2023 Volkswagen Taos vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was designed to appeal to a broad audience, offering affordability and practicality while maximizing passenger comfort. Despite its small SUV classification, the Taos was nearly as roomy inside as the larger Tiguan model, making it one of the biggest subcompact SUVs available. The Highline trim, with its Cornflower Blue paint and 19-inch alloy wheels, provided a stylish and sporty appearance. Inside, the Taos Highline featured light grey seat and dashboard accents, gloss black trim, metallic detailing, and leather seats, giving it a premium look akin to a more affordable Audi.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus GX boasted a commanding presence with its large spindle grille and significant ground clearance. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, offering exclusive paint colours and a limited production run. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's interior was marred by an abundance of plastic materials, a result of its low sales and the need for cost-effective manufacturing. However, it still offered luxury touches like heated and cooled front seats and impressive leather upholstery. The GX's design leaned towards a sleeker aesthetic compared to other blocky Toyota designs, making it easier to handle in technical driving situations.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for front-wheel drive models and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic for all-wheel drive versions. Despite its sporty appearance, the Taos struggled with power delivery, often exhibiting unpredictable powertrain responses. The dual-clutch transmission's halting behaviour was a notable drawback, though the Taos demonstrated a distinctly Germanic driving character with its firm, sure-footed handling. The Taos averaged 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres during testing, slightly above the official rating.

The 2023 Lexus GX, on the other hand, featured a naturally aspirated 4.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. While the V8 provided a satisfying linear power delivery, it lagged behind more modern engines in terms of output and fuel efficiency. The GX's towing capacity of 2,948 kilograms was respectable, but its fuel economy was less appealing, with estimates of 16.2 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving. Despite its weight, the GX's handling was predictable and controllable, aided by a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential and a robust four-wheel drive system.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious interior, with Trendline trim featuring cloth seats, Comfortline trim offering CloudTex artificial leatherette, and Highline trim boasting real leather. Standard cold-weather equipment in Canada included heated side mirrors, heated washer nozzles, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Taos provided ample rear-seat room and comfort, with a panoramic sunroof in the Highline trim. Cargo space was generous, with 790 litres behind the back seat and 1,866 litres with the rear seat folded down, though slightly reduced in all-wheel drive models.

The 2023 Lexus GX retained plenty of cubby space for small items, with a deep centre console bin and conveniently placed cupholders. The GX's interior featured hard buttons for controls, a welcome choice for those who prefer physical interfaces. The second row offered comfortable seating, while the third row was too tight for regular use. The GX's cargo space was limited, with only 328 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,832 litres with both the second and third rows folded. The side-hinged trunk door required some effort to open, adding to the GX's practicality challenges.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came with standard digital instrumentation, with the Highline trim featuring a 10.25-inch display. Infotainment systems ranged from a basic 6.5-inch touchscreen in the Trendline to an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the Comfortline and Highline trims. The Highline also included a native navigation system and an eight-speaker Beats Audio premium sound system. However, the user experience was marred by hidden virtual controls, a cumbersome radio tuning process, and ineffective voice-recognition technology.

The 2023 Lexus GX featured a 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over its predecessor. Standard features included SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The GX also offered a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system and a CD player. Despite these upgrades, the GX's infotainment technology lagged behind newer Lexus models, with a touchscreen that was slow and graphics that lacked crispness. The GX excelled in off-road capability, with a robust four-wheel drive system and advanced driving-focused technology.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its standard safety features, with the Trendline trim including Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Comfortline added Lane Assist, Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, and an active version of blind-spot monitoring. The Taos also featured a post-collision automatic braking system, automatic high-beam headlights, parking sensors with automatic braking, and a road-sign recognition system. Travel Assist performed well, providing smooth and accurate assistance on highways.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it included the Lexus Safety System+ and other safety features. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high beams. Despite its older design, the GX's safety features were up-to-date, providing a reassuring level of protection.