-gallon tank
• Toyota Highlander—17.9-gallon tank

No matter which SUV you choose, despite the differences, you can travel a great amount of distance.

RX 350 VS HIGHLANDER: PREMIUM COMFORT

Whether you choose the RX 350 or the Highlander, you’ll be surrounded by premium comfort. Let’s see how the interiors of the Lexus RX 350 vs. Toyota Highlander compare:

While the Lexus RX 350 and Toyota Highlander are offered with similar standard and optional features, it’s clear that the Lexus RX 350 passengers are treated to extra comfort features. With the ability to adjust your front seats in more ways and the ability for the passenger to make power adjustments, you and your co-pilot will have an easier time finding the right seating position.

Those in the back can relax more comfortably, thanks to the standard power-reclining seats. With this feature, rear-seat passengers can relax easier since they have the ability to adjust their seating position with the touch of a button.