Lexus GX vs Lexus NX

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Lexus GX in South Africa

Lexus GX

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

Lexus NX

NX 350 F SPORT Petrol Automatic 8-speed
ZAR 1,276,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance GX
Fuel Economy NX
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality GX
🔑 Ownership Tie
NX starts ZAR 1856600 cheaper GX from ZAR 1,856,600 · NX from ZAR 1,074,200

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec GX NX
Engine Power 260 kW 205 kW
Torque 650 Nm 430 Nm
Engine Size 3500 cc 2400 cc
Claimed Mileage 8.1 km/l 12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 220 mm 195 mm
Boot / Load Bay 1063 l 520 l
Airbags Curtain,Driver,Passenger,Driver Knee,Front Side,Passenger Knee Side,Curtain,Driver,Passenger,Driver Knee
Kerb Weight 2475-2515 kg 1760-1860 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 7 years / 100,000km 7 years / 105,000km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both GX and NX are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance GX +10 pts
Efficiency NX +15 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality GX +21 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

GX

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

NX

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

GX

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

NX

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec GX NX
Model Introduced Year 2025 2023
Generation Third-generation Lexus GX 550 body-on-frame luxury SUV Second-generation Lexus NX mid-size luxury SUV
Facelift History All-new GX 550 launched in South Africa in 2025 with Overtrail and SE grades Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives
Facelift Launched Since All-new GX 550 launched in South Africa in 2025 with Overtrail and SE grades Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives
Facelift Version Ending Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17 Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Luxury SUV Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec GX NX
Ground Clearance 220 mm 195 mm
Wheelbase 2850 mm 2690 mm
Length 5015 mm 4660 mm
Width 2000 mm 1865 mm
Height 1870 mm 1670 mm
Kerb Weight 2475-2515 kg 1760-1860 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 3110 kg 2370 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 1063 l 520 l
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 1000 kg
Front Track Width 1687 mm 1605 mm
Rear Track Width 1688 mm 1625 mm
Turning Radius 6.0 m 5.8 m
Load Bed Length 1063 l 520 l
Load Bed Width - -
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 595-635 kg 510-610 kg
Boot Volume 1063 l 520 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 55 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 3110 kg 2370 kg
Ground Clearance Max 220 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance Min 220 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 220 mm 195 mm
Height Mm 1870 mm 1670 mm
Length Mm 5015 mm 4660 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 1063 l 520 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 595-635 kg 510-610 kg
Cargo Volume 1063 l 520 l
Tare Mass Kg 2475-2515 kg 1760-1860 kg
Turning Circle 6.0 m 5.8 m
Turning Circle M 6.0 m 5.8 m
Width Mm 2000 mm 1865 mm

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

GX leads by 4 points

Both GX and NX are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 82 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 79% confidence
82
#1 Winner

GX

79% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 96 Check Efficiency 34
Performance 96
Efficiency 34
Safety 94
Practicality 85
Ownership 93
Leads by 4 points
78
#2

NX

79% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 86
Efficiency 49
Safety 94
Practicality 64
Ownership 93
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance GX +10 Efficiency NX +15 Safety Level Practicality GX +21 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

GX

Performance 96/100
Efficiency 34/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 85/100
Ownership 93/100

NX

Performance 86/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 93/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Lexus GX wins with 82 pts vs 78 pts for NX

In structured scoring, GX emerges as the stronger overall package. However, NX may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the GX edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: GX 34 vs NX 49. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: GX 94, NX 94. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: GX 93, NX 93. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: GX 85, NX 64. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: GX 96, NX 86. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The GX edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The GX scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between GX and NX in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: GX scores 96 vs 86.

Efficiency: GX scores 34 vs 49.

Safety: GX scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: GX scores 85 vs 64.

Ownership: GX scores 93 vs 93.

Final structured scoring gives GX the advantage in this comparison.