2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2023 Lexus GX had a commanding presence with its massive spindle grille, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and an overall height of 74.2 inches. The front end appeared ready to dominate the road, framed by large headlights that accentuated its distinctive face. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in three paint colors: Obsidian, Eminent White Pearl, and Nori Green Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's short 109.8-inch wheelbase and minimal overhangs suggested it was built for off-road adventures. The sleek design, flared fenders, and a hood that fell away from sight made it easier to navigate technical driving, especially on inclines.

Inside, the GX's use of plastic materials was disappointing for a luxury SUV, reflecting its low sales and the need for cost-effective manufacturing. However, it still offered luxury touches like heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery. The GX's interior design was practical, with a deep center console bin, conveniently placed cupholders, and adjustable center armrests. The second row was comfortable, but the third row was too tight for regular use. Cargo space was limited, with only 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 64.7 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 featured subtle styling changes, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper design for improved aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors, along with a rear VW logo that lit up, added to its refreshed look. While it was easily distinguishable as an EV, the ID.4 lacked the upright profile and ground clearance of traditional SUVs, which might have been a drawback for some buyers. However, it was based on VW's MEB platform, designed specifically for EVs, offering modularity to support various models.

The ID.4's interior carried over the best qualities from recent VW gasoline-car interiors, with a minimalist design and a feeling of quality. The base ID.4 Standard model, despite having a manual driver's seat, didn't feel like a significant downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S. Standard features included leatherette upholstery with recycled fiber inserts, and the 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up expanded to 64.2 cubic feet when folded. The ID.4 also offered some towing capability, with a capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. Small changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console and a better spot for a phone.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its V8 engine, which delivered a linear rise in noise and power as the accelerator was depressed. The 4.6-liter V8 produced 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While it didn't win many battles on paper, the V8's sound and satisfaction were appealing to some. The GX had a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds but lagged behind other SUVs in fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. The GX's weight made it roll through corners, but its predictable and controllable roll, strong brakes, and communicative road feel made it manageable.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, with RWD only. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus models retained the 82-kWh pack, available with RWD or AWD. Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models upped the output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling. The ID.4's AWD version rivaled hot hatchbacks in acceleration but allowed too much body roll for truly entertaining handling on twisty roads. Regenerative braking was present but didn't support one-pedal driving, providing a more familiar experience for EV newcomers.

The 2023 Lexus GX retained plenty of cubby space for small items, with a deep center console bin, a handy space ahead of the shifter for a phone, and conveniently placed cupholders. However, it lacked USB-C ports, and the door pockets were small for larger water bottles. The GX's hard buttons were a blessing for those put off by touchscreens, though the abundance of buttons required some getting used to. The center console lid's sliding mechanisms allowed for adjustable armrests, and the second row was comfortable with good legroom and excellent headroom. The third row was too tight for regular use, and the side-hinged trunk door required muscle to open. Cargo space was limited, with 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 64.7 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than a Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. It had 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to 64.2 cubic feet when folded. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in interior space, it was the most practical SUV among affordable EVs. The ID.4 also offered some towing capability, with a capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. Small changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console and a better spot for a phone, along with three-zone climate control and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2023 Lexus GX's infotainment technology, revamped for the 2022 model year, already looked dated. The 10.3-inch touchscreen was a significant improvement, sitting high on the dash and including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface (RTI) was still present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen. Three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo were included. However, the touchscreen lagged, and the graphics were not as crisp as those in competing models. The GX's off-road capability was more impressive, with a real 4WD system, downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, stability control, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). The Off-Road Package added a multi-terrain monitor, transmission cooler, fuel-tank protection, crawl control, and a multi-terrain select system.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 made the formerly optional 12.0-inch touchscreen standard on all models, with software updates to improve responsiveness. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard, along with the ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system offered sharp graphics, a choice of smartphone-like icons or a traditional split-screen view, and natural-language voice recognition. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel were distracting, lacking physical feedback. The ID.Light system, part ambient lighting and part AI assistant, changed color based on drive mode and provided navigation cues. It was a clever feature but easily overlooked in normal driving.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, it was originally engineered for the 2010 model year, and structural safety had improved since then. The GX included advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams, though it lacked some top-end features like lane-tracing assist and road-sign recognition.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS' highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating, with top scores in all crash tests, "Superior" vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention, and "Advanced" vehicle-to-pedestrian collision prevention in daylight. The only blemish was an "Average" score for the standard headlights. The ID.4 included standard driver-assist features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW's Travel Assist 2.0. New for 2023 were Park Assist Plus automated parking, an automated lane-change feature for Travel Assist, and a 360-degree camera system.