Compare the2023 Lexus GXVS 2023 Land Rover Discovery

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 Discovery 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 Discovery 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 Discovery 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 Discovery 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 Discovery doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the GX and the Discovery 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.

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

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 Discovery.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GX second among midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Discovery 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.

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 Discovery’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

The GX stops much shorter than the Discovery:

For better traction, the GX has larger tires than the Discovery (265/60R18 vs. 255/55R20).

The Lexus GX’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Land Rover Discovery 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 Discovery. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

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 Discovery doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The GX is 3 inches shorter than the Discovery, making the GX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GX is 7.4 inches narrower than the Discovery, making the GX easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The GX has 2.6 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more third row hip room and 7.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Discovery.

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

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

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

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 Discovery’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The GX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Discovery’s (6500 vs. 5925 pounds).

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.

The GX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Discovery.

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 Discovery 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 Discovery 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 Discovery doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The GX has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Discovery doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the GX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the GX will cost $2770 to $6585 less than the Discovery over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lexus GX will be $143 to $5533 less than for the Land Rover Discovery.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus GX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus GX outsold the Land Rover Discovery by over 22 to one during 2022.