Lexus vs. Toyota: which is the better brand?
Lexus vs. Toyota: How do these Japanese brands differ and how are they similar? We contrast luxury vs. mainstream in this comparison guide
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If you’re in the market for a used hybrid car, you’ll no doubt be seeing plenty of options from Toyota and Lexus, which have years of experience building efficient, economical models.
In fact, Lexus is a luxury brand that’s owned by Toyota, so they share a lot of the same components, including many of the same petrol-electric hybrid setups.
Although the underlying tech may be similar, there are some key differences not just in terms of powertrains, but also each brand’s cars in general, so it’s worth understanding what makes each brand unique.
A history of Lexus and Toyota
Toyota was founded in the 1930s by Kiichiro Toyoda, and the Japanese company spent its founding years focusing on developing innovative and reliable products. Ultimately, the marque’s commitment to building durable and long-lasting cars led it to where it is today – it now produces around 10 million vehicles globally.
The first-generation 1997 Prius was the car that kickstarted Toyota’s impressive track record and commitment to building economical hybrids, and nearly all of its models today have some form of electrification, be it hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric.
Lexus is a much newer company that produced its first model, the LS, in 1989. The brand was created as a response to the growing demand for more luxurious models.
Many of the cars that Lexus offers share a platform with Toyota models, though there are some more luxurious models that are distinctly Lexus-only, like the LS and RX.
Toyota & Lexus differences
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The main difference between the two brands is focus – while Lexus aims its cars at a more luxurious end of the market, Toyota’s cars are considerably more mainstream because they’re more affordable.
As part of this, you’ll notice that Lexus models tend to be quieter and more refined on the road, but that’s not to say Toyota’s cars are poor to drive.
Lexus vs. Toyota reliability
Since day one, Toyota has put a lot of effort into developing robust manufacturing processes that make its cars reliable and durable, and because Lexus uses the same factories, they’re just as reliable.
Toyota and Lexus both significantly changed their warranties in 2021. The already excellent five-year coverage was doubled to 10 years, provided you get your car serviced annually at an authorised garage.
Fail to do so and you’ll get a pretty average three-year warranty, but the annual extension subject to proper servicing encourages owners to take better care of their cars, helping to improve long-term reliability.
It’s the longest warranty you can get from any manufacturer, with only some brands like Kia and MG offering seven years of coverage, and many more offering five or three. It’s worth noting that it’s capped at 100,000 miles, like Kia’s seven-year warranty, though some manufacturers like Hyundai don’t have a mileage limit.
Toyota & Lexus model comparison
Toyota has offered a lot of models over the years. Today, its range mostly consists of small and mid-sized hatchbacks, like the Aygo X, Yaris and Corolla, and a growing number of crossovers and SUVs, like the Yaris Cross, C-HR and electric bZ4X.
Lexus’s once saloon-heavy lineup has been reduced to the large ES and LS models, with it, too, focusing on a growing catalogue of SUVs, such as the LBX, UX, NX, RX and electric RZ.
Below are some of the key models that both manufacturers sell, which we’ve paired purposely owing to their similar natures.
We’ve highlighted some best-selling hybrid models, which all use a CVT gearbox. Rather than using gears, this continuously variable transmission holds onto high revs under hard acceleration and drops to a lower engine speed when cruising.
This type of automatic is great for efficiency but isn’t often as fun to drive as other types if you like to drive enthusiastically.
Lexus UX vs. Toyota C-HR
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Both cars are built on similar platforms, though the Lexus UX takes on more of a raised hatchback form while the Toyota C-HR has a sportier crossover style.
Power for the UX 250h comes from a punchy 184hp 2.0-litre hybrid setup, and the front-wheel drive model is complemented by a four-wheel drive model, which uses the electric motor to power the rear wheels.
There’s also an electric model with 204hp and a pretty big 72.8 kWh battery, but its 279-mile range isn’t much more than you’d get from a Volkswagen ID.3 with a much smaller battery. Older UX 300e cars hadsmaller 54.3kWh batteries and a 196-mile range.
