Compare the2023 Lexus GXVS 2023 Land Rover Defender

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

Safety

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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 Defender 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 Land Rover Defender doesn’t offer 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 Defender 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 Defender doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The GX 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 Defender doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the GX and the Defender 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the GX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Land Rover covers the Defender. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Defender ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 22 percent more Lexus dealers than there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GX’s warranty.

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 GX’s reliability 61 points higher than the Defender.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GX second among midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Defender isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Land Rover is rated below average.

Engine

The GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8 produces 5 more horsepower (301 vs. 296) and 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (329 vs. 295) than the Defender P300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8 produces 5 more horsepower (301 vs. 296) than the Defender 130 P300’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GX gets better fuel mileage than the Defender V8 110 (15 city/19 hwy vs. 14 city/19 hwy).

Environmental Friendliness

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

Brakes and Stopping

The GX stops much shorter than the Defender:

	GX	Defender
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	204 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	143 feet	150 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GX has larger tires than the Defender (265/60R18 vs. 255/70R18).

The GX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Defender’s standard 70 series tires.

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

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 Defender doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The GX 460 Luxury has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Defender doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GX handles at .74 G’s, while the Defender 110 SE pulls only .70 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Defender 110 SE (28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 30.1 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Chassis

The GX is 5.5 inches shorter than the Defender 110, making the GX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Defender (.38). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GX get better fuel mileage.

For excellent aerodynamics, the GX has standard flush composite headlights. The Defender has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the GX is quieter than the Defender 110 SE:

	GX	Defender
Full-Throttle	73 dB	78 dB
70 MPH Cruising	66 dB	69 dB

Passenger Space

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GX’s middle seats and third row seats (except Base/Black Line Edition) recline. The Defender’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

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

	GX	Defender
Behind Third Seat	11.6 cubic feet	10.7 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	46.7 cubic feet	34 cubic feet

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

	GX	Defender
Third Seat Folded	46.7 cubic feet	35.8 cubic feet

The GX’s cargo area provides more volume than the Defender 90.

	GX	Defender
Third Seat Folded	46.7 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	15.6 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	64.7 cubic feet	58.3 cubic feet

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

	GX	Defender 90
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	7.2”/36.5”/72”	n.a./18.1”/51.7”
Max Width	50.7”	46.6”
Min Width	43.4”	44.3”
Height	35.1”	35.6”

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the GX’s (except Base/Black Line) optional third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Defender doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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 Defender’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Land Rover. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With an 82% lower rating, Land Rover is ranked 30th.

Ergonomics

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 Defender 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 Defender doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the GX has standard extendable sun visors. The Defender doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The GX’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Defender’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

The GX has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Defender 110 Base doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the GX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the GX will cost $1890 to $10,000 less than the Defender over a five-year period.

The GX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the GX will retain 46.1% to 47.91% of its original price after five years, while the Defender only retains 43.98% to 45.77%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus GX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Land Rover Defender isn't recommended.

The Lexus GX outsold the Land Rover Defender by over two to one during 2022.

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