Compare the2025 Porsche CayenneVS 2025 Lexus GX

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

Both the Cayenne and GX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Cayenne has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Cayenne 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 Cayenne 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 Cayenne 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, 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 and driver alert monitors.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne second among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The GX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is rated lower.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 114 more horsepower (463 vs. 349) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6. The Cayenne S’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 119 more horsepower (468 vs. 349) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6. The Cayenne GTS’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 144 more horsepower (493 vs. 349) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (486 vs. 479) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6. The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 380 more horsepower (729 vs. 349) and 221 lbs.-ft. more torque (700 vs. 479) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Porsche Cayenne turbo V6 is faster than the Lexus GX:

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

Regenerative brakes improve the Cayenne’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 Cayenne’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.

The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the GX (23.7 vs. 21.1 gallons).

The Cayenne’s optional 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.

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

The Cayenne offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The GX doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The GX doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the GX:

For better traction, the Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GX (F:285/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 265/55R20).

The Cayenne’s standard 255/55R20 front and 295/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 45 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX Overtrail’s standard 70 series tires. The Cayenne’s optional 285/40R22 front and 315/35R22 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the GX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GX Overtrail.

The Cayenne 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 GX.

The Cayenne has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cayenne’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the GX (114 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The Cayenne handles at 1.02 G’s, while the GX Overtrail+ pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 5.3 seconds quicker than the GX Luxury+ (23.6 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

The Porsche Cayenne may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 900 pounds less than the Lexus GX.

The Cayenne is 3 inches shorter than the GX, making the Cayenne easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cayenne is 8.6 inches shorter in height than the GX, making the Cayenne much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Unibody construction lowers the Cayenne’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 Cayenne 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 Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume than the GX with its rear seat up (27.3 vs. 10.3 cubic feet).

The Cayenne has a higher standard payload capacity than the GX (1415 vs. 1235 lbs.).

The Cayenne has a higher maximum payload capacity than the GX (1601 vs. 1545 lbs.).

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

The Cayenne’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the GX.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Cayenne to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The GX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The GX’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Cayenne’s optional 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 Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The GX doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’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 Cayenne 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Porsche Cayenne has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the GX.

The Cayenne’s Active Parking Assistance can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote ParkAssist 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.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Porsche Cayenne, based on reliability, safety and performance.