Compare the2024 Jeep Grand CherokeeVS 2024 Lexus GX

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee Overland/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The GX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Grand Cherokee 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 Grand Cherokee and the GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The GX has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 2 visits) on the Grand Cherokee for 1 year and unlimited miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the GX (2/unlimited vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 10 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee’s warranty.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 26 more horsepower (375 vs. 349) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee 4xe running on electricity gets better mileage than the GX (57 city/56 hwy MPGe vs. 15 city/21 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the GX:

The Grand Cherokee 4xe can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The GX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Grand Cherokee 4xe’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 Grand Cherokee’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 (V6 only). The GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Grand Cherokee uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Grand Cherokee 4xe for maximum performance). The GX requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Grand Cherokee’s standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the GX (23 vs. 21.1 gallons).

The Grand Cherokee has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Jeep Grand Cherokee higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus GX (5). This means the Grand Cherokee produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GX every 15,000 miles.

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GX (275/45R21 vs. 265/55R20).

The Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve’s 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 optional 50 series tires.

The Grand Cherokee has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Cherokee’s 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 GX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Cherokee’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the GX (116.7 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 handles at .78 G’s, while the GX Overtrail+ pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GX Overtrail+ (27.7 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Grand Cherokee’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the GX’s (38 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Air Suspension has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GX Overtrail (10.9 vs. 8.9 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 1350 pounds less than the Lexus GX.

The Grand Cherokee is 3.6 inches shorter than the GX, making the Grand Cherokee easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the Grand Cherokee’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 design of the Jeep Grand Cherokee amounts to more than styling. The Grand Cherokee has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .357 Cd. That is significantly lower than the GX (.39). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Grand Cherokee get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Grand Cherokee 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.

The Grand Cherokee offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume than the GX with its rear seat up (37.7 vs. 10.3 cubic feet).

The Grand Cherokee 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the GX, the Grand Cherokee Overland Luxury Tech/Summit has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Grand Cherokee’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The GX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Grand Cherokee Summit’s Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The GX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Grand Cherokee is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GX doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Lexus GX by almost 8 to one during 2023.