2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2022 Lexus GX

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of production, offered a nostalgic yet somewhat outdated design. The standard model, finished in Magnetic Gray with Terra leather upholstery, lacked the distinctive flair of the Heritage Edition. Its exterior, reminiscent of a first-generation Toyota Highlander, featured oversized headlights and taillights, with an abundance of chrome that did little to enhance its basic two-box shape. Inside, the Land Cruiser combined Toyota's parts-bin switchgear with Lexus-inspired design elements, offering high-quality materials and a traditional hand-operated parking brake, creating a retro yet luxurious atmosphere.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition embraced a modern, sleek aesthetic with its Black Onyx exterior, eliminating chrome for a more cohesive look. Despite its contemporary appearance, the GX's design still felt dated, resembling its first-generation predecessor. Inside, the GX boasted a high-quality cabin with smooth, refined materials, maintaining Lexus's reputation for luxury. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner, enhancing its sophisticated interior. However, the GX's design, both inside and out, remained rooted in the past, despite its attempts at modernization.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra. This engine delivered a quiet yet powerful performance, with 401 pound-feet of torque available at just 2,200 rpm. The Land Cruiser's eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel-drive system, featuring a Torsen limited-slip differential, provided excellent off-road capabilities. With a towing capacity of 8,100 pounds, the Land Cruiser was a formidable off-road vehicle, equipped with features like Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, and a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. Despite its off-road prowess, the Land Cruiser's on-road performance was characterized by a muffled and numbed driving experience, typical of a nearly 3-ton SUV.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, with its 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, offered a less powerful but still refined performance. The GX's six-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD system, with a limited-slip differential, provided a smooth driving experience. The GX's Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System enhanced its stability and off-road capabilities, making it more capable than many rivals. With a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds, the GX was suitable for moderate towing needs. However, its high drag coefficient and ponderous curb weight resulted in a fuel economy of 16.8 mpg during testing, slightly better than expected but still thirsty.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior, though dated, was luxurious, with plush leather upholstery and heated and ventilated front seats. The SUV offered a commanding driving position and a spacious second-row bench seat with heated cushions. The third-row seat, while accommodating adults, lacked leg support for long trips. The Land Cruiser provided 16.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 82.8 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The split clamshell-style liftgate and tailgate facilitated easy access to the cargo area.

The 2022 Lexus GX offered a comfortable and elevated driving position, with 10-way power-adjustable seats and clear visibility. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery and triple-zone automatic climate control. However, the rear seat access was challenging due to narrow door openings, and the third-row seat was cramped and difficult to access. The GX provided 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 64.7 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The side-swinging tailgate posed challenges in tight parking spaces, making loading and unloading cumbersome.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Toyota Entune technology, lacking modern conveniences like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system required tapping rather than swiping, and its voice recognition was limited to basic commands. The Land Cruiser's dashboard was dominated by large buttons and knobs, offering a straightforward user experience. The dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, though dated, provided DVD playback and HDMI connections. A 14-speaker JBL Synthesis audio system delivered good sound quality but fell short of high-end audio systems in other luxury SUVs.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 introduced a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. The system's dual-screen view allowed simultaneous display of navigation and radio information. The GX's voice recognition technology was quick and accurate, enhancing the user experience. However, the placement of stereo controls below off-roading controls was counterintuitive. The GX offered a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system as an option, though it was not included in the test vehicle. Lexus's Intuitive Parking Assist and available surround-view cameras added to the GX's technological offerings.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, with its 10 airbags and substantial curb weight, provided a sense of security in collisions. However, it lacked crash-test ratings, leaving its safety performance uncertain. Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) driving assistance systems were standard, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Land Cruiser also featured blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. However, it lacked advanced driving assistance systems like stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.

The 2022 Lexus GX, despite its age, offered standard Lexus Safety System+ features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The GX also included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. However, it lacked advanced safety technologies found in competitors, such as lane-keeping assist and semi-autonomous driving systems. The absence of these features may appeal to some buyers, but others may seek more advanced safety options in modern luxury SUVs.