2024 Lexus RX vs 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2024 Lexus RX, following its recent redesign, presented a polarizing exterior with its oversized trapezoidal grille and large air inlets. The grille, integrated into the bodywork, appeared awkward, especially in lighter colors, and was further accentuated by a hood with a prominent bump. The side profile added visual heft with bulging body panels and a swooping chrome accent strip that suggested a floating-roof design, though it seemed slightly out of place. The rear design was more cohesive, featuring a tidy layout with a single light strip connecting the taillights. Inside, the RX offered a more conventional and inviting cabin, especially in the top Luxury trim, with faux suede inserts and a large 14-inch infotainment touchscreen. However, the simulated woodgrain on the center console felt less convincing compared to the genuine wood inlays on the steering wheel, though the rest of the cabin boasted premium materials and sturdy construction.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid adopted a conservative and familiar design, reminiscent of the popular RAV4, but on a larger scale. This approach resulted in a vehicle that looked like a gigantic RAV4, offering seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior prioritized function over form, with the Platinum trim adding a layer of luxury. Despite the use of glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces, the controls were logically arranged, and the overall material quality was decent. The climate system was straightforward, featuring large knobs for temperature adjustments, though the infotainment interface had a tiny volume knob and lacked a tuning knob, which could be frustrating for some users.

The 2024 Lexus RX offered four distinct models, starting with the base RX 350, powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in both FWD and AWD. The RX 350h hybrid version featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, routed through a CVT with standard AWD. The RX 500h F Sport Performance combined a turbo 2.4-liter inline-four with a hybrid powertrain, delivering 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and AWD. The new RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid increased power output to 304 hp and offered up to 37 miles of electric-only range. While the RX 350 and RX 350h felt underpowered compared to rivals, the RX 450h+ provided more responsive acceleration, reaching 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. The RX prioritized comfort with its soft suspension, resulting in noticeable body roll and residual rebounds, though it remained comfortable for most luxury SUV shoppers.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid emphasized efficiency with its regular hybrid system, while the Hybrid Max focused on performance. The Hybrid Max powertrain, based on a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with electronic full-time AWD and two electric motors, produced 362 net horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate swiftly, with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoiding the droning common in CVTs. The Hybrid Max traded some fuel economy for power, achieving 27 mpg compared to the regular hybrid's 36 mpg, but it could tow up to 5,000 pounds. During testing, the Hybrid Max averaged 23.3 mpg on a mountainous route. The powertrain provided rewarding acceleration, with electric motors negating turbo lag, and the ride quality was soft and isolating, though undulations could cause vertical bounding and lateral rocking. Handling was secure up to a point, with early tire scrub and squeal, but visibility was excellent, aided by cameras.

The 2024 Lexus RX offered spacious front seats with ample power adjustments, standard heating, and ventilation on all but the base trim. While a massage function was absent, the seats remained comfortable for long trips. The Premium trim included a rubberized wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and additional USB ports. The rear seats provided adequate space for average-sized adults, with good legroom and headroom, and manual sunshades for privacy. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 46.2 cubic feet with the second row folded. The load floor was slightly taller than competitors, but all trims featured a power liftgate, with hands-free operation available as an option.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating across all three rows, with nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and supportive cushions. The second-row captain’s chairs, with a removable center console, allowed easy access to the third row. The rearmost seats were reasonably comfortable for adults and tall teens, with ample crush space for safety. The Grand Highlander offered 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 57.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.5 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2024 Lexus RX featured a redesigned infotainment system with a touchscreen interface, replacing the previous trackpad controller. Lower trims had a 9.8-inch display, while higher trims boasted a 14-inch screen. The system offered logical menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses, with natural speech commands for convenience. The steering wheel housed multi-function pads for phone, music, and cruise control, with a head-up display providing button diagrams. The RX included a cloud-based navigation system, Wi-Fi hotspot, and smartphone app connectivity, though connectivity issues and subscription requirements might lead owners to prefer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The available 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system delivered impressive audio quality.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel in higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services offered features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, collision notification, and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously and low-contrast font were drawbacks. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, and the Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and surround-view camera system. The JBL premium audio system exceeded expectations in sound quality.

The 2024 Lexus RX earned five stars in overall and side collision protection from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The FWD RX 350 received four stars for overall protection. The IIHS awarded the RX its highest score of "Good" in most crashworthiness evaluations, except for a "Poor" rating in the moderate frontal overlap test. Despite this, the RX was named a Top Safety Pick. Standard safety features included the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a rear passenger safe-exit system. Additional features included parking proximity sensors, a head-up display, and a semi-automated parking system.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver-assistance technologies. The system included lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Proactive Driving Assist (PDA), though the latter was found to be irritating and often disabled. The safety tech operated accurately, though the lane-keep assist occasionally strayed too close to lane markers. The Grand Highlander earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.