Compare the2024 Mercedes GLSVS 2024 Lexus TX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GLS. But it costs extra on the TX.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The TX doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLS has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Active Brake Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the TX Premium/Luxury offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the GLS and the TX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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.

Warranty

There are over 57 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GLS’ warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS second among large premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The TX isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The GLS has more powerful engines than the TX:

	Horsepower	Torque
GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
GLS 580 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	510 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
Maybach GLS 600 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	550 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	275 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	366 HP	406 lbs.-ft.
TX 550h+ 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid	406 HP

As tested in Motor Trend the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Lexus TX:

	GLS	TX 350	TX 500h
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	7.7 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	15.8 sec	14.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	91 MPH	93.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The GLS has 9.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 550h+’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The GLS has 6 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 350’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 17.8 gallons).

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the TX.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLS’ standard brake rotors are larger than those on the TX:

	GLS	TX
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.3 inches

The GLS stops much shorter than the TX:

	GLS	TX
70 to 0 MPH	154 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the TX (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 255/55R20). The GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the TX (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. 255/55R20).

The GLS’ standard 275/45R21 front and 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the TX’s standard 55 series tires. The GLS’ optional 285/40R23 front and 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the TX’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the TX. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the TX.

Suspension and Handling

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

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Lexus doesn’t offer an active suspension on the TX.

The GLS has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The TX’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GLS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLS’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The TX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The TX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLS’ wheelbase is 7.3 inches longer than on the TX (123.4 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

The GLS’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the TX’s (53.1% to 46.9%). This gives the GLS more stable handling and braking.

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the TX 500h F Sport Performance Luxury 4dr Sport Utility pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLS 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the TX 350 Luxury 4dr Sport Utility (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a 2.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the TX 550h+ Luxury 4dr Sport Utility (10.1 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 3.3 inches higher than on the TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium 4dr Sport Utility (11.3 vs. 8 inches).

Towing

The GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the TX’s (7716 vs. 5000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GLS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the TX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

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

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The TX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

The TX Luxury/F Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The GLS’ 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.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The TX doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The GLS 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 TX.

The GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The TX doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

The GLS offers optional massaging front and second row seats, which keep the driver and middle row passengers. Massaging seats aren’t available in the TX.

Recommendations

The Mercedes GLS outsold the Lexus TX by almost three to one during 2023.