Compare the2023 BMW X7VS 2023 Lexus LX

The X7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The LX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the middle seat shoulder belts of the BMW X7 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 Lexus LX doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The X7 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The LX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 LX uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the X7 and the LX 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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.

The X7’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the LX’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 LX (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.

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 LX’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The X7 M60i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 114 more horsepower (523 vs. 409) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 479) than the LX’s 3.4 turbo V6. The Alpina XB7’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 222 more horsepower (631 vs. 409) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 479) than the LX’s 3.4 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the X7 xDrive40i gets better fuel mileage than the LX 600 (21 city/25 hwy vs. 17 city/22 hwy).

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

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 LX doesn’t offer launch control.

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

For better traction, the X7 has larger standard tires than the LX (F:275/40R22 & R:315/35R22 vs. 265/55R20). The X7’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the LX (285/45R21 vs. 265/55R20).

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 LX Premium/Luxury’s 65 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 LX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the LX Premium/Luxury. The X7’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the LX.

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 LX doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 LX has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The X7 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the X7 flat and controlled during cornering. The LX base model’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The X7 offers 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 LX doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the X7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the LX, 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 10 inches longer than on the LX (122.2 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For greater off-road capability the X7 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the LX Base/Premium (8.7 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the X7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The X7’s minimum ground clearance is .4 inch higher than on the LX Luxury/Ultra Luxury/F Sport (8.7 vs. 8.3 inches).

The BMW X7 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Lexus LX.

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 LX 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 LX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

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

The X7’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The LX Ultra Luxury doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

The X7’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The LX’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The LX’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X7’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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 LX.

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 LX.

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 LX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

The BMW X7 outsold the Lexus LX by over 8 to one during 2022.