There's a reason used-car shoppers hunt the 2020-2022 RX like treasure: those V6 models are the last of a breed that could cruise to 300k miles on oil changes alone, with interiors that still felt worth the luxury badge. The current generation split the fanbase, sharper styling and better tech, sure, but the four-cylinder turbo sounds coarse under throttle and the cabin took a step down in material quality, swapping soft-touch surfaces for more hard plastics. Worse, the hybrid variants have a documented 12V battery defect that leaves owners stranded often enough that keeping a jump pack onboard is now common practice among RX350h and RX450h+ drivers. If you want the bulletproof Lexus experience, buy a late V6 model. If the new look calls to you, skip the hybrids or accept you're beta-testing a fix.
The Ariya is Nissan's first serious electric SUV, and the used market has turned it into a luxury bargain, $20-26k buys you heated and ventilated seats, a genuinely refined cabin, and ProPilot 2.0 on low-mileage 2023-2024 models. Three systematic failures shadow the fleet: 12V batteries die within two years and strand the car, reduction gear motors fail and cut drive power, and coolant pumps quit on the highway and force limp mode, all while you're behind the wheel. Warranty covers the repairs, but not the tow truck or the risk. Buy the 87kWh version if you charge at home, drive mostly local miles, and can tolerate dealer visits for known issues; walk away if you need road-trip reliability or can't afford an unexpected breakdown.