Toyota Land Cruiser Vs. Lexus GX: Which Bold and Badass Iconic SUV Should You Buy?

If you think of the lifetime of the Toyota Land Cruiser, this is an SUV that’s done it all and seen it all. It started out as a general purpose off-roader with a hearty military and rescue purpose, but evolved in to a go-to for families that even inspired the addition of a 3rd row to accommodate carpools and family road trips.

With four wheel drive—always, 4WD— it was as capable cutting new trails as it was getting home in a blizzard.

For the 2024 redesign Toyota decided to lean into the heritage, not only with some key details including the brush bar style front grille and the “1958” trim, but also, to return it to a 5 passenger SUV.

Video: We toured, test drove and went off road in the Lexus GX!

The Lexus GX is striking for its modern modularity on the the outside: It’s boxy but sculpted with exterior components mostly contained within the design keeping a sleek silhouette; only the necessary things like fenders, running boards and the rear bumper which also functions as a step, pop from the frame. The Overtrail model, seen here, is a bit of design outlier with black accents and a contrast roof; Premium and Luxury trims boast an even more minimalist exterior.

Video: This is what the Toyota Land Cruiser is all about!

Both the Toyota and Lexus prioritize visibility from the driver’s seat. This is accomplished with a lower dashboard, narrow front side pillars and a lower center hood line that increases your view of the road (or trail). The Toyota Land Cruiser puts all necessary functions at your finger tips with 4WD controls on the center console. The multimedia system features “Hey Toyota” voice activated assistance and built-in navigation, though an enhanced version can be had with a subscription.

The upright command position, thanks to 8.7″ of ground clearance and the low dash, feels simply great. It makes you feel powerful and in control.

Read: Your New Car is Built For Off-Roading. But Does It Have What It Takes?

Inside the Lexus GX the minimalist idea continues. The large multimedia screen incorporates both touch and dial climate controls and is equipped with “Hey Lexus” voice activation. Both the GX and Land Cruiser feature a lever-style gear shifter for an old-school feel. Like the Land Cruiser, 4WD controls are on the center console and the multi drive mode selector is on the angled panel between the console and the media screen.

The GX has 8.7″ of ground clearance, the same as the Land Cruiser, though the 2025 Overtrail trim adds more than an inch to its height, which is now 9.8″, for even better visibility and clearing obstacles on the trail.

Read: 4 Things I Hope Lexus Keeps (and Changes) with the New Lexus GX

Toyota keeps it simple: there are two. The main trim is simply called Land Cruiser. Then, there’s a heritage 1958 trim which is notable for round heritage-style headlights. True to the heritage idea, the 1958 model has cloth seats and all the key functions for off-roading but skips the luxury options available in the Land Cruiser, such as a center console cool box, head up display and a moon roof.

Where Toyota delivered on the Land Cruiser promise of “what you need” and “what you want,” Lexus leans into the luxury promise with lots of options through six trim levels: Premium, Premium+, Luxury, Luxury+, Overtrail and Overtrail+. The Overtrail trims are really all about the off-road experience and seat only 5 and while, yes, it delivers a luxury experience, those looking for all the comforts should focus on Premium or Luxury trims.

Premium and Luxury models seat 6 or 7 and add features like massaging seats, a panoramic sunroof, heated first and second row seats and leather upholstery. Lexus provides a very comprehensive and easy to digest trim comparison here.

Toyota is great at delivering what you need without being overly bougie, and that’s one the things we love about it: Models are capable and well equipped without being conspicuous. The Land Cruiser follows that edict; the moon roof is not pano, it’s a traditional style that covers only the front seat. Upholstery is cloth in the 1958 model and leatherette in the Land Cruiser, though there is an option for leather.

Full time 4WD, heated seats, a large multimedia touch screen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on both trims, though the Land Cruiser takes it all up a notch and offers options, like head up display, a cool box and wireless charging that are not available on the 1958 model. You can see all the features in this nice chart.

The Luxury+ trim is for the driver, or family, who has it all and needs a car that can do it all, getting up that icy hill to the ski house and across wind-swept dunes to the house on the shore, all in sublime luxury. The Luxury+ trim is outfitted with a panoramic sunroof, video rear view mirror, center console cool box and automatic running boards. Premium+ and Luxury models are nicely loaded, too, with power folding 3rd row, heated steering wheel, heated second row seats, ambient lighting and a wireless phone charge pad.

Which is better for families depends on the ages of your kids, if your dog needs a seat and how much gear you haul each week, but the first-blush answer is that the Lexus GX Premium bests the Land Cruiser simply for the seating capacity. With a 3rd row, leatherette seats and the option of captains chairs it more comfortably seats 4, 5 or 6, or even 7 passengers.

Both Lexus GX and Toyota Land Cruiser are similar in terms of space for kids car seats and are probably not the best choice on the market for one or two rear-facing car seats.

That aside, families who need to seat 3 kids will find the center bench in both SUVs to be woefully incapable due to a hard plastic cover over the transmission tunnel (seen in the photo of the Lexus GX Overtrail, above). This means there is almost zero foot space for the middle seat passenger. Captains chairs in the Lexus GX solve this problem.

The last consideration for families is cargo space: The GX has 9 more cubic feet behind the second row than the Land Cruiser has, and it’s 3″ longer to accommodate the extra space and 3rd row. In general this is not a huge difference but if it matters, it matters.

Toyota took the opportunity to add a bit more luxury to the Lexus GX with a larger engine, and it’s a good choice considering it’s slightly more expensive and slightly larger. The Toyota runs on a 4 cylinder turbo iForce Max hybrid engine that gets about 23 MPG, produces 326 HP and can tow up to 6,000 lbs.

The Lexus GX is powered by a V6 twin turbo engine that generates 349 HP, can tow up to 9,000 lbs and is estimated to get 17 MPG.

These two trims are basic for the model and really designed for all that it needs to accommodate on the off-road trail. Both seat 5, are more comfortable for 4 thanks to the transmission tunnel that makes the middle seat better for an arm rest and cup holder than a passenger, and don’t offer all the options that the other models do.

The Land Cruiser 1958 model is one of the most basic trims you’ll find; the focus of course is 4WD capabilty, and it includes everything that the Land Cruiser has except the stabilizer bar disconnect and the multi-terrain select system (dirt/rock/mud/sand modes).

The GX Overtrail model, of course, is loaded with luxury features, and the Overtrail+ adds even more, such as massaging seats. Buyers who want more luxuries and are willing to give up the Land Cruiser heritage look and feel will find the Overtrail to be a happy place for an additional $11,000.

The Toyota Land Cruiser is as much a lifestyle as it is an SUV. It takes you back to basics in many ways and lets you live the life of this off-road cult. It’ll have your back on the trail and let you do things you might not have thought possible; go ahead, put the Rebelle Rally on your bucket list.

The Lexus GX is the be-all for families that need all the off-road capability and luxury that the GX has become known for. You can pick your seating, bring the kids, their car seats and the dogs and still look chic, modern and muscular doing it. It’s not as expensive but a lot more capable than many other cars in its category (Cadillac Escalade has a starting price that’s less than the Luxury+ trim, for instance).

Either way, Toyota has figured out how to please all those who have loved the Land Cruiser and the GX in the past and those who have longed for this life and style. Now the only decision is… which trim do you go for? Happy shopping!