Lexus RX Compared Against Brand New Tesla Model Y
Newest EV SUV on the block takes on best-selling luxury 'ute in a battle of sales supremacy.
Pound for Pound
The Lexus RX350 is the best-selling luxury SUV on the market. The Tesla Model Y is the newest. The biggest difference between these two models, of course, is what powers them - a good old fashioned internal combustion engine versus a fully electric setup. Regardless, these two models share a similar price tag and are likely to be cross-shopped by many buyers. So it's worth wondering - how do they stack up to each other?
Photos: Lexus
Economy Edge
The main benefit of any electric vehicle, of course, is its cost to operate. And the Tesla Model Y is hard to beat in that regard. The EPA rates the Model Y at 129 MPGe city and 112 on the highway, versus the Lexus' 19 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway. If you add it all together, the Tesla can save you around $5,250 in fuel costs over five years. It doesn't quite go as far on a charge, however, with a range of 315 miles versus the RX's range of 422 miles on a tank of gas. And you have to rely on charging stations instead of gas stations, of course.
Photos: Lexus
Pricing
Whether you're shopping for an RX or Model Y, the price you ultimately pay varies greatly depending on what option boxes you tick. Tesla's newest SUV carries a base price of $52,990 for the long-range model, with a cheaper variant coming soon. Stepping up to the Performance will cost you at least $60,990, and you can easily spend upwards of $80k on one. Meanwhile, the RX starts out at a substantially cheaper $44,150, but you can also crest the $60k mark with little trouble. Regardless, the Lexus' much lower base price essentially nullifies the fuel savings advantage the Tesla holds, if you can exhibit a little restraint when choosing options.
Photos: Lexus
Size Matters
The Lexus RX350 is 5.5 inches longer, 3.8 inches higher, and 1-inch narrower than the Tesla Model Y. But that doesn't necessarily translate to more interior space. The Model Y has 2.5 more inches of rear legroom, along with 12 additional cubic feet of cargo capacity. But the Lexus has 5.5 more inches of rear hip room, despite being narrower than the Tesla. So it's definitely worth sitting in both of them to see which one fits your specific needs in terms of interior layout.
Photos: Lexus
Performance
Tesla has built much of its reputation on blazing performance, and the Model Y is no exception. Even the Long Range model is capable of going 0-60 in 4.8-seconds. Step up to the Performance, and that number plunges to a sports-car-like 3.5-seconds. Meanwhile, the RX350 takes a lumbering 7.7-seconds to hit that mark. But in the world of luxury SUVs, performance isn't always terribly important to buyers, so these numbers could mean nothing depending on what you're looking for.
Photos: Lexus
Other Considerations
The RX holds a few other unique advantages, including 1.6-inches of additional ground clearance and a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Tesla, on the other hand, says that the Model Y is "not equipped to tow," though the Model 3 can pull around 2,000 pounds. And as we already know, electric vehicles lose considerable range when they're pulling any sort of weight behind them.
Photos: Lexus
Picking a Winner
Thus, choosing a winner in this comparison is tough. If you want a comfortable, reliable, traditional SUV and live in a place where charging stations are few and far between, the RX is the clear winner here. If you prioritize performance, economy, and high tech wizardry over everything else and live close to lots of charging stations, the Model Y is the better bet. So despite their similarities, these two SUVs couldn't be much more different beneath the surface.
Photos: Lexus
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