Lexus GX vs BMW i4

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Lexus GX in South Africa

Lexus GX

GX 550 Overtrail Petrol 10-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,856,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 260 kW 🔧 650 Nm ⛽ 8.1 km/l
VS
BMW i4 in South Africa

BMW i4

M60 xDrive Gran Coupé Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 1,750,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 442 kW 🔧 795 Nm
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Lexus GX vs BMW i4: the short answer

GX and i4 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

i4 starts ZAR 356,600 cheaper GX from ZAR 1,856,600 · i4 from ZAR 1,500,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification GX i4
Maximum Power GX260 kW i4442 kW
Maximum Torque GX650 Nm i4795 Nm
Engine Size GX3500 cc i4Not Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy GX8.1 km/l i4Not Applicable
Ground Clearance GX220 mm i4140 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Lexus GX

GX 550 Overtrail

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

BMW i4

M60 xDrive Gran Coupé

Hagalu editorial rating
3.9/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Hagalu Editorial Team ·

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

GX

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

i4

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

GX

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

i4

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec GX i4
Model Introduced Year 2025 2021
Generation Third-generation Lexus GX 550 body-on-frame luxury SUV Battery-electric G26 Gran Coupé with four doors, a rear liftback and a road-car seating position.
Facelift History All-new GX 550 launched in South Africa in 2025 with Overtrail and SE grades Current updated G26-based i4 Gran Coupé range in South Africa; current derivative identity is eDrive35 and M60 xDrive.
Facelift Launched Since All-new GX 550 launched in South Africa in 2025 with Overtrail and SE grades Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17 Current
Body Style SUV Sedan
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Luxury SUV Premium Sedan
Tare Mass Kg 2475-2515 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Car
Spec GX i4
Length 5015 mm 4783 mm
Width 2000 mm 1852 mm
Height 1870 mm 1448 mm
Wheelbase 2850 mm 2856 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 220 mm 140 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 1063 l 470 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3110 kg 2730 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6 m 5.6 m
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 125 mm
Kerb Weight - 2285 kg
Payload Capacity - 520 kg
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Front Headroom - 994 mm
Rear Headroom - 944 mm
Front Legroom - 1036 mm
Rear Legroom - 888 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This GX and i4 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: GX 96 vs i4 100.

Efficiency index: GX 34 vs i4 90.

Safety-equipment index: GX 93 vs i4 92.

Practicality index: GX 88 vs i4 61.

Ownership-cover index: GX not separately scored vs i4 not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

i4 leads by 5 points

GX and i4 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 86 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 69% source coverage
86
#1 Evidence leader

i4

69% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Practicality 61
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 61
Leads by 5 points
81
#2

GX

70% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 96 Check Efficiency 34
Performance 96
Efficiency 34
Safety 93
Practicality 88
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance i4 +4 Efficiency i4 +56 Safety GX +1 Practicality GX +27

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

i4

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 61/100

GX

Performance 96/100
Efficiency 34/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 88/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BMW i4 leads the specification evidence index with 86 pts vs 81 pts for GX

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, i4 leads. However, GX may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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GX vs i4 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.