Compare the2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee LVS 2024 Lexus GX

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L 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 GX doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee L 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 L 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 L 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 L 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 L 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 L’s warranty.

The battery on the Grand Cherokee L is under the seat, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Grand Cherokee L’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The GX’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The Grand Cherokee L’s optional 5.7 V8 produces 8 more horsepower (357 vs. 349) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V8 is faster than the Lexus GX:

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee L gets better mileage than the GX:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Grand Cherokee L V8’s fuel efficiency. The GX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Grand Cherokee L V6’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.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The GX requires premium, which can cost on average about 31.4 cents more per gallon.

The Grand Cherokee L has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the GX (23 vs. 21.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Grand Cherokee L 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.

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

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX Overtrail’s standard 70 series tires. The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the GX’s optional 50 series tires.

The Grand Cherokee L 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 L 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 L’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 L’s wheelbase is 9.5 inches longer than on the GX (121.7 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The Grand Cherokee L Overland handles at .82 G’s, while the GX Overtrail+ pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Grand Cherokee L Overland executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the GX Overtrail+ (27.3 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Grand Cherokee L’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the GX’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

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

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 1050 pounds less than the Lexus GX.

Unibody construction lowers the Grand Cherokee L’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 L amounts to more than styling. The Grand Cherokee L 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 L get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Grand Cherokee L 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 L uses 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 L’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GX doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Grand Cherokee L 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 L can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Grand Cherokee L has a higher standard payload capacity than the GX (1370 vs. 1235 lbs.).

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the GX, the Grand Cherokee L 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 second row seats keep the Grand Cherokee L’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 L 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 L 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.