Compare the2025 Jeep WagoneerVS 2025 Lexus GX

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Jeep Wagoneer achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus GX has not been tested.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Wagoneer Grand helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The GX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Wagoneer and the GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Wagoneer is safer than the Lexus GX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Wagoneer for 4 years and unlimited miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the GX (5/unlimited vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 10 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wagoneer’s warranty.

The Wagoneer’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 71 more horsepower (420 vs. 349) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6. The Grand Wagoneer’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 191 more horsepower (540 vs. 349) and 42 lbs.-ft. more torque (521 vs. 479) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Jeep Wagoneer 3.0 is faster than the Lexus GX:

On the EPA test cycle the Wagoneer gets better mileage than the GX:

Regenerative brakes improve the Wagoneer 5.7 Hemi’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Wagoneer’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Wagoneer has 5.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the GX (26.5 vs. 21.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Wagoneer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Jeep Wagoneer higher (6 out of 10) than the Lexus GX (5). This means the Wagoneer produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GX every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Wagoneer’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GX:

For better traction, the Wagoneer has larger standard tires than the GX (275/55R20 vs. 265/55R20). The Wagoneer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GX (285/45R22 vs. 265/55R20).

The Wagoneer’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX Overtrail’s standard 70 series tires. The Wagoneer’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the GX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Wagoneer has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GX Overtrail.

The Wagoneer has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Wagoneer offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Wagoneer’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The GX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wagoneer’s wheelbase is 10.8 inches longer than on the GX (123 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Wagoneer is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the GX.

The Wagoneer Series II 4x4 handles at .73 G’s, while the GX Overtrail+ pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Wagoneer Series II 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GX Luxury+ (28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Wagoneer Air Suspension has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GX Overtrail (10 vs. 9.8 inches), allowing the Wagoneer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Wagoneer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Wagoneer uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Wagoneer offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the GX can only carry up to 7.

The Wagoneer’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX.

The Wagoneer’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX Overtrail.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Wagoneer’s optional second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GX doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus GX is limited to 9096 pounds. The Wagoneer offers up to a 10,000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Wagoneer 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wagoneer can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Wagoneer has a much higher standard payload capacity than the GX (1510 vs. 1235 lbs.).

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the GX, the Wagoneer Grand offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, foot pedal distance, outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Wagoneer’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the GX.

The Wagoneer has standard front air conditioned seats and the Wagoneer Grand Series III also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The GX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Wagoneer has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GX.

The Wagoneer’s optional ParkSense Automated Parking can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The GX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Wagoneer is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GX doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Wagoneer first among large suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The GX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Jeep Wagoneer outsold the Lexus GX by 89% during 2024.