Compare the2022 Lexus RXVS 2022 GMC Terrain

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RX 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 GMC Terrain doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RX 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 GMC Terrain doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Lexus RX 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 Terrain doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The RX has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Terrain doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RX offers optional Auto Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Terrain doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The RX has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Terrain’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RX has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Terrain.

The RX’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 Terrain doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RX and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Lexus RX weighs 563 to 1291 pounds more than the GMC Terrain. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus RX is safer than the GMC Terrain:

	RX	Terrain
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	53	109
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	110 G’s	195 G’s
Hip Force	214 lbs.	357 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	165	288
Spine Acceleration	44 G’s	55 G’s
Hip Force	594 lbs.	630 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	275	377
Hip Force	685 lbs.	730 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RX the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Terrain last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

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

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

The RX’s 6 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Terrain runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

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 RX’s reliability 17 points higher than the Terrain.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RX first among midsize premium suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Terrain isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

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 GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 62 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in reliability. GMC is ranked 16th.

Engine

The RX 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 125 more horsepower (295 vs. 170) and 65 lbs.-ft. more torque (268 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The RX 450h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 138 more horsepower (308 vs. 170) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the RX 450h 3.5 V6 Hybrid CVT AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Terrain AWD (31 city/28 hwy vs. 25 city/28 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the RX Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Terrain doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The RX Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 14.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The RX’s standard fuel tank has 3.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank (19.2 vs. 15.6 gallons).

Transmission

The RX 450h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Terrain doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the RX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Terrain:

	RX	Terrain
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	11.3 inches

The RX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Terrain are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RX has larger tires than the Terrain (235/65R18 vs. 225/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Terrain SLE/AT4. The RX’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Terrain.

Suspension and Handling

The RX has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the RX flat and controlled during cornering. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The RX 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 Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RX’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Terrain (109.8 inches vs. 107.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RX is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Terrain.

The RX 350 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Terrain Denali AWD (27.1 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the RX has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain SLE (8.2 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the RX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The RX’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Terrain SLT SLT/AT4/Denali (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches).

Passenger Space

The RX has 3.2 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 4.3 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Terrain.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RX. The Terrain doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Terrain is limited to 1500 pounds. The RX offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The RX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Terrain uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than GMC. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 39% lower rating, GMC is ranked 15th.

Ergonomics

The RX’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Terrain’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the RX 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 Terrain can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RX has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Terrain doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The RX’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Terrain’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The RX’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Terrain’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the RX offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Terrain doesn’t offer cornering lights. The RX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The RX has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Terrain.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the RX owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the RX with a number “5” insurance rate while the Terrain is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the RX is less expensive to operate than the Terrain because it costs $382 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the RX than the Terrain, including $343 less for a muffler, $93 less for front brake pads, $157 less for fuel injection, $277 less for a fuel pump and $29 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Lexus RX as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The GMC Terrain isn't recommended.

The Lexus RX outsold the GMC Terrain by 73% during the 2021 model year.

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