Compare the2024 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2024 Lexus RX

The Highlander Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The RX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander Hybrid for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lexus is rated lower.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid gets better mileage than the RX running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander Hybrid has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 450+’s standard fuel tank (17.1 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Highlander Hybrid stops much shorter than the RX:

The Highlander Hybrid’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the RX’s (54.7% to 45.3%). This gives the Highlander Hybrid more stable handling and braking.

The Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD handles at .78 G’s, while the RX 350 AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

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

The Highlander Hybrid offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the RX can only carry 5.

The Highlander Hybrid has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom, 1 inch more rear hip room and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the RX.

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the RX.

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the RX’s in almost every dimension:

The Highlander Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds).

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander Hybrid’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the RX’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Highlander Hybrid to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander Hybrid will cost $510 to $3885 less than the RX over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid will be $8996 to $11719 less than for the Lexus RX.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Highlander Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Lexus RX by 49% during 2023.