2024 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2023 Lexus GX, with its massive spindle grille and 8.1 inches of ground clearance, certainly had a commanding presence. Its front end appeared ready to dominate the road, framed by large headlights that accentuated its distinctive face. The GX Black Line Special Edition, limited to 3,000 units, returned with new paint options, including the exclusive Nori Green Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's design leaned towards a sleeker aesthetic compared to Toyota's blockier designs, making it easier to navigate technical driving scenarios.

However, the GX's interior was a mix of luxury and disappointment. While it featured heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery, the abundance of plastic materials detracted from its luxury appeal. The GX's low sales volume meant Lexus had to keep manufacturing costs low, resulting in a less refined interior. Despite this, the GX still offered some luxury touches, but its overall design felt dated.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, although similar in appearance to the 2023 model, introduced new sheet metal, a new chassis, and fresh colors like Sun Blaze and Sapphire Blue. The Wilderness trim added an exclusive Geyser Blue paint job. The Crosstrek's dimensions remained nearly the same, with a steeper departure angle and slightly reduced cargo space. The base trim featured 17-inch alloy wheels and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for off-road adventures. Roof rails were standard on higher trims, enhancing its outdoorsy appeal.

The Crosstrek's front fascia featured a clever design with headlights running up against a new wing bar, giving it a smiling appearance. Black plastic cladding protected the wheel arches, and air inlets and outlets improved aerodynamics. The split taillight design from the second generation carried over, allowing for wider trunk access. The Wilderness trim added unique design elements, including a hexagonal front grille, larger cladding pieces, and new bumpers. Inside, the Crosstrek Wilderness featured StarTex synthetic leather upholstery, copper accents, and all-weather floor mats.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. While it didn't win many battles on paper, the naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 provided a satisfying linear power delivery. However, its fuel economy was a drawback, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. The GX's weight made it roll through corners, but its predictable and controllable handling compensated for this. The Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential and standard four-wheel drive system made it user-friendly in various conditions.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, and a smaller 2.0-liter engine with 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Crosstrek's performance was not particularly quick, but the CVT provided a pleasant driving experience with simulated shift points. The Wilderness trim featured a shorter final-drive ratio, improving acceleration and towing capacity to 3,500 pounds. The Crosstrek's fuel economy was competitive, with EPA estimates of 27 mpg city, 34 highway, and 29 combined for the 2.0-liter engine, and slightly lower figures for the 2.5-liter engine and Wilderness trim.

The 2023 Lexus GX offered ample cubby space, with a deep center console bin, convenient cupholders, and two USB-A ports. The physical controls were a blessing, with hard buttons instead of haptic-touch interfaces. The center console lid had sliding mechanisms for adjustable armrests. The second row was comfortable, with captain's chairs or a three-across bench seat. However, the third row was too tight for regular use. The side-hinged trunk door was not power-operated, and the cargo space was limited, with 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, built on the Subaru Impreza's platform, offered competitive cargo space and utility for a subcompact SUV. Rear-seat legroom and headroom were good, although tall passengers might prefer the front seat. The trunk space was 19.9 cubic feet, expanding to 54.7 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The interior materials were robust and easy to clean, with a protective cargo tray standard on higher trims. The Wilderness trim added Nalgene cupholders in the trunk and all-weather floor mats.

The 2023 Lexus GX featured a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface was still present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen. The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo. However, the infotainment system felt dated compared to other Lexus models, with lagging touchscreen performance and less crisp graphics. The GX excelled in off-road capability, with a real 4WD system, Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, and an Off-Road Package.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek boasted an 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, standard on all but the Base trim. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an optional wireless charging pad. The touchscreen had crisp graphics but suffered from glare in bright sunlight and required navigating through menus for some features. In states with Right to Repair laws, Subaru removed certain features instead of modifying the system. The Crosstrek's technology offering was impressive but had some drawbacks.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it included advanced driver assistance systems like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. Despite its older design, the GX's safety features were up-to-date.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek had a strong safety record, with IIHS awarding it a Top Safety Pick designation since 2013. NHTSA gave the 2023 model five stars overall, and similar ratings were expected for the 2024 model. The Crosstrek featured Subaru's EyeSight safety system, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. New for 2024, EyeSight had a wider-angle lens and automatic emergency steering on cars with blind-spot monitoring.