Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Lexus GX

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, four years into its lifecycle, underwent a refresh that maintained its upright stance, low belt line, and large windows. However, the new illuminated grille and welcome-lighting sequence gave it a fresh vibe. Inspired by the all-electric Wagoneer S, the new nose had a modern feel. The Upland trim added front recovery hooks that increased utility without detracting from its elegant design. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer boasted a modern interior with clean design and strong horizontal lines. The 12-inch infotainment screen, though a bit small for the vehicle's size, was complemented by redundant HVAC and audio controls. The seats, while plain in appearance, were comfortable and highly adjustable, making long drives pleasant. The cabin's trim and material usage leaned towards premium, with options for Nappa and Palermo leather and a suede headliner. The overall fit and finish were impressive, with solid-feeling components throughout.

The 2026 Lexus GX offered a range of trims, including the Premium, Premium+, Luxury, Luxury+, Overtrail, and Overtrail+. The Overtrail trim, which we tested, featured rock rails, roof-rack crossbars, a head-up display, and trailering equipment. The GX 550 Overtrail had a rugged appearance with gray wheel arch cladding, simulated skid plates, and knobby all-terrain tires. Inside, the Overtrail featured tan artificial leather with black bolsters and olive-green simulated suede trim. The cabin emphasized utility with industrial design themes, yet exuded quality with advanced digital driver and touchscreen infotainment displays. The GX's exterior design was boxy yet stylish, with a distinctive Lexus grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The vehicle's tall windows aided visibility, and the rear liftgate design was simple yet substantial.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine, delivering 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided smooth and effortless power, even for a vehicle weighing around 6,000 pounds. Although the Grand Wagoneer experienced a power downgrade for 2026, the standard-output Hurricane engine still offered impressive performance. Additionally, a range-extended electric powertrain was slated for the Grand Wagoneer, promising 647 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque with a total range of over 500 miles. Despite its large size, the Grand Wagoneer was surprisingly agile and easy to drive, with excellent visibility and a quiet cabin.

The 2026 Lexus GX 550 featured a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine producing 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It came with a 10-speed automatic transmission, full-time 4WD, and a locking center differential. The Overtrail trim added off-road enhancements like an electronic locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select settings, and a low-speed cruise control system. The adaptive variable suspension and E-KDSS improved off-road capability. The GX 550 Overtrail excelled in challenging conditions, with impressive wheel articulation and effective hill-descent control. On-road, the GX offered a comfortable ride, though its tires were not ideal for spirited driving. The twin-turbo V6 provided speedy acceleration, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds. However, the GX's fuel economy was less impressive, with an EPA rating of 17 mpg combined.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was a spacious people mover with three rows of seating. The optional bench seat in the second row allowed for up to eight passengers, with the third row accommodating three people comfortably. While using the third row reduced cargo space, there were still 27.9 cubic feet available. The long-wheelbase version offered even more cargo capacity, with 42.6 cubic feet behind the third row. The Grand Wagoneer could tow up to 10,000 pounds when properly equipped. It featured three-zone automatic climate controls, heated-and-ventilated front seats, and power-operated driver and front passenger seats. The Upland trim included Quadra-Lift air suspension, front recovery hooks, skid plates, and all-terrain tires.

The 2026 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail required some effort to enter, especially for shorter individuals. Once inside, the power-adjustable front seats offered comfort with NuLuxe artificial leather upholstery, heating, and ventilation. The Luxury trim provided real leather and massaging front seats. The Overtrail lacked a third-row seat, offering more cargo space with 45.6 cubic feet behind the second row. Maximum capacity reached 90.5 cubic feet. The GX's interior had a utilitarian look, with limited storage space. The load height was relatively high, and the bumper protruded, making it useful for certain tasks but potentially inconvenient for loading and unloading.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital cluster, and a wireless phone charger. It also featured a hands-free power liftgate, three-zone automatic climate controls, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Higher trims offered additional features like a front console cooler, digital rearview mirror, and a 23-speaker McIntosh premium sound system. However, the wireless phone charger had issues with overheating, and the 12-inch infotainment screen felt small for the vehicle's size. Adjustable pedals were no longer available for the 2026 model year.

The 2026 Lexus GX featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 14-inch touchscreen with the Lexus Interface infotainment system. The system was user-friendly, though the daytime illumination mode had low contrast. The GX included complimentary trial subscriptions to connected services plans, such as Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, allowing simultaneous display of navigation and audio information. The GX 550 Overtrail also had a panoramic-view monitor and a multi-terrain monitor, though the view activation button was poorly placed.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was equipped with a range of safety features, including lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and intersection-collision assist. It also had front and rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and a driver-attention monitor. Available features included automated park assist, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system. The Grand Wagoneer received fair safety ratings, with a mix of Good and Marginal scores from the IIHS and a four-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2026 Lexus GX came with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included high-beam assist, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keep assist. It also featured blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic low-speed braking. Traffic Jam Assist was available with an active Drive Connect plan. The PDA system provided subtle braking and steering inputs, though it could be uncomfortable for occupants. The lane-centering assist feature had some unnatural steering inputs, but they were easy to override. The GX had not yet received safety ratings from the NHTSA or IIHS.