Compare the2023 BMW X7VS 2023 Lexus GX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The X7 has standard Post-Crash Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X7 has a standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the X7 and GX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the X7 has Cross Traffic Warning with braking function (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The GX’s Rear Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the X7 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 X7 and the GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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

The X7’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the GX’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X7 for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the GX (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 44 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X7’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the X7’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 battery on the X7 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the X7’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The GX’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Engine

The X7 xDrive40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 74 more horsepower (375 vs. 301) and 69 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 329) than the GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8. The X7 M60i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 222 more horsepower (523 vs. 301) and 224 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 329) than the GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8. The Alpina XB7’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 330 more horsepower (631 vs. 301) and 261 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 329) than the GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X7 gets better mileage than the GX:

			MPG
X7
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/25 hwy
		M60i 4.4 turbo V8	16 city/21 hwy
		Alpina XB7 4.4 turbo V8	16 city/20 hwy
GX
	AWD	4.6 DOHC V8	15 city/19 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the X7’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the X7’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. The GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW X7 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Lexus GX (3). This means the X7 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GX every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW X7, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GX.

The X7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GX:

	X7 xDrive40i	X7 M Sport	GX
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	15.6 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	14.6 inches	12.3 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X7 has larger standard tires than the GX (F:275/40R22 & R:315/35R22 vs. 265/60R18). The X7’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GX (285/45R21 vs. 265/60R18).

The X7’s standard 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 standard 60 series tires. The X7’s optional 275/35R23 front and 315/30R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the GX’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GX. The X7’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the GX.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The GX doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the BMW X7 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.

The front and rear suspension of the X7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the GX, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X7’s wheelbase is 12.4 inches longer than on the GX (122.2 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X7 is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 4.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GX.

For greater off-road capability the X7 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GX (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the X7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

Unibody construction lowers the X7’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 doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

The front grille of the X7 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The X7 has 3.9 inches more front headroom, 4.6 inches more front shoulder room, 3.5 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.4 inches more third row headroom and 4 inches more third row legroom than the GX.

The front step up height for the X7 is 1.7 inches lower than the GX (20” vs. 21.7”). The X7’s rear step up height is 1.5 inches lower than the GX’s (20.5” vs. 22”).

Cargo Capacity

The X7’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX.

	X7	GX
Behind Third Seat	12.8 cubic feet	11.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.6 cubic feet	46.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	90.4 cubic feet	64.7 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the X7 easier. The X7’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 32.5 inches, while the GX’s liftover is 34.4 inches.

The X7’s cargo area is larger than the GX’s in almost every dimension:

	X7	GX
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	18.5”/45”/81.5”	7.2”/36.5”/72”
Max Width	48”	50.7”
Min Width	43.5”	43.4”
Height	32”	35.1”

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the X7’s second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The GX doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the X7’s power cargo door can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The GX doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening cargo door.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus GX is limited to 6500 pounds. The X7 offers up to a 7500 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the GX, the X7 has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The X7’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The GX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The X7 has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning 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 X7’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 X7’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The GX’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The X7’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.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The X7’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 X7 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.

The X7 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GX.

The X7 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the GX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X7 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The GX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The X7’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The GX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X7 and the Lexus GX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X7 outsold the Lexus GX by 761 units during 2022.