Toyota Highlander vs Lexus GX

The 2022 Toyota Highlander boasted a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design, with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window that gave it a compact appearance despite its spacious interior. Inside, the Highlander offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions, making it ideal for families. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient lighting, and sport-tuned suspension, providing a blend of luxury and sportiness. The Highlander was available in several trims, each offering a range of features from basic comforts in the L trim to upscale amenities in the Limited and Platinum trims, such as adaptive headlights, a panoramic sunroof, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus GX presented a commanding presence with its massive spindle grille and 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The GX's design was both sleek and rugged, with a short wheelbase and minimal overhangs, making it well-suited for off-road adventures. Despite its luxury badge, the interior featured a surprising amount of plastic, though it still offered luxury touches like heated and cooled front seats and impressive leather upholstery. The GX Black Line Special Edition added exclusivity with limited production and unique paint options. While the GX's design was more about function than form, it retained a classic appeal with its off-road capabilities and practical features.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offering both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. The Highlander featured a drive-mode selector with Sport, Normal, and Eco modes, as well as an AWD system with Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal modes. While the V6 provided decent acceleration, it excelled at highway speeds, offering a throaty exhaust note during overtakes. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds, making it a versatile choice for families and adventurers alike.

The 2023 Lexus GX, on the other hand, was defined by its 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. This power was channeled through a six-speed automatic transmission to a standard four-wheel drive system. While the GX's V8 didn't match the power figures of more modern engines, it offered a satisfying linear power delivery and a distinctive sound. The GX could tow up to 6,500 pounds, but its fuel economy was less impressive, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. Despite its weight, the GX handled predictably, with strong brakes and a Torsen limited-slip differential for improved traction in challenging conditions.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander offered impressive cargo space, with up to 84.3 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded. With the second row in use, it provided 48.4 cubic feet, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The Highlander's interior was designed for practicality, featuring deep cargo pockets, multiple storage compartments, and convenient cupholders. The XSE trim included second-row captain's chairs, enhancing comfort and accessibility to the third row, which was best suited for short trips due to limited space.

In comparison, the 2023 Lexus GX provided a more limited cargo capacity, with 11.6 cubic feet 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 down. The GX's interior featured a deep center console bin, convenient cupholders, and physical controls, which some drivers preferred over touchscreens. The second row offered good legroom and headroom, but the third row was cramped, making it suitable only for occasional use. The GX's side-hinged rear door required effort to open and limited access to the cargo area.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. It featured a straightforward layout with hard buttons for easy navigation. The XSE trim included a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system were available as options, enhancing the Highlander's tech offerings.

The 2023 Lexus GX, while updated for 2022, already felt dated in 2023. It featured a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface was present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen. The GX included a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo and a CD player, which felt outdated compared to competitors. Despite its tech shortcomings, the GX excelled in off-road capabilities, with a real 4WD system, downhill assist, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System for improved handling.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense, offering features like forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and additional safety features like parking sensors and a surround-view monitor. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were active but could be overly sensitive on certain roads.

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. While lacking some top-end features, the GX's safety systems were a testament to Toyota and Lexus's commitment to safety, despite the vehicle's older design.