2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was characterized by its modernist and reductive design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as Land Rover offered limited options for making the vehicle stand out, such as a Firenze Red paint colour and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. The test vehicle, finished in Eiger Grey with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, complemented by aluminum and shiny black trim, added to the sophisticated ambiance. The Range Rover Sport was available in various specifications, including Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography, and the sold-out SV Edition One. The test vehicle, a U.S.-spec Dynamic SE, featured heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and other premium features, pushing the MSRP beyond $120,000.

The Range Rover Sport's design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and taillights with surface LED technology. Its aerodynamic design boasted a coefficient of drag of 0.29. Inside, the cabin featured a luxurious and high-tech appearance, with sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery that filled the interior with a rich fragrance. The vehicle's design and materials emphasized a blend of luxury and sustainability, appealing to those who appreciated a refined and eco-conscious approach to luxury SUVs.

The 2023 Lexus GX made a bold visual statement with its massive spindle grille, 206 millimetres of ground clearance, and an overall height of 1,885 millimetres. The front end, with its large headlights, gave the GX a distinctive and commanding presence. The Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in three paint colours: Obsidian, Eminent White Pearl, and Nori Green Pearl. Despite its imposing front, the GX's dimensions seemed to shrink along the sides, with a short wheelbase of 2,789 mm and minimal overhangs, emphasizing its off-road capabilities.

The GX's design leaned towards a sleeker aesthetic compared to Toyota's blocky designs. From the driver's perspective, the hood's design improved visibility, making it easier to navigate technical driving situations. Inside, the GX's interior featured a mix of luxury and practicality, with some plastic materials detracting from its premium image. However, it offered heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery. Despite its low sales, Lexus maintained the GX's production by focusing on easy manufacturing and reaping the benefits of a luxury price premium.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. It featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography model, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. The sold-out SV Edition One offered a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine. A fully electric version was expected in 2024. The test vehicle's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, accelerating to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms. Fuel efficiency averaged 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres, with 9.4 L/100 km on suburban highways.

The Range Rover Sport's new architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35 percent, and its adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second for optimal ride comfort and handling. Dynamic driving mode, cornering brake control, brake-induced torque vectoring, and roll stability control enhanced its performance. The SV Edition One included four-wheel steering and Dynamic Response Pro active electronic roll control. The Range Rover Sport excelled off-road, with a maximum ground clearance of 28.2 centimetres and impressive approach, breakover, and departure angles. It featured Terrain Response, All Terrain Progress Control, and hill start and descent control systems. Despite its off-road prowess, the Range Rover Sport struggled to match the agility of sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz on twisty roads.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its naturally aspirated 4.6-litre V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. While it didn't excel on paper compared to newer engines, the GX's V8 offered a satisfying sound and linear power delivery. Its towing capacity of 2,948 kilograms was respectable but fell short of some competitors. Fuel economy was a downside, with estimates of 16.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 12.3 on the highway, and 14.5 combined. The GX's weight contributed to noticeable body roll, but it remained predictable and controllable. Despite its age, Lexus improved the GX's driving dynamics, with communicative road feel and strong brakes.

The GX featured a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential, distributing power in a 40:60 front:rear split, adjustable based on wheel slip. This made it user-friendly in challenging conditions. The GX's off-road capabilities were impressive, with a real 4WD system, two-speed transfer case, low range, and locking centre differential. It also included downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, and stability control. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) leveled the vehicle in various driving conditions, enhancing its off-road performance.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained its Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel with a low dashboard, upright windshield angle, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could be programmed to kneel for easier entry and exit. The front seats were comfortable, with 20-way power-adjustable options, heating, ventilation, and a massage feature. Soft-closing doors and a heated steering wheel were available, along with a Cabin Air Purification Pro system. The rear seat, while improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent support but had a reclined angle. Storage space was decent, with a deep bin under the centre armrest and a second bin under the sliding cupholder tray. The cargo area offered 903 litres of space, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Lexus GX offered ample cubby space, with a deep centre console bin and a space for a phone ahead of the shifter. Cupholders were conveniently placed, and two USB-A ports were available. The GX retained physical controls, avoiding haptic-touch interfaces, which some users appreciated. The centre console lid featured adjustable sliding mechanisms for comfort. The second row was comfortable, with captain's chairs and fold-out cupholders. Legroom was adequate, and headroom was excellent. The third row was tight, suitable for occasional use. The side-hinged rear door required effort to open, and the cargo space was limited to 328 litres behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,322 litres with the third row folded and 1,832 litres with both rows down.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. While the screens were generally intuitive, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating. The automatic driver exit assist feature was difficult to disable, and the native digital assistant struggled with basic commands. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, along with Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless smartphone charging pad was included but challenging to access.

The 2023 Lexus GX's infotainment system, updated in 2022, already felt dated. The 10.3-inch touchscreen was an improvement, offering SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface was present but unnecessary. The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. However, the touchscreen lagged, and the graphics were not as crisp as newer Lexus models. The GX excelled in off-road technology, with a real 4WD system, two-speed transfer case, and locking centre differential. It also featured downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, and stability control. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) and optional multi-terrain monitor enhanced its off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Wade Sensing was standard for water crossings. Remote Park Assist allowed the SUV to park itself via a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control with steering assist was slow to respond and not as smooth as expected. The steering assist technology was dissatisfactory, especially on highway curves, requiring driver intervention.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it featured the Lexus Safety System+ and other safety features. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high beams. While the GX's structure was dated, its safety technology was significantly newer.