2024 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2023 Lexus GX was a vehicle that commanded attention with its imposing spindle grille and 8.1 inches of ground clearance. Standing at an overall height of 74.2 inches, it had a formidable presence on the road. The front end, with its massive headlights, gave the GX a distinctive and aggressive look. The Black Line Special Edition, limited to 3,000 units, added exclusivity with its unique paint options, including the new Eminent White Pearl and the exclusive Nori Green Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's design leaned towards a sleeker aesthetic compared to the blocky designs of other Toyota models, making it easier to maneuver in technical driving situations.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models. It was a large vehicle, stretching 201.4 inches in length with a 116.1-inch wheelbase, offering a spacious interior. The Grand Highlander's design was more conservative and blockier, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. Its trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights gave it a resemblance to the off-roading 4Runner. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims, with interior options ranging from Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims, providing a comfortable and well-built road-trip vehicle.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. This power was delivered through a six-speed automatic transmission, providing a linear rise in noise and power as the accelerator was depressed. Despite its V8 engine, the GX's performance figures were modest compared to more modern engines like Toyota's 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid. The GX had a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds, but its fuel economy was less impressive, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. The GX's weight contributed to its predictable and controllable roll through corners, and its driving dynamics were improved with a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential and a standard 4WD system.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option provided 245 combined net horsepower, while the top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain delivered 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net pound-feet of torque. The Grand Highlander was available with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, with the Hybrid Max offering impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander's size made it less maneuverable than its smaller counterpart, but its brakes were solid, and the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine provided adequate power. Toyota offered three drive modes, with additional modes for AWD-equipped models, enhancing its versatility.

The 2023 Lexus GX offered ample cubby space for small items, with a deep center console bin and convenient cupholders. However, it lacked modern USB-C ports, relying on older USB-A ports. The GX's interior featured hard buttons, which some users preferred over haptic-touch interfaces. The second row was comfortable, with captain's chairs and fold-out cupholders, but the third row was too tight for regular use. The GX's cargo space was limited, with only 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 64.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, offering a spacious interior with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. With seats in position, it provided 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander was comfortable, with good visibility and ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row. Even the third row could accommodate a six-foot adult comfortably.

The 2023 Lexus GX featured a 10.3-inch touchscreen with integrations like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. However, the system felt dated compared to other Lexus models, with lagging graphics. The GX included a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo and a CD player. Its off-road capabilities were impressive, with a real 4WD system, downhill assist, hill-start assist, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) for leveling the vehicle in various driving conditions.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available through a connected-services subscription. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Grand Highlander also offered streaming audio integration and a Wi-Fi Connect package for additional services.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it included advanced driver assistance systems like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. Despite its older design, the GX's safety features were commendable.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, being a new model, had not been crash-tested either. However, it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.