Lexus RX vs Toyota Highlander: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Toyota Highlander burns about $1,700 of fuel annually against $2,100 for the Lexus RX. That $400 yearly gap compounds to roughly $2,000 over five years and $3,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Lexus RX is the stronger commuter at 37 mpg city, while the Toyota Highlander pulls ahead on the interstate at 35 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Lexus RX is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI; PHEV), the Toyota Highlander with 4 (SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-Start). Across 59 recorded Lexus RX configurations and 72 for the Toyota Highlander, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Lexus RX is offered with Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, the Toyota Highlander with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Lexus RX emits 89 g/mile of CO2 versus 245 g/mile for the Toyota Highlander. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.