2024 Lexus RX 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, limited to 3,000 units, returned with three paint options: 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 flared fenders added to its chunky look, but the overall design leaned sleeker compared to Toyota's blocky aesthetics. Inside, the GX had a mix of luxury touches and disappointing plastic materials, with features like heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery.

The 2024 Lexus RX, following a full redesign in 2023, presented a mixed bag in terms of styling. The front end featured an oversized trapezoidal grille and large air inlets, with the grille's awkwardness highlighted by its integration into the bodywork. The hood's large bump added to the bulky appearance, contrasting with the sleeker RX models of the past. The sides had bulging body panels, and a swooping chrome accent strip suggested a floating-roof design. The rear end, however, had a tidy design with a single light strip connecting the taillights. Inside, the RX had a more conventional layout with faux suede inserts in the top Luxury trim, a large 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, and neatly organized climate controls. The wide center console featured simulated woodgrain, which felt and looked like plastic, but the rest of the cabin was covered in premium leather and well-grained plastics.

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 appealed to some drivers. The GX had a 6,500-pound towing capacity but lagged behind other SUVs in fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. The GX's weight contributed to its rolling through corners, but the roll felt predictable and controllable. The steering was vague off-center, but the brakes were strong and predictable. The GX featured a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential, distributing the 4WD system into a 40:60 front:rear split, adjustable based on wheel slip.

The 2024 Lexus RX offered four distinct models, starting with the base RX 350, powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The RX 350h hybrid version had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT and standard AWD. The RX 500h F Sport Performance combined a turbo 2.4-liter inline-four with a hybrid powertrain, producing 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, with a six-speed automatic transmission and AWD. The new RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an 18.1-kWh battery pack, producing 304 hp and offering up to 37 miles of electric-only range. The RX 350 and RX 350h felt underpowered compared to other luxury SUVs, but the RX 450h+ was more responsive, reaching 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. The RX's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in noticeable body roll when cornering. The F Sport Handling trim offered sharper performance, but the RX's main mission was comfort.

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, and conveniently placed cupholders. The GX had old USB-A ports but no USB-C ports. The door pockets were small for larger water bottles. The GX's physical controls were a blessing, with hard buttons instead of haptic-touch interfaces. The center console lid had sliding mechanisms for adjustable armrests. The second row was comfortable, with captain’s chairs or a three-across bench seat. The third row was too tight for regular use, even for children. The side-hinged trunk door was not power-operated and required muscle to open. The GX offered 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2024 Lexus RX's front seats offered plenty of room for larger occupants, with power adjustments and standard heating. Ventilation was included on all but the base trim. The Premium trim had a rubberized wireless charging pad, paired with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The cupholders could hold wider drink bottles and had a drop-down surface for taller containers. The double-hinged armrest lid allowed easy access from either seat, with a deep storage bin underneath. The rear seats were spacious enough for average-sized adults, with good legroom and headroom. The RX had up to 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 46.2 cubic feet with the second row seat backs folded. The top Luxury trim had one-touch power-folding buttons near the hatch, and all trims had a power liftgate with optional hands-free operation.

The 2023 Lexus GX's infotainment technology, revamped for the 2022 model year, already looked dated. The 10.3-inch touchscreen was a massive improvement, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integrations. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface (RTI) was still present but unnecessary. The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote, a remote-start feature operable from a smartphone. The Luxury trim had a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo and a CD player. However, the touchscreen lagged, and the graphics were not as crisp as in competing models. The GX's off-road capability was impressive, with a real 4WD system, a two-speed transfer case, low range, and a locking center differential. The GX also had 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 2024 Lexus RX's new infotainment system, introduced in the 2023 redesign, was much more conventional, with a 9.8-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 14-inch display in other models. The system had logical on-screen menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. It accepted natural speech commands and had multi-function pads on the steering wheel. The RX had a cloud-based navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app, all available as a subscription service with a two-year free trial. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless and operated without incident. The available 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system delivered powerful bass and crystal-clear highs.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it was originally engineered for the 2010 model year. Despite this, the GX included advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams.

The 2024 Lexus RX earned five stars in overall and side collision protection and four stars in frontal and rollover tests from the NHTSA. The FWD RX 350 was rated four stars for overall protection. The IIHS awarded the RX its highest score of "Good" in all crashworthiness evaluations except for the new moderate frontal overlap test, where it was rated "Poor." Despite this, the RX was named a Top Safety Pick. All RX models came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a rear passenger safe-exit system. The Premium trim added parking proximity sensors, and the top Luxury trim had a head-up display. Other available features included a digital rearview mirror, a surround-view camera system, a semi-automated parking system, and a highway driving assist system.