Compare the2023 Land Rover DefenderVS 2023 Lexus GX

Both the Defender 110/130 and GX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Defender has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Defender uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The GX uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Defender and the GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 and driver alert monitors.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Defender’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the GX’s camshafts. If the GX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The Defender 130 P300’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (347 vs. 329) than the GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8. The Defender P400’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 94 more horsepower (395 vs. 301) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 329) than the GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8. The Defender V8’s standard 5.0 supercharged V8 produces 217 more horsepower (518 vs. 301) and 132 lbs.-ft. more torque (461 vs. 329) than the GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the Defender P400 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Lexus GX:

On the EPA test cycle the Defender 110/130 gets better mileage than the GX:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Defender’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip (not available P400). The GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Land Rover Defender, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GX.

For better stopping power the Defender’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GX:

For better traction, the Defender’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GX (285/65R18 vs. 265/60R18).

The Defender’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 GX’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Defender offers optional 22-inch wheels. The GX’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Land Rover Defender has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Lexus GX has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Defender 110’s wheelbase is 9.1 inches longer than on the GX (118.9 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Defender is 4.7 inches wider in the front and 4.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GX.

For better maneuverability, the Defender 90’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the GX’s (37.1 feet vs. 41.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Defender 90 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GX (8.9 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Defender to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Defender 110 Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 3.4 inches higher than on the GX (11.5 vs. 8.1 inches).

The Land Rover Defender may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 550 pounds less than the Lexus GX.

Unibody construction lowers the Defender’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The GX uses body-on-frame design instead.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Defender 110 SE is quieter than the GX (41 vs. 43 dB).

The Defender 130 has standard seating for 8 passengers; the GX can only carry 7.

The Defender 110’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX.

The Defender 130’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX.

The Defender’s cargo area is larger than the GX’s in almost every dimension:

The Defender’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GX’s (7716 vs. 6500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus GX is only 6500 pounds. The Defender offers up to a 8201 lbs. towing capacity.

The Defender has a much higher standard payload capacity than the GX (1760 vs. 1295 lbs.).

The Defender has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the GX (1870 vs. 1295 lbs.).

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the GX, the Defender (except 110 Base) has standard driver and 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 climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Defender (except Base) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Defender’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GX’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Defender’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 GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Defender to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The GX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Defender’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The GX’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

The Defender has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Lexus doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the GX.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Defender’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The GX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Land Rover Defender has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The GX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Land Rover Defender comes in two door and four door bodystyles; the Lexus GX isn’t available as a two door.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Defender third among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The GX isn’t in the top three in its category.

Motor Trend selected the Defender as their 2021 Sport Utility of the Year. The GX has never been chosen.