2024 Lexus RX vs 2023 Toyota 4Runner

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition, or 40 ASE, was based on the SR5 Premium trim level. It added $4,505 to the price of the SR5 Premium, with $1,875 of that covering the standard four-wheel-drive system. The remaining $2,630 bought retro body stripes, a heritage grille design, bronze 17-inch wheels, and various bronze badges and stitching. Available in black, white, or red paint with a black artificial leather interior, the 40 ASE had a strong SoCal vibe, reminiscent of the 1970s. The fifth-generation 4Runner maintained a truck-based SUV look, with a solid and quality feel inside, despite the abundance of plastic. The controls were easy to locate and use, even with gloves on.

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, which looked awkward, especially in lighter colors. The hood's large bump added to the bulky appearance. 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 and a large 14-inch infotainment touchscreen. The wide center console featured a simulated woodgrain, which felt and looked like plastic, contrasting with the genuine wood inlays on the steering wheel. Despite these inconsistencies, the cabin was covered in premium leather and well-grained plastics, offering a sturdy construction.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with a 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 278 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. A five-speed automatic transmission sent power to the rear wheels, with an optional 4WD system available. The 4Runner had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and an EPA fuel economy rating of 17 mpg in combined driving. During testing, it averaged 16.9 mpg. The 4Runner had a minimum ground clearance of nine inches and came with standard Hill-Start Assist Control. With 4WD, it added Downhill Assist Control and Active Traction Control. Off-roading technologies included locking differentials, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select. The TRD Sport and Limited trims had a suspension for improved on-road performance, while the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims focused on off-road capabilities. Despite its off-road prowess, the 4Runner's on-road performance was less impressive, with slow acceleration, heavy steering, and a lack of tire grip.

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 had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 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. 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, while 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 and residual rebounds. The F Sport Handling trim offered sharper performance, but the RX's main mission was comfort, which it achieved with ease.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured a unique power-down back window in the tailgate, providing excellent flow-through ventilation when combined with the sunroof and automatic windows. The 4Runner's seats were comfortable, with heated front cushions in the 40 ASE trim. Storage locations were numerous but lacked rubber liners, causing items to slide and rattle. The second-row seating area was roomy, with good legroom, headroom, air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. The optional third-row seat was uncomfortable and took up cargo space. The cargo area offered several storage cubbies, trays, and a 120-volt AC power outlet. Without the third-row seat, the 4Runner provided 46.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 89.7 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded.

The 2024 Lexus RX's front seats offered ample room and power adjustments, with heating standard on all models and ventilation on all but the base trim. A rubberized wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were included on the Premium trim. The rear seats were spacious, with good legroom and headroom, and standard rear climate controls and USB charge ports. The RX had up to 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 46.2 cubic feet with the second-row seat backs folded. The top Luxury trim featured one-touch power-folding buttons near the hatch, and all trim levels came with a power liftgate and optional hands-free operation.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner had traditional analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Connected services plans were available with complimentary trial subscriptions, and the 4Runner could be transformed into a Wi-Fi hotspot. Upgrades included a navigation system and a JBL premium sound system. The infotainment system's home screen displayed multiple functions simultaneously, and the voice recognition performed well, handling most commands accurately.

The 2024 Lexus RX featured a new infotainment system with a 9.8-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 14-inch display in higher trims. 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 for phone, music, and cruise control settings. All RX trims came with a cloud-based navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless and operated without incident. The available 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system delivered powerful bass and clear highs.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner came with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on all trims. The 4Runner's adaptive cruise control performed well, but the lane-departure warning could be irritating. The 4Runner received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with three-star ratings for front passenger protection and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it a Marginal rating for driver protection in the small overlap frontal-impact test.

The 2024 Lexus RX earned five stars in overall and side collision protection from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The FWD RX 350 received 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. The Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a rear passenger safe-exit system. Additional features included parking proximity sensors, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, a surround-view camera system, a semi-automated parking system, and a highway driving assist system.