2022 Lexus GX vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2022 Lexus GX was aimed at people who relish the aesthetics of a black-on-black vehicle despite the challenges in maintaining its immaculate appearance. The Black Line Special Edition, launched for 2022, offered three color options: Starfire Pearl, Nori Green Pearl, and Black Onyx. The test vehicle featured the latter, which transformed the SUV into a seemingly endless void of darkness by ditching almost all chrome on the exterior.

Within 24 hours, the Lexus GX 460, with its Black Line treatment, began showing the impracticality of its allure as it quickly accumulated dust and looked aged and worn. Regardless, even the latest GX models managed to look ancient, saved only by Lexus's signature spindle grille, running lights, and triple-beam LED headlights.

Inside, the GX displayed exceptional refinement and almost unparalleled build quality, with quiet elegance accompanied by the muted hum of its V8 engine. Offered in Standard, Premium, and Luxury trims, the 2022 Lexus GX started from $56,700, moving up to $66,210. The Black Line Special Edition, based on the GX 460 Premium, was priced at $60,535.

In contrast, the 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, embracing simplicity and substance over showy style. Reminiscent of its predecessors, the 2023 Forester featured designs like the Cascade Green Silica paint, a color seemingly exclusive to Subaru.

Available in Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims, its prices ranged from $26,395 to $36,495, with our Touring test vehicle priced at $37,720. The Forester's design, featuring flared fenders, a narrow waist, and pincer-shaped lighting elements, provided functional utility rather than visual charisma.

The Touring trim stood out with its appealing 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior accents. Robust roof rails enhanced utility, allowing up to an 800-pound static load rating for the Wilderness trim. The Forester's interior, decorated with Saddle Brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, carried a busy yet practical layout. Its blend of buttons and knobs ensured ease of use, supported by Subaru's traditional emphasis on practicality.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, despite its base curb weight of 5,126 pounds, was equipped with a potent 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. While the horsepower was comparable to a Toyota Camry's 3.5-liter V6, the GX 460's torque provided a more exhilarating experience, helping it accelerate to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds and support a towing capacity of up to 6,500 pounds.

A six-speed automatic transmission paired with a full-time 4WD system ensured consistent power distribution, with 40 percent directed to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear under normal driving conditions. Its 0.35 drag coefficient and cumulative weight were factors behind its EPA-rated fuel economy of 16 mpg in combined driving; our testing resulted in a similar 16.8 mpg.

The GX's Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) contributed significantly to its agreeable ride and handling, both on-road and off-road, despite slow and heavy steering issues and a touchy brake pedal.

The 2023 Subaru Forester, on the other hand, was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and Subaru's SI-Drive system, it provided modestly improved responses through its Sport mode.

The Forester Touring handled various challenging weather conditions with ease, inspiring confidence in both torrential rain and muddy terrains thanks to the standard AWD and X-Mode off-road system. Its 187-pound weight advantage over the Outback Touring resulted in a more lively performance, though still deemed adequate.

The Forester also garnered praise for its balanced and communicative driving dynamics. It provided a stable ride without excessive lateral rocking or fore-aft motions often seen in other crossover SUVs. Despite this, the Forester's 25.9 mpg during testing fell short of its EPA rating of 29 mpg in combined driving, highlighting the potential benefit of a turbocharged or hybrid alternative.

Inside the 2022 Lexus GX, drivers enjoyed an elevated seating position and extensive outward visibility. Being tall, narrow, and short allowed for easier maneuverability in various terrains, though its slow steering required effort. The cabin featured comfortable seating and well-placed padding, with most switchgear being physical, though some errors in device control layout were noted.

The back seats offered ample space for legs and feet but the third row was challenging to access and uncomfortable for adults. The GX's cargo capacity was limited, with only 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, growing to 46.7 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and up to 64.7 cubic feet with all seats down.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Subaru Forester emphasized function, with a practical design that included various storage solutions and a user-friendly layout. The Premium trim offered amenities like a panoramic sunroof, a 10-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and more. Higher trims introduced additional luxuries, but the Touring's front seats lacked ventilation and the rear seats suffered from less leg support and overly reclined angles.

Cargo space in the Forester was generous, offering 26.9 cubic feet behind the back seat (28.9 in the Base trim) and expanding up to 69.1 cubic feet (74.2 in the Base model) with the rear seats down, facilitating substantial cargo loads.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 showcased a significant tech update with a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This system replaced the outdated Remote Touch Interface and included modern features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. An optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system added premium sound quality.

Despite these improvements, some ergonomic missteps remained, such as the location of stereo controls below off-roading controls. Dual-screen functionality and excellent voice recognition rounded out the technology suite, enhancing the GX’s infotainment appeal.

In the 2023 Subaru Forester, technology also received notable updates. Base models now included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Premium trims added satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services with remote engine starting. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system.

While the Forester offered a simple and effective infotainment setup, the voice recognition system fell short, often misunderstanding commands. Hence, relying on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto was advisable.

The 2022 Lexus GX, despite its advanced age, featured the Lexus Safety System+ standard, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard, but more advanced driver-assist technologies were absent.

For the 2023 Subaru Forester, safety enhancements included the next-generation EyeSight technology with improved software and camera systems, alongside Automatic Emergency Steering. Higher trims added Rear Automatic Braking and the DriverFocus system. However, the IIHS dropped its rating toTop Safety Pick due to new testing, while NHTSA retained five-star scores in all crash-test categories.