Toyota Sequoia vs Lexus GX

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia presented a robust and utilitarian design, closely resembling its Tundra pickup sibling. Its tall and wide stance, coupled with blocky features, gave it a commanding presence. The front showcased a large black grille, more contained than the Tundra's, with blacked-out elements confined within the grille itself. The side profile featured a stepped shoulder line from the hood to the front doors, with pronounced haunches over the wheels, adding to its chunky aesthetic. Black wheel flares were standard across all trims except the Capstone, which opted for body-colored flares. The rear was marked by a standard spoiler and tailgate Sequoia lettering, with wheel options ranging from 18 to 22 inches. Inside, the Sequoia's cabin echoed its exterior's ruggedness, with large dials and a utilitarian feel, especially in the TRD Pro trim. The interior featured black synthetic leather with a camouflage pattern, TRD Pro embroidery, and red contrast stitching, though the quality was deemed merely acceptable for its price range.

The 2026 Lexus GX, particularly in the Overtrail trim, exuded an adventurous spirit with its rugged design elements. The GX 550 Overtrail, priced at $77,939, featured rock rails, roof-rack crossbars, and trailering equipment, though it lacked a power sunroof. Its Nori Green Pearl color added an outdoorsy touch, complemented by gray wheel arch cladding, simulated skid plates, and knobby all-terrain tires. Inside, the Overtrail's cabin combined utility with quality, featuring tan artificial leather with black bolsters and olive-green simulated suede trim. The interior was technologically advanced, with digital driver and touchscreen infotainment displays. Despite its boxy design, the GX maintained a sense of style with its distinctive Lexus grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and tall windows for enhanced visibility. The rear featured a recessed liftgate with a horizontal taillight above a substantial bumper, adding to its rugged appeal.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia transitioned from a V8 to a hybrid powertrain, yet retained a V8-like performance. Its twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine produced 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, with an electric motor adding 48 hp and 184 lb-ft for enhanced acceleration. This setup allowed the Sequoia to achieve a 0-60 mph time of about six seconds, while maintaining a V8-like growl. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 9,520 pounds, supported by a haul mode and an optional Tow Tech package. However, its large towing mirrors, while helpful for towing, obstructed views at intersections. The Sequoia's handling was typical of a body-on-frame SUV, with noticeable body lean and slow steering. The TRD Pro trim featured an off-road-tuned suspension with Fox coil-overs and rear shocks, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The Sequoia's ride quality was generally good, with its off-road tires absorbing bumps effectively. The TRD Pro also included off-road features like a front grille light bar, skid plate, and all-weather floor mats, with a part-time 4WD system and various off-road drive modes.

The 2026 Lexus GX 550, equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine, delivered 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, full-time 4WD, and a locking center differential. The Overtrail trim added an electronic locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select settings, and hill-descent control. It rode on 18-inch wheels with 33-inch all-terrain tires and included an adaptive variable suspension with a one-inch lift. The GX's off-road prowess was evident during testing, handling challenging conditions with ease. On-road, the GX offered a comfortable ride, with its adaptive suspension absorbing bumps effectively. The twin-turbo V6 provided speedy acceleration, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds. However, its fuel efficiency was less impressive, with an EPA rating of 17 mpg combined. The GX excelled in visibility and parking, aided by its surround-view cameras and adaptive suspension, though its tires were less suited for spirited driving on twisty roads.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia offered seating for seven or eight passengers, with standard eight-way power seat adjustments in the first row. While spacious, the seats were too flat for long-trip comfort. Heated front seats were standard, with ventilation available on most trims. The second row provided good comfort, especially with captain’s chairs, and included USB-C ports and a 115-volt outlet. Access to the third row was easiest with center access, though the low seat bottoms compromised comfort for longer trips. Cargo space was both a strength and a weakness, with 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 86.9 cubic feet with seats folded. However, the load floor was not flat, and rivals offered more cargo space.

The 2026 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail required some effort to enter, especially for shorter individuals. Once inside, the front seats offered comfort with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The Luxury trim added massaging front seats and optional heated second-row captain’s chairs. The Overtrail lacked a third-row seat, offering more cargo space with 45.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 90.5 cubic feet maximum capacity. The interior, while utilitarian, lacked ample storage space, with small door bins and limited dashboard storage. The load height was high, and the bumper protruded, making it useful for stepping on but potentially soiling clothes during loading.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia featured a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 14-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. The instrument cluster displayed trip information, fuel economy, and more, while the touchscreen offered shortcuts to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, and vehicle settings. Standard tech included satellite radio, an eight-speaker audio system, Wi-Fi Connect, Remote Connect, and Safety Connect. Optional features included a head-up display, a 120-volt outlet, a wireless phone charger, and a 14-speaker JBL audio system.

The 2026 Lexus GX 550 included a 12.3-inch digital driver display, offering data panels for off-roading and trailering. A 14-inch touchscreen housed the Lexus Interface infotainment system, which was simple to use but had low contrast in daytime mode. The system included Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect, with a cloud-based navigation system and digital assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, allowing simultaneous display of navigation and audio information. The GX also featured a panoramic-view monitor and multi-terrain monitor, though the view activation button was poorly placed.

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia came with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5 suite, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and more. Additional features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. The Sequoia received mixed crash-test results from the IIHS, with a top Good score in some tests but a Marginal score in others. The safety systems performed well during testing, though the large tow mirrors posed visibility challenges.

The 2026 Lexus GX featured the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, with high-beam assist, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and more. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. Traffic Jam Assist was available with an active Drive Connect plan. The PDA system was helpful but could be uncomfortable due to automated braking. The lane-centering assist required manual overrides in curves, and adaptive cruise control braking was not as smooth as expected. Safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were not available at the time of writing.