If you’re shopping for a luxury midsize SUV, you might be eyeing the 2022 Lexus GX. However, the classy Mercedes-Benz GLE or the new-to-the-game Genesis GV80 may be better options to consider.
The 2022 Lexus GX is an off-road-ready SUV, but that may be one of the only things it has going for it. The SUV’s powertrain is sluggish, its ride quality is subpar, and its fuel economy is abysmal. If you’re shopping for a midsize SUV and have your eye on the GX, you might be better off with one of its competitors.
Jerry
, the car insurance
comparison app, has made a list of SUVs to consider instead of the Lexus GX. We'll even show you how to save on your Lexus GX insurance costs—let’s dig in!4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars 4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers 1. Mercedes-Benz GLE
Starting price:$56,000 to $80,000
Selling points: Smooth ride; burly engine options; made of high-quality materials
Weak spot: Cramped optional third row
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is a great SUV by just about every measure. It has an elegant cabin made of high-quality materials and ample cargo space, and it offers drivers a smooth, comfortable ride. The GLE comes with many engine options including a four-cylinder, a pair of inline-sixes, and a burly V8, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The obvious drawback of the GLE is the price tag. The base model starts at more than $56,000 with luxury trims costing up to $80,000. If you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly, consider the Genesis GV80 or Lexus RX350.
MORE: Is a Mercedes-Benz hybrid worth it?
2. Genesis GV80
Starting price: $50,000 to $78,000
Selling points: Gorgeous interior; great handling; fuel-efficient
Weak spot: Cramped optional third row
The Genesis GV80 is a new addition to the luxury SUV category, and it’s a welcome one. Its interior is stunning with genuine wood accents and leather-wrapped surfaces, and its engine options are impressive.
The GV80 is offered with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The four-cylinder has an above-average fuel economy for its class at 25 mpg combined city/highway. The V6 option is less fuel-efficient, but the model does come with all-wheel drive.
While its first two rows are spacious, the optional third-row seats in the GV80 are cramped. Hey, nobody’s perfect.
MORE: The 10 cheapest SUVs to insure
3. Audi Q8
Starting price: $71,000 to $82,000
Selling points: Premium interior; powerful engine options; intuitive tech
Weak spot: High starting price
Audi has long been synonymous with class, and the Audi Q8 delivers just that. Its interior is premium even for its luxury vehicle segment, and it’s propelled by two fantastic engine options—a powerful turbocharged V6 and an even burlier twin-turbocharged V8. There’s some oomph to this beauty!
It also comes with advanced safety features including adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist and lane-keeping assist offered in the Premium Plus trim.
On the downside, the Audi has a ridiculously high starting price of $70,800, and it's not very fuel-efficient. It is rated at 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.
4. Lincoln Aviator
Starting price: $51,000 to $89,000
Selling points: Sharp acceleration; posh interior; ample cargo capacity
Weak spot: Pricey hybrid option; cramped third-row seats
The Lincoln Aviator has a lot going for it—peppy acceleration due to its twin-turbo V6engine, plenty of cargo space, a luxurious interior. It also has an easy-to-use infotainment system and comes with many standard features like blind-spot monitoring and emergency braking.
There’s not a lot to dislike. If we’re being picky, we’d say that, like so many other luxury SUVs, it suffers from a cramped third row. The hybrid option is also fairly pricey with a starting price of $69,000.
MORE: Are Lincolns expensive to maintain?
5. Audi Q7
Starting price: $57,000 to $89,000
Selling points: Luxury tech features; elegant interior; great handling
Weak spot: Lackluster cargo space
Like the Q8, the Audi Q7 is a well-rounded SUV made of high-quality materials. Unlike the Q8, the Q7 doesn’t have a third row, so it can only seat five.
The Q8 is more powerful than the Q7, so if you want a high-performance vehicle, you might be better off sticking with the Q8. If you want a smaller but still luxurious SUV, the Q7 might be right up your alley.
Its tech features are second-to-none, it handles like a champ, and, oh yeah, it’s less expensive than the Q8. The Audi Q7’s starting price is $13,000 less than the Q8’s.
MORE: Does Audi have a self-driving car?
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars 4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers 6. Lexus RX 350
Starting price: $45,000 to $57,000
Selling points: Solid fuel efficiency; lots of standard features
Weak spot: Measly cargo space; cramped third-row option
The Lexus RX 350 is a great value for the money. It has solid fuel economy (20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway), a long list of standard features—blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, and forward emergency braking all come standard—and it’s less expensive than many of its rivals.
What are its shortcomings? Its total cargo space is below average for its class (a paltry 58.5 cubic feet), and the third row in RX 350 L models leaves much to be desired. It’s tiny.
Still, if you’re looking for a good SUV for the price, you might give the RX 350 a try.
MORE: Lexus RX 350 towing capacity
7. Volvo XC90
Starting price: $50,000 to $73,000
Selling points: Great safety scores; lots of standard features; good fuel efficiency
Weak spot: Climate controls are clumsy
If safety is the name of the game, the Volvo XC90 is a champ. The XC90 comes packed with safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and forward emergency braking. It was named Top Safety Pick+ by the NHTSA and earned the rating of “Superior” in front crash prevention results by the IIHS.
The XC90’s climate controls can be finicky, and its ride quality feels a bit uneven in models with larger wheels.
MORE: Volvo XC90 towing capacity
8. Cadillac XT6
Starting price: $48,000 to $59,000
Selling points: Tons of cargo space; spacious interior
Weak spot: Lackluster engine; not as comfortable as others
What does the Cadillac XT6 have going for it? Well, for one thing: space, and lots of it. It boasts 78.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which is at the top of its class. The XT6 offers passengers plenty of head and leg room and, for once, we’re not complaining about cramped third-row seats—the XT6’s third row is super spacious!
Now for the not-so-great. The XTC’s four-cylinder base engine is, well, uninspiring. Even the more capable optional V6 is lackluster. It struggles to bring the SUV up to speed agilely. Furthermore, the XTC’s seats are not as comfortable or opulent as those of its rivals.
MORE: Car loans for Cadillac 2022
Lexus GX vs. the competition
There’s always time for a visual aid. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of how the Lexus GX stacks up to its competition.
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2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 | | Four-cylinder, inline-6, or V8 | | | | |
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| | V6 or plug-in hybrid option | | | | |
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MORE: How to get car insurance before buying a car
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