Toyota 4Runner vs Lexus GX

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner shared a striking resemblance with the Tacoma pickup, especially from the front. It boasted a muscular appearance with pronounced haunches at each wheel and black wheel flares on the off-road models. The sheet metal was heavily creased and angled, with particularly deep creases along the sides. The grille sat high above a lower intake with an underbite, notably on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter models, which featured unique bumpers for improved approach angles. These models also had heritage-inspired front ends with “Toyota” lettering on the grille and an integrated light bar. The rear side windows extended into the roof, reminiscent of the original 4Runner from the 1980s. Wheel sizes varied from 18 to 20 inches.

Inside, the 4Runner had a simple, utilitarian interior with chunky control dials that were easy to operate with gloved hands, and an abundance of hard plastic adorning the dash, center console, and door tops. Only the center console bin cover and door armrests were soft to the touch. Cloth upholstery was standard, with synthetic leather available on higher trims like the TRD Pro and Trailhunter for easy cleaning. Leather upholstery was standard on the Limited and Platinum trims, but even with leather, the cabin never quite achieved a high-end look.

The 2026 Lexus GX offered a range of trim levels, including Premium, Premium+, Luxury, Luxury+, Overtrail, and Overtrail+. The Overtrail model, priced at $77,939, featured rock rails, roof-rack crossbars, a head-up display, and trailering equipment, while omitting the power sunroof to reduce costs. The GX 550 Overtrail stood out with its rugged appearance, featuring gray wheel arch cladding, simulated skid plates, ladder-type roof rails, knobby all-terrain tires, and exclusive gray wheels. The Nori Green Pearl color added an outdoorsy touch to its robust design.

Inside, the Overtrail model featured tan artificial leather with black bolsters and olive-green simulated suede trim. While not luxurious in the traditional sense, the cabin exuded quality and featured advanced digital driver and touchscreen infotainment displays. The GX had a distinctive style, with a recognizable Lexus grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and hood blisters for improved visibility. The tall windows aided visibility, and the rear liftgate with a horizontal taillight was recessed into the design above a substantial rear bumper.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner offered two powertrains and the choice of rear-wheel drive or two four-wheel-drive systems. The base engine, known as i-Force, was a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The i-Force Max hybrid system added an electric motor, increasing output to 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. Our 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium tester featured the hybrid powertrain, which, despite its impressive torque, delivered a mid-to-low seven-second 0–60 mph time. The eight-speed automatic transmission was well-matched to the engine, with more aggressive tuning in Sport mode. The hybrid's torque was beneficial for off-roading, especially in the low-range 4Lo setting with Crawl Control engaged.

The 4Runner offered part-time or full-time 4WD, with the TRD Off-Road model featuring the part-time system and six Multi-Terrain System drive modes. The Limited and Platinum models had a full-time 4WD system with a locking center differential. Off-road features included a locking rear differential, Bilstein dampers, running boards, and skid plates. The Trailhunter and TRD Pro models added disconnecting sway bars, unique bumpers, and additional off-road enhancements. However, the 4Runner's on-road dynamics were compromised by its body-on-frame platform, resulting in a jiggly ride over bumps and notable lean in corners.

The 2026 Lexus GX 550 came equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine producing 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, full-time 4WD, and a locking center differential. The Overtrail model added an electronic locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select off-road settings, hill-descent control, and a low-speed cruise control system. It rode on 18-inch matte-gray wheels with 33-inch Toyo Open Country all-terrain tires and had an aluminum front skid plate.

The Overtrail's adaptive variable suspension with a one-inch lift and Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System improved off-road capability. Approach, breakover, and departure angles were enhanced compared to non-Overtrail models. The GX excelled in challenging conditions, with its locking center diff and impressive wheel articulation. On-road, the adaptive suspension absorbed bumps, and the twin-turbo V6 provided speedy acceleration, achieving a 6.5-second 0-60 mph time. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with an EPA rating of 17 mpg combined.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner offered seating for five with two rows or up to seven with three rows. The front seats were the most comfortable, with manual adjustments standard and power adjustments available on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard on all but the base trim, and the Platinum trim added heated and reclining second-row seats. The second row had decent space but lacked comfort due to low seat bottoms. The three-row version was less appealing, with limited legroom and low seat bottoms. Cargo space was competitive, with two-row models offering 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 90.2 cubic feet behind the first row. The hybrid powertrain reduced cargo space slightly.

The 2026 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail featured comfortable power-adjustable front seats with NuLuxe artificial leather upholstery, heating, and ventilation. The Luxury trim offered massaging front seats and optional heated second-row captain’s chairs. The Overtrail model lacked a third-row seat, providing more cargo space. The second-row bench seat was wide but had a low, flat cushion. Storage space was limited, with small door armrest trays and lower bins. The Overtrail offered 45.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and a maximum capacity of 90.5 cubic feet.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner came standard with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch touchscreen, with larger screens available on higher trims. Our tester had a 14-inch touchscreen, which was easy to use but lacked design flair. The 4Runner included a one-year trial of Remote Connect, Safety Connect, and Service Connect, with a Wi-Fi hotspot available for a month. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided programmable information, and standard tech features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, and a wireless phone charger.

The 2026 Lexus GX featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display with configurable data panels. The 14-inch touchscreen housed the Lexus Interface infotainment system, which was simple to use but had low contrast in daytime mode. The system included complimentary trial subscriptions to connected services plans, including Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and our test vehicle had a 10.7-inch head-up display. The GX 550 Overtrail also had a panoramic-view monitor and a multi-terrain monitor for off-road use.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with Toyota's Safety Sense 3.0 suite, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, road-sign recognition, and high-beam assist. Additional features included blind-spot monitors, front and rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic-jam assist. The 4Runner received mixed crash scores, with four out of five stars overall from the NHTSA and a Marginal score in the IIHS moderate front overlap crash test.

The 2026 Lexus GX came with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 package, featuring high-beam assist, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors. The GX had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing.