2024 Lexus GX vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2024 Lexus GX presented a striking departure from its predecessor, the GX 470, with its bold geometric styling and less pronounced spindle grille. The new design featured standard triple-beam LED headlights and a more vertical front end, giving it an aggressive look. The flat hood, with its raised sides, aided drivers in maintaining positional awareness off-road. The side profile of the GX appeared as if carved from a solid block, with minimal character lines and a low window beltline for enhanced visibility. The GX was available in six trim levels, with the Premium+ expected to be the best-seller. Luxury trims boasted features like 22-inch wheels and ambient lighting, while the Overtrail trims focused on off-roading with 18-inch wheels and eco-friendly upholstery. Inside, the GX combined luxury with utilitarian materials, featuring a 14-inch touchscreen and physical controls for off-road functions.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, encountered as a rental in Hawaii, was a black-on-black hardtop with dark gray wheels, which proved less than ideal in the tropical climate. Despite the color choice, the Wrangler's open-air design with removable panels made it enjoyable to drive in Hawaii. The Wrangler was offered in various trims, including the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower V8 engine. The Sport S model, priced at nearly $50,000, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a few options like a black hardtop and Convenience Group. The Wrangler's interior emphasized function over form, with a focus on durability and utility. Its design drew on themes of American freedom, rooted in its military vehicle heritage, and it remained popular despite lacking sophistication compared to newer cars.

The 2024 Lexus GX transitioned from a V8 to a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine, producing 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain offered more power than its predecessor, with torque available low in the rev range for off-road capability. Built on the GA-F truck platform, the GX featured a stiffer chassis for improved stability on and off-road. It employed a 10-speed automatic transmission, standard full-time four-wheel drive, and a locking Torsen limited-slip center differential. The Overtrail trims added a locking rear differential and Lexus's Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) for enhanced wheel articulation. During testing, the GX demonstrated impressive acceleration and braking, with controlled on-road behavior despite its size.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering better fuel efficiency and performance at higher elevations. During testing in Hawaii, the Wrangler achieved an average fuel economy of 19.2 mpg. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and narrow width made it well-suited for the island's terrain. However, its rough ride and disconnected steering were notable drawbacks. The Wrangler's off-road capabilities were highlighted by its Rock Trac transfer case and locking axles, although these features were not tested during the rental experience.

The 2024 Lexus GX's interior featured a minimalist and sophisticated design with fewer physical buttons. It offered comfortable seating for six-foot-tall adults in the first and second rows, with 41.2 inches of legroom in the front and 36.7 inches in the second row. The third row, available in Premium and Luxury models, was tight for adults. The GX excelled in cargo space, with 10.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 40.2 cubic feet with it folded, and a total of 76.9 cubic feet. Overtrail models offered even more space, with 45.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 90.5 cubic feet in total.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and heated options available. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Cargo access was cumbersome, requiring the tailgate and rear window to be opened separately. The Wrangler offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2024 Lexus GX featured a 14-inch touchscreen with USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad. The Lexus Interface infotainment system offered Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto, and a voice assistant. Drive Connect and Remote Connect services were available with initial free trials, but required subscriptions afterward. The GX came with a 10-speaker audio system, with a 21-speaker Mark Levinson stereo available on higher trims.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system included a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. An eight-speaker stereo was standard, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. Jeep Connect offered connected services like a Wi-Fi hotspot and GPS Trail Logs. The touchscreen remained easy to use even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display and features like passive entry and remote engine start.

The 2024 Lexus GX received significant safety upgrades with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including pre-collision detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing assist, and road-sign recognition. While crash tests were pending, the new GA-F architecture and advanced driver assistance systems improved confidence in its safety.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags as standard equipment. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated it Good for side-impact protection but Marginal for small overlap frontal-impact tests.