2021 Toyota Venza vs 2022 Lexus GX

The 2021 Toyota Venza, when it was revealed, was noted for its resemblance to a Lexus, with critics highlighting its grille and elongated profile that blurred the lines between the two brands. The Venza, available in three trim levels—LE, XLE, and Limited—offered a range of seven paint colors and a long list of standard features, including LED headlights and taillights, dual chrome-tipped exhaust, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior was well-equipped with a wireless charging pad, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment touch screen, among other amenities. The top-tier Limited trim added a digital rearview mirror, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and the option for a Star Gaze panoramic roof.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition, which we evaluated, featured a striking Black Onyx exterior that eradicated almost all chrome, giving it a unique, aggressive look. Despite its modern touches, the GX's design remained reminiscent of its predecessors, with a tall and narrow shoebox shape. The interior, while high-quality and quiet, retained some old-school switchgear and physical controls. The GX was available in Standard, Premium, and Luxury trims, with prices ranging from $56,700 to $66,210. The Black Line Special Edition, based on the Premium trim, started at $60,535 and included NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and triple-zone automatic climate control.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, delivering a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system, coupled with an electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT), provided smooth acceleration and confident handling. The Venza excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. Toyota backed its hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, with its 4.6-liter V8 engine, produced 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, enabling a 7.8-second run to 60 mph. The six-speed automatic transmission paired with a full-time 4WD system provided a satisfying engine note and plenty of refinement. However, the GX's fuel economy was less impressive, with an EPA estimate of 16 mpg in combined driving. The GX's Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) enhanced stability and off-road capability, making it more agreeable to drive despite its slow, heavy steering and touchy brake pedal. The Off-Road Package, available with the Luxury trim, added features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control for improved off-road performance.

The 2021 Toyota Venza offered a practical and comfortable interior, with premium appointments in the center stack and a deep center console featuring resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, and a wireless charging pad. The driver and passenger seats were accommodating, and the rear seats provided ample comfort for two adults. The Venza had nearly the same passenger volume as the RAV4 but offered less cargo space, with a maximum of 55.1 cubic feet. Despite this, the cargo space was sufficient for daily driving needs, and the quick-flip releases on the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks made arranging the space easy.

The 2022 Lexus GX provided an elevated driving position and clear outward visibility, with comfortable seats and well-padded interior surfaces. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery and black ash wood trim, but the rear seat access was challenging due to narrow door openings. The third-row seat was cramped and reduced cargo space, making it less practical for carrying passengers and luggage simultaneously. The GX's side-swinging tailgate further complicated loading, especially in tight spaces. With the third-row seat stowed, the GX offered 46.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 64.7 cubic feet with the second-row seat folded down.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured an 8-inch infotainment system on the LE and XLE trims, while the Limited trim boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune infotainment system, though not the best in the industry, included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Venza Limited also came with a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system. Toyota connected services, such as Safety Connect and Remote Connect, were standard, providing roadside assistance and vehicle functionality access via smartphone.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 introduced a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, eliminating the need for the outdated Remote Touch Interface (RTI) touchpad. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation, along with a CD player and a Lexus app compatible with smartwatches. The GX also offered a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround-sound audio system as an option. The infotainment display's dual-screen view and excellent voice recognition technology enhanced usability. For 2022, Lexus made Intuitive Parking Assist standard and offered surround-view and terrain-view cameras as upgrades.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available on the XLE and Limited trims. The Venza also featured eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The 2022 Lexus GX, despite its age, included Lexus Safety System+ with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services were also standard. However, the GX lacked some modern safety technologies found in its competitors, such as lane-keeping assist and semi-autonomous driving systems. The absence of these features might appeal to some buyers, but others may find it a drawback.