2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, with its redesigned models, was presented in Santa Barbara, California, where the RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid versions were the focus. Visually, the RX 350h was nearly indistinguishable from the standard RX 350, save for a badge on the liftgate. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, however, stood out with its Copper paint, blacked-out grille, and aggressive styling. Despite its popularity, the RX maintained a blunt-nosed design, with a wheelbase stretch that made it appear smaller. Inside, the RX adopted a minimalistic approach, featuring a new Lexus Interface infotainment system and contemporary textures. The RX 350h Luxury model boasted Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance offered a darker interior with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, built on the TNGA-K platform, was a true crossover, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models. It was notably larger, with a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, offering a spacious interior. The Grand Highlander’s design was more conservative and blockier, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. It featured a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, resembling the Toyota 4Runner. Inside, the Grand Highlander offered light gray or black Softex synthetic leather on the XLE trim, with real leather available on the Limited and Platinum trims. The Platinum trim could be equipped with Portobello upholstery, adding a touch of luxury.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a range of powertrains, with the RX 350h producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, achieving 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid system, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. It featured an adaptive damping suspension and Dynamic Rear Steering system, enhancing its athleticism. However, the RX 500h’s fuel economy was lower, averaging 20.9 mpg. The RX 350h, on the other hand, averaged 32 mpg, offering a quieter cabin and better gas mileage.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander provided three engine options: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid with 245 hp, and the Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration, reaching 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander’s size made it less maneuverable, but its brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. It featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for AWD-equipped models. The Sport mode improved steering and throttle response, while Eco mode focused on efficiency.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided a comfortable experience with its ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone automatic climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable seats with larger bolsters and standard heated and ventilated seats. The hybrids’ battery packs were located under the back seat, offering good leg support but tight rear headroom. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded, an improvement over the previous model.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. It offered 57.9 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for adults, even in the third row.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured a new infotainment system, requiring a subscription for connected services. The Lexus Interface included a cloud-based navigation system and an Intelligent Assistant. However, the system had limitations, such as only displaying one screen menu at a time and suffering from reflections. The available head-up display had dual-function touch-sensing control pads, which could be distracting, especially with polarized sunglasses.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering an intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation via a subscription. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced sound experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available, with additional subscription options for Wi-Fi Connect.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid was equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring advanced driving assistance systems like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. Proactive Driving Assist was also included, maintaining a safe following distance and recharging the battery through regenerative braking. However, some features, like the front cross-traffic alert and curve-speed reduction, had limitations.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, offering automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. The adaptive cruise control now featured four following-distance settings, enhancing its functionality.