2023 Toyota Venza vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2023 Lexus GX was a commanding presence on the road, thanks to its massive spindle grille and 206 millimetres of ground clearance. Its overall height of 1,885 millimetres added to its imposing stature. The front end, with its large headlights, gave the GX a distinctive and aggressive look. The Black Line Special Edition, limited to 3,000 units, offered exclusive paint colours, including the new Eminent White Pearl and Nori Green Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's design was more about rugged capability, with a short wheelbase and minimal overhangs, making it appear ready for off-road adventures. Inside, the GX was a mix of luxury and practicality, with heated and cooled front seats and impressive leather upholstery, though the use of plastic materials was a letdown for a luxury SUV.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Venza was a sleek and sculpted midsize crossover SUV, standing out from the typical boxy designs in its class. Its coupe-like silhouette, with a tapering rear roofline, gave it a sophisticated look that could easily be mistaken for a Lexus. The Venza's contoured body was a departure from traditional Toyota styling, with harmonious curves reminiscent of a Mazda. Inside, the Venza borrowed elements from the RAV4 but elevated them with higher-quality materials and a more luxurious feel. The dashboard and centre stack were well-designed, with integrated climate control buttons and soft-touch surfaces. Overall, the Venza was one of the best-looking vehicles in Toyota's lineup, offering a cohesive and graceful design.

The 2023 Lexus GX was powered by a 4.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed automatic transmission. While not the most powerful on paper, the V8 provided a satisfying linear power delivery and a distinctive sound. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with estimates of 16.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 12.3 on the highway. The GX's towing capacity of 2,948 kilograms was respectable, but it lagged behind some competitors. Despite its weight, the GX offered predictable handling, with strong brakes and a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential for improved traction.

The 2023 Toyota Venza featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a hybrid system, producing a combined 219 horsepower. The hybrid setup included electric motors and a 1.6-kilowatt-hour nickel metal hydride battery, providing immediate acceleration and smooth power delivery. The Venza's CVT sent power to the front wheels, while a separate electric motor powered the rear wheels for standard AWD. It could reach 100 km/h in just over 7.5 seconds, a respectable time for its class. The Venza prioritized ride comfort over sporty handling, with light steering and a smooth ride quality. Its regenerative braking system seamlessly blended with physical brakes, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2023 Lexus GX offered ample cubby space, with a deep centre console bin and convenient cupholders. However, it lacked modern USB-C ports, featuring only USB-A ports. The GX's physical controls were a blessing for those who preferred hard buttons over touchscreens, though the abundance of buttons required some getting used to. The second row was comfortable, with captain's chairs and good legroom, but the third row was too tight for regular use. The GX's cargo space was limited, with only 328 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,322 litres with the third row folded, and 1,832 litres with both rows down.

The 2023 Toyota Venza provided spacious front seats, enhanced by large windows and a panoramic sunroof. The Star Gaze panoramic roof, standard on the Limited trim, offered a unique feature to turn the glass opaque. Rear visibility was limited, but the Venza's interior featured high-quality materials and standard features like a power-adjustable driver's seat and dual-zone climate control. The rear seats offered ample legroom, though headroom was slightly limited. The Venza's cargo capacity was 816 litres, less than some competitors, and it wasn't rated for towing. However, it excelled in holding smaller personal items, with a wireless phone charger, well-sized cupholders, and large door pockets.

The 2023 Lexus GX featured a 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an improvement over its predecessor, with standard integrations like SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the system felt dated compared to other Lexus models, with lagging graphics. The GX included a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system and a CD player. Its off-road capabilities were impressive, with a real 4WD system, downhill assist, and a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System for improved handling.

The 2023 Toyota Venza came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad. The base LE trim had an 8-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and Limited trims featured a larger 12.3-inch display. The new infotainment system offered sharp graphics and quick responses. The Venza XLE and Limited trims included a one-year trial of Drive Connect services, acting as a virtual navigator. The base audio system had six speakers, while the XLE and Limited models boasted a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it featured the Lexus Safety System+ with advanced driver assistance systems. These included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, blind spot monitoring, and more. Despite its older design, the GX offered modern safety features.

The 2023 Toyota Venza received high safety ratings, with five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. It came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure assist, and more. The XLE trim added parking sensors, while the Limited trim featured a surround-view camera system and a head-up display. The Venza's safety features functioned smoothly, with no false alarms reported.