Compare the2023 Jeep Grand CherokeeVS 2023 Lexus RX

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk/Overland/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The RX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Grand Cherokee and the RX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 3 visits) on the Grand Cherokee for 2 years and unlimited miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (3/unlimited vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 10 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Grand Cherokee has a standard 850-amp battery (900 Trailhawk/Overland/Summit and 700 V8). The RX’s 603-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The Grand Cherokee has more powerful engines than the RX:

As tested in Car and Driver the Grand Cherokee 4xe 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the RX 500h F Sport Performance 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee running on electricity gets better mileage than the RX:

The Grand Cherokee 4xe can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The RX has to start its internal combustion engine after only .6 miles.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Grand Cherokee V8’s fuel efficiency. The RX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Grand Cherokee uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Grand Cherokee 4xe for maximum performance). The RX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 350h/500h’s standard fuel tank (19 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Grand Cherokee’s standard fuel tank has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 350’s standard fuel tank (23 vs. 17.8 gallons).

The Grand Cherokee has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The RX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

The Grand Cherokee stops shorter than the RX:

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee has larger standard tires than the RX (245/70R17 vs. 235/60R19). The Grand Cherokee Summit’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RX (275/45R21 vs. 235/60R19).

The Grand Cherokee Summit’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RX’s optional 50 series tires.

The Grand Cherokee has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The RX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the RX; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Grand Cherokee has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The RX base model’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 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 RX doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Cherokee’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The RX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Cherokee’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the RX (116.7 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RX 350 (8.4 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 2.7 inches higher than on the RX 350h (10.9 vs. 8.2 inches).

The front grille of the Grand Cherokee uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Grand Cherokee offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Grand Cherokee has .4 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the RX.

The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (37.7 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (70.8 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

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

The Grand Cherokee’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus RX is only 3500 pounds. The Grand Cherokee 4x4 offers up to a 7200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The RX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The engine in the Grand Cherokee is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the RX Premium/Luxury/500h F Sport, the Grand Cherokee 4xe/Limited/Trailhawk/Overland/Summit offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Consumer Reports rated the Grand Cherokee’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the RX’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Grand Cherokee to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Grand Cherokee Overland Lux Tech/Summit has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RX.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Lexus RX by over two to one during 2022.