The Lexus GX and Toyota Land Cruiser are technically made by the same company as Lexus is Toyota’s luxury brand, but these two SUVs have significant differences.
As such, these SUVs are actually quite similar. At the same time, there are some significant differences as well. Enough differences where choosing one over the other might be pretty easy depending on your priorities.
Performance and Fuel Economy
The Toyota Land Cruiser comes standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that makes 326 horsepower. It’s not particularly fast in getting up to passing speeds and feels lumbering on the highway. However, the hybrid powertrain and smaller engine give you up to 23 MPG in combined city and highway driving.
The Lexus GX goes in a different direction with its powertrain. 4WD is standard on both SUVs, but the GX features a turbocharged V6 that makes 349 horsepower. It feels much faster in passing situations and gets up to highway speed in under seven seconds. The trade-off is that it’s not as efficient as the Land Cruiser. It gets about 17 MPG in combined driving.
If you’re thinking more about fuel economy, the Land Cruiser is a bit more appealing, but for everyday driving, the Lexus GX is less frustrating with its quicker acceleration and punchier engine.
Driving Experience and Comfort
Both SUVs have body-on-frame construction, which makes them highly capable off-road. They also remain quite civilized on the pavement. Large windows and an upright design give both SUVs good outward visibility. Inside, they’re generally comfortable and supportive. In terms of handling, the Lexus GX takes the win with a more refined suspension.
One thing you might choose to do with either SUV is tow. The Lexus GX beats the Land Cruiser here too. Its larger engine gives it more power and it can tow up to 9,096 pounds when properly equipped. The Toyota Land Cruiser can tow up to 6,000 pounds, but the driving experience while doing this might make it feel even slower than normal.
Lexus GX trim levels start with the base Premium model for $64,250. This is roughly the same price as the midrange Land Cruiser model. The top Lexus GX trim levels are in the range of $80,000. Unsurprisingly, the GX features a wide variety of high-end options that simply aren’t available on the Land Cruiser. The base Land Cruiser starts at $57,345.
How To Choose
Both the Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus GX impress with their competent off-road ability and old-school SUV looks. They’re both reasonably comfortable inside and have a good amount of cargo space. The main difference between the two is power. The Lexus GX is noticeably more powerful than the Land Cruiser and you can feel it for both regular driving and towing.
The price difference between the lower and middle trims of both SUVs isn’t that different, and you ultimately get more with the Lexus GX. In other words, paying a bit more in this case gets you an SUV that is better in almost every area.
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