Preface: Sorry mods couldnt find a subforum to post this in so decided to place this here.
Family friends in the market and is a Toyota loyalist, and has not switched brands since eternity. He wants something fresh but dead reliable. Friends also a one and done kinda person, where his last toyota was bought new some 15 years ago (camry). Oil changes, tires, a starter, and some evap trouble.
I went on the shopping saga with them so relaying some interesting observations.
They narrowed down to a pretty interesting but broad spectrum of vehicles....
RX
GX
Highlander XLE.
Upon asking about why the three, was told its a contest between dead reliable and potential with the GX vs middle ground RX vs Tech forward Highlander.
RX->We got into the dealership, and the vehicle was waiting for us outside. Pretty basic/loaner spec, AWD, smaller infotainment, nuluxe seats, BSM with RCSTA, and some other items I don’t have the v-spec to confirm. In the RX you sit quite a bit back from the windshield, almost Chevy Lumina APV style if anyone remembers that vehicle. Friend loved the safety kit (first vehicle hes driven with the nannies), fit finish was good, solid thud. Infotainment was basic (non nav unit). Kinda harsh over bumps almost crashy if that’s a thing. Easy and manageable to drive.
GX->Different day different dealer, and usually you see premiums as demo units, but this was a unicorn base trim. The vehicle sitting position is much different than the RX, higher and closer to the windshield. The fit and finish felt and looked like we had been transported back to 2010. Non nav unit was uber slow, but worked. On our test loop, friend said the driving experience was extremely disconnected, but gave him a huge confidence boost; heck each pothole felt like they were being steamrolled over. Interior noise was similar to the RX. Engine was responsive but didn’t feel gutsy like the RX, transmission didn’t hesistate. Door frames closed with the thud, but looked thin (if that’s a thing). The safety kit was there but it wasn’t as intrusive as the RXs most recent kit. The biggest thing going for it was it seemed like it feels like it will last, while the RX seems like maybe warranty and then the rattles come out.
Highlander XLE-> Toyota dealerships are either a solid hit or a uber miss, and this was a bit of both. Demo unit was lost and then magically found. Initially it felt strange. The new highlander sits lower then the outgoing unit, almost minivan like without the sliding door. The engine is the same in the RX, but it feels more punchy here for some reason. Infotainment was a huge WTF moment, as we had tested the GX back to back with this unit. Where the GX has some lag registering inputs, the highlander was snappy. AA, CP was there but we couldn’t test it. The TSS system was better calibrated in the highlander, and apparently TSS 2.5/3 is coming out for MY21s which add some more features. Fit and finish of course was not Lexus level, but bested the GX while maybe coming close to the RX. Noise was a bit more pronounced. The highlander felt as though it was screwed intogether tight, but didn’t feel as though its going to be that way when the warranty is over (driver door seal was in bad shape)
After all that where did he end up…highlander XLE but when orders begin for MY21 for the TSS upgrades.
I asked him why the Highlander over a more premium GX and RX, and his response was " why pay the premium when I`m getting the same reliable powertrain, better safety kit and tech, and a extra row of seats for a lot less and free maintenance. Lexus is a great brand in its own right, but the highlander feels fresher then the RX."
What would you do, in this situation, would you too forgo an RX/GX for a new highlander?
Family friends in the market and is a Toyota loyalist, and has not switched brands since eternity. He wants something fresh but dead reliable. Friends also a one and done kinda person, where his last toyota was bought new some 15 years ago (camry). Oil changes, tires, a starter, and some evap trouble.
I went on the shopping saga with them so relaying some interesting observations.
They narrowed down to a pretty interesting but broad spectrum of vehicles....
RX
GX
Highlander XLE.
Upon asking about why the three, was told its a contest between dead reliable and potential with the GX vs middle ground RX vs Tech forward Highlander.
RX->We got into the dealership, and the vehicle was waiting for us outside. Pretty basic/loaner spec, AWD, smaller infotainment, nuluxe seats, BSM with RCSTA, and some other items I don’t have the v-spec to confirm. In the RX you sit quite a bit back from the windshield, almost Chevy Lumina APV style if anyone remembers that vehicle. Friend loved the safety kit (first vehicle hes driven with the nannies), fit finish was good, solid thud. Infotainment was basic (non nav unit). Kinda harsh over bumps almost crashy if that’s a thing. Easy and manageable to drive.
GX->Different day different dealer, and usually you see premiums as demo units, but this was a unicorn base trim. The vehicle sitting position is much different than the RX, higher and closer to the windshield. The fit and finish felt and looked like we had been transported back to 2010. Non nav unit was uber slow, but worked. On our test loop, friend said the driving experience was extremely disconnected, but gave him a huge confidence boost; heck each pothole felt like they were being steamrolled over. Interior noise was similar to the RX. Engine was responsive but didn’t feel gutsy like the RX, transmission didn’t hesistate. Door frames closed with the thud, but looked thin (if that’s a thing). The safety kit was there but it wasn’t as intrusive as the RXs most recent kit. The biggest thing going for it was it seemed like it feels like it will last, while the RX seems like maybe warranty and then the rattles come out.
Highlander XLE-> Toyota dealerships are either a solid hit or a uber miss, and this was a bit of both. Demo unit was lost and then magically found. Initially it felt strange. The new highlander sits lower then the outgoing unit, almost minivan like without the sliding door. The engine is the same in the RX, but it feels more punchy here for some reason. Infotainment was a huge WTF moment, as we had tested the GX back to back with this unit. Where the GX has some lag registering inputs, the highlander was snappy. AA, CP was there but we couldn’t test it. The TSS system was better calibrated in the highlander, and apparently TSS 2.5/3 is coming out for MY21s which add some more features. Fit and finish of course was not Lexus level, but bested the GX while maybe coming close to the RX. Noise was a bit more pronounced. The highlander felt as though it was screwed intogether tight, but didn’t feel as though its going to be that way when the warranty is over (driver door seal was in bad shape)
After all that where did he end up…highlander XLE but when orders begin for MY21 for the TSS upgrades.
I asked him why the Highlander over a more premium GX and RX, and his response was " why pay the premium when I`m getting the same reliable powertrain, better safety kit and tech, and a extra row of seats for a lot less and free maintenance. Lexus is a great brand in its own right, but the highlander feels fresher then the RX."
What would you do, in this situation, would you too forgo an RX/GX for a new highlander?