There are run-of-the-mill SUVs, and then there are run-right-up-and-over-the-mill SUVs like the 2024 Lexus GX and Land Rover Defender. These two titans are capable of extreme off-road driving, though they’re equally at home parked outside the swankiest restaurant in a city center.
Available with seating for up to seven, the GX and Defender are upscale in design and amenities, and both sport styling that appears to have been developed by a team of Lego engineers. If being square is cool, the GX and Defender are as hip as it gets in the realm of luxurious all-terrain SUVs.
Let’s explore the highlights of the Lexus GX and Land Rover Defender.
2024 Lexus GX
The 2024 Lexus GX is all-new this model year and shares its rugged body-on-frame chassis with the Toyota Tundra full-size pickup and 3-row Sequoia SUV. Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 that produces 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque.
This is routed to the standard 4-wheel-drive system via a 10-speed automatic transmission. This is the GX’s sole powertrain for now, though a hybrid is expected at some point. Pricing starts at $64,250, including delivery charges.
Lexus GX Highlights
Rugged new shape: Lexus wasn’t bashful about giving the long-overdue replacement of the outgoing Lexus GX a memorable appearance. If you’re a fan of curves, please look away. That’s because it’s all sharp edges and creases everywhere you look on the 2024 GX. We’re particularly fond of the large – but not excessive – front grille and the LED taillight bar that runs the width of the rear.
Fully up-to-date tech: The interior is just as radically updated as the exterior. A 14-inch touchscreen is complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel facing the driver. Lexus somehow managed to craft an opulent and entirely no-nonsense interior in appearance and feel.
Overtrail model: This is the trim to pick if you plan on taking your GX into the wilderness – or if you just want to look super macho. Starting at $69,250, the Overtrail rides on 33-inch off-road tires, more selectable drive modes for a wider variety of terrain, a locking rear differential, underbody skid plates, and a Multi-Terrain Monitor. Keep in mind the Overtrail is the only 2-row variant; it ditches the 3-row arrangement found on the rest of the GX range.
Dynamic sky roof: This slick feature is fitted to the top-of-the-line GX 550 Luxury+ trim. Basically, it’s a giant panoramic sunroof that transitions from clear to opaque with the push of a button.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the GX models near you.
2024 Land Rover Defender
Reintroduced to the Land Rover lineup for the 2020 model year, the 2024 Defender arrives with some notable updates. First, the outdoorsy Outbound trim is available on the extended-wheelbase 3-row Defender 130. A 493-hp supercharged 5.0-liter V8 (dubbed the P500) is also newly available in the 2-row Defender 110 and 130 models.
Since the Lexus GX comes standard with 3-row seating, the 3-row Defender 130 is the most comparable to the GX in the Defender model range.
Pricing starts at $70,575 for the Defender 130, though this dips to $57,875 should you prefer the 2-door Defender 90. As you’ll soon find out, there’s no shortage of ways to create your ideal Land Rover Defender.
Land Rover Defender Highlights
Three body styles, five engines: Regarding customization, few SUVs come anywhere close to matching this Land Rover. There are three body styles, starting with the 2-door Defender 90, the 4-door, 2-row Defender 110, and 3-row Defender 130. Spread across them are five powertrains, ranging from a turbo 4-cylinder and two turbo mild-hybrid 6-cylinders upward to a supercharged V8 that produces a maximum of 518 hp.
Adult-friendly third row: A big plus point with the Defender 130 is that its rear seating accommodates adults. There is significantly more legroom in its third row than in the more kids-only rear seats in the GX.
Outbound model: Similar to the Lexus GX Overtrail, the Defender Outbound model jettisons the third-row seats in favor of a cavernous cargo hold. Available only on the Defender 130, the Outbound provides 46.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind its split-folding second row.
Optional air suspension: The Defender’s available air suspension finds the ideal setting for adventures on and off paved roads. It softens the ride for hours-long highway stints or elevates the suspension to better scramble over rugged terrain that might pose a risk of crunching some underbody componentry.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Defender models near you.
Similarities
Luxury SUV shoppers with a spirit for adventure will likely fall head over heels for this duo. They have outstanding off-road capabilities but don’t fall to pieces doing something as mundane as running daily errands or navigating into a parallel parking spot.
The most rugged model of both the GX and Defender reverts to a 2-row seating arrangement, which strikes as one the their quirkier similarities. A less endearing shared trait is that each has a serious thirst for fuel.
Conclusion
It’s not easy for us to pick an outright winner between the Lexus GX and Land Rover Defender. One key reason is that the Defender is offered in so many permutations; some are direct rivals to the Lexus, while others are more attuned to hardcore off-road machines like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. Yet in its upper trims with its most potent engines, the Defender has the power and prestige to rival the finest (and fanciest) SUVs from the likes of Bentley and Mercedes-Benz.
Credit to Lexus for giving the GX such a dramatic turnaround. The outgoing model was far past its sell-by date. The cabin was cramped, and the driving dynamics sloppy. The 2024 Lexus GX changes everything and manages to balance everyday driving comfort with a tenacious grip for off-road driving. Thanks to its slightly higher degree of interior design and refinement, plus its exemplary history of reliability and high resale value, it edges the Land Rover rival in this matchup.
| 2024 Lexus GX | 2024 Land Rover Defender (130) | |
| Starting Price | $64,250 | $70,575 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | Twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 | Turbo 3.0-liter 6-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 349 hp @ 4,800 rpm | 296 hp @ 4,500 rpm |
| Torque | 479 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm | 347 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Fuel economy MPG | 15 city/21 highway/17 combined | 17 city/20 highway/18 combined |
| Also Available | Turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, Turbo/supercharged 3.0-liter 6-cyl., Supercharged 5.0-liter V8 | |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/60,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 6 years/70,000 miles | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | NA | 5-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 7 | 8 |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 inches | 119.0 inches |
| Overall Length | 197.0 inches | 211.7 inches |
| Width | 77.9 inches | 79.1 inches |
| Height | 75.5 inches | 77.6 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 42.0 feet | 42.1 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.3 inches | 40.6 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 43.1 inches | 40.4 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 35.4 inches | 39.0 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.1 inches | 39.1 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 36.7 inches | 38.4 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 31.8 inches | 39.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 59.5 inches | 60.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 57.1 inches | 59.2 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 54.7 inches | NA |
| Cargo Volume behind rear seat | 10.3 cubic feet | 10.2 cubic feet |
