Compare the2022 Lexus GXVS 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Environmental Friendliness
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Lexus GX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer pretensioners for the middle seat belts.

The GX’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Lexus GX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has only front height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the GX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Lexus GX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GX. But it costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

The GX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

The GX Luxury offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Grand Cherokee only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The GX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GX and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Lexus GX has a better fatality history. The GX was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 13.2% lower per vehicle registered than the Grand Cherokee, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Warranty

The GX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Grand Cherokee’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the GX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Jeep covers the Grand Cherokee. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Grand Cherokee ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The GX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Grand Cherokee’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the GX has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the GX’s reliability 42 points higher than the Grand Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 8th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 60 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in reliability. Jeep is ranked 19th.

Engine

The GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8 produces 6 more horsepower (301 vs. 295) and 69 lbs.-ft. more torque (329 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lexus GX is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee V6:

	GX	Grand Cherokee
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.7 MPH	88.4 MPH

Environmental Friendliness

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Lexus GX as an “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV). The Jeep Grand Cherokee is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

Tires and Wheels

The Lexus GX’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Jeep Grand Cherokee only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The GX has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Grand Cherokee. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The GX has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The GX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Grand Cherokee’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GX handles at .74 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GX performs Car and Driver’s emergency lane change maneuver faster than the Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4 (54 vs. 53.7 MPH).

The GX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 (28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The design of the Lexus GX amounts to more than styling. The GX has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .35 Cd. That is lower than the Grand Cherokee (.371). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GX get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The GX has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Grand Cherokee can only carry 5.

The GX has 24.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (129.7 vs. 105.4).

The GX has 1.4 inches more front legroom and 1.2 inches more rear headroom than the Grand Cherokee.

Cargo Capacity

The GX’s cargo area is larger than the Grand Cherokee’s in every dimension:

	GX	Grand Cherokee
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	9.8”/39”/75”	n.a./38.5”/74.2”
Max Width	54.6”	47.6”
Min Width	43.4”	41.7”
Height	35.5”	33.5”

The GX’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the right swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Grand Cherokee’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Payload and Towing

The GX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee’s (6500 vs. 6200 pounds).

The GX has a higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee (1295 vs. 1180 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Jeep. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 75% lower rating, Jeep is ranked 28th.

Ergonomics

The GX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the GX offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GX is less expensive to operate than the Grand Cherokee because typical repairs cost less on the GX than the Grand Cherokee, including $86 less for a muffler, $85 less for front brake pads and $125 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus GX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee isn't recommended.

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