The C-HR had the same 184hp option, but many buyers opted for the more economical 122hp 1.8-litre system.
The second-generation model, introduced in 2023, has a 140hp 1.8-litre option, a 197hp 2.0-litre option, and a 223hp 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid option with a 41-mile electric-only range. There’s no electric-only model.
Lexus CT 200h vs. Toyota Corolla Hybrid
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Although these models belong to different generations, what they offer is fundamentally very similar – the Toyota Corolla was introduced in 2018, a couple of years before Lexus decided to stop selling the CT, but it’s fair to say that the Corolla picks up where the CT left off.
The Lexus CT 200h uses a slightly older 1.8-litre hybrid system that produces 136hp, which is a very similar setup to what you’d find in Toyota Prius models. The Corolla was introduced with a 140hp variant, plus a 196hp 2.0-litre hybrid model.
Comparing the car tech in these cars would be unfair, because the CT was introduced in 2011, however, because of the significant technological advancements made, a new Corolla offers just as much excitement as an older CT.
Toyota Prius vs. Lexus CT 200h
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These cars are much more similar in terms of powertrains, and it’s almost as if the CT is the hatchback version of the Prius, which has a more spacious saloon-style body (and a wide-opening hatchback-style boot).
In this case, the Lexus’s 136hp 1.8-litre hybrid engine is more powerful than the one you get in the Prius, which is limited to 122hp, though the Prius does have the added benefit of having a plug-in hybrid model alongside the regular hybrid, which should be able to do around 30 miles on electric power alone.
Toyota Auris vs. Lexus CT 200h
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If the Prius and CT 200h are cousins, then the Auris and CT 200h must be siblings, because they both offer the same 136hp 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain in a conventional hatchback shape.
They were both sold around the same time as well, with the Auris being replaced by the Corolla in 2018. The CT went off sale in around 2021.
The technology used inside both models may feel a little dated by today’s standards, but you still get things like smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth and, in some models, integrated sat-nav.
Lexus NX vs. Toyota RAV4
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Although the Toyota RAV4 has been around for much longer than the Lexus NX, both offer the same proposition – a mid-sized SUV designed for adventure-loving families who want something more economical than the norm.
The NX is built on the same platform as the RAV4, but its interior is considerably more sophisticated and premium, making it the one to go for if you’re likely to spend more of your time sitting in traffic. The RAV4’s hard-wearing yet comfortable interior is better suited to a younger family.
In the case of newer variants, both models come with a 2.5-litre petrol engine as part of their hybrid setup, but power varies. The RAV4 has 218hp and 222hp in front- and four-wheel-drive formats, or 306hp for the plug-in hybrid which promises an electric range of up to 46 miles.
The Lexus uses the same 2.5-litre petrol engine, but it has significantly more power. Either 244hp in the case of the regular hybrids, badged NX 350h, or 309hp for the plug-in hybrid, badged NX 450h+.
Previous-generation models do have slightly different hybrid options.
Lexus LBX vs. Toyota Yaris Cross
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Both of these are relatively new models and are a response to rising demand for crossovers and SUVs. They’re the smallest crossovers you can get from Toyota and Lexus, but still benefit from high-tech hybrid setups.
They both use the same 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine as part of their hybrid setups because, unsurprisingly, they’re built on the same platform. Both have optional four-wheel-drive systems, too, but the Lexus gets 136hp compared with the Toyota’s 116hp.
Both offer a comfortable and refined ride around town and also feature strong levels of car tech, making them worthy fuel-efficient alternatives to many other crossovers.
Used Lexus vs. used Toyota: which should I buy?
Interior technology has advanced significantly in recent years, narrowing the gap between Toyota and Lexus models considerably. However, Lexus cars still have the upper hand when it comes to the quality of materials used and overall cabin feel.
It’s also interesting to see that Lexus cars generally come with a bit more power than their Toyota counterparts – rather than using it for fast acceleration times, the extra poke can mean you won’t have to put your foot down so hard, helping you save fuel and have a smoother ride.
In reality, these cars are more similar than they are different, and your decision will mostly come down to which style you prefer the most, with budget also playing an important role.