2019 Acura RLX vs. 2019 Lexus GS

The 2019 Acura RLX and 2019 Lexus GS are both luxury cars that have a lot to offer. Which of these vehicles is a better fit for you? Check out our car comparison below to find out. We will compare the exterior, interior features, technology, performance, and pricing below.  

Exterior Comparison

The exterior of the 2019 Acura RLX is designed to give you great performance and an eye-catching statement. This vehicle has a signature diamond pentagon grille with a bold shape and intricate details. The attention to detail continues with the dual chrome exhaust tips on the rear of this vehicle. You also get chrome accents and signature LED taillights. You can also choose from premium paint options like Brilliant Red Metallic and Majestic Black Pearl.

On the 2019 Lexus GS, you can choose from some beautiful exterior colors like Atomic Silver, Eminent White Pearl, Matador Red Mica, and more. The Lexus GS also gives you scratch resistant paint that works to preserve the glass-like finish of your Lexus. This paint also requires no special maintenance from you. The GS also offers you some great exterior features like electrochromic outside mirrors that reduce glare from bright headlights.

Interior and Technology

The inside of the 2019 Acura RLX seats five people. This interior has standard leather upholstery and heated front seats. However, you can upgrade to get heated rear seats and ventilated front seats. When it comes to technology, the RLX has a two-screen infotainment system. You get an upper 8-inch display screen and a lower 7-inch touchscreen. Other technology includes a navigation system, a 14-speaker audio system, a USB port, Bluetooth, smartphone integration, and proximity keyless entry.

The Acura RLX also offers you some great standard safety features. You can get driver assistance technology such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a multi-view camera standard.

In the 2019 Lexus GS, you can seat five people on synthetic leather upholstery, but you have to upgrade to get heated front seats. The Lexus GS also offers you some interior technology and infotainment, but it can be difficult to use. The infotainment is an 8-inch display screen, but it is not a touchscreen. This means you have to use a controller located between the front seats, which can be distracting while driving. Other standard technology includes Bluetooth, a USB port, Siri Eyes Free, and proximity key entry.

You can also get safety features standard on the Lexus GS. You can get features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning with steering assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.

When it comes down to interior features and technology, both of these vehicles have some good features, but the Acura RLX seems to have more intuitive features. The infotainment system in the Acura RLX is easier to use than that of the Lexus GS. The RLX also offers you more features like standard heated seats that you have to pay extra for in the GS.

Performance

What do these vehicles have to offer in terms of performance? With the 2019 Acura RLX, you only have one engine option unless you want to go with the hybrid powertrain. For the standard gas engine, you get a 3.5-liter V6 engine that is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This V6 engine gives you 310-horspower, and you get 20 city and 29 highway miles per gallon.

If you want to get the hybrid version of this vehicle, you will get the 3.5-liter V6 engine with three electric motors, and a lithium-ion battery. This gives you a combine 377-horsepower and it gives you a 28 city and 29 highway miles per gallon.

In the 2019 Lexus GS, you have three different engine options. Each engine is paired with a different trim, so you have to upgrade to get the engine you want. In the base trim, you get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that gives you 241-horsepower. The next engine is a 3.5-liter V6 engine that gives you 311-horsepower. This 311-horsepower engine gives you 20 city and 28 highway miles per gallon. Finally, you have the 5.0-liter V8 engine on the Lexus GS F that gives you 467-horsepower and gives you 16 city and 24 highway miles per gallon.

In this comparison, the Acura RLX offers you an engine that is more powerful than the base engine of the Lexus GS, and the RLX engine gets better gas mileage than the 3.5-liter engine in the GS. The Lexus GS does offer you the most powerful engine, but since it is only available on the highest trim level the GS F, so it will cost you a lot of extra cash.

Pricing

Next, let’s take a look at the pricing of these to vehicles to see which fits better with your budget. The 2019 Acura RLX starts out at a price of $54,900. The other option for trim in with the Acura RLX is the hybrid. The Acura RLX Sport Hybrid starts at a price of $61,900. The 2019 Lexus GS has a starting price of $46,600. However, if you are looking to get the high-level GS F trim, you will have a starting price of $84,350.

As you can see, the Acura RLX starts out more expensive than the Lexus GS. However, the RLX offers you a more powerful base engine as well as more features and better technology standard. That means you are getting a lot more for your money in the base trim of the RLX than the GS. You would have to spend more money to get the same features in the GS.

Which is Right for You?

Overall, you have some two good vehicle options, but when you get down to the details, there is one vehicle that stands out. The 2019 Acura RLX offers you more standard interior features and better interior technology. The RLX also gives you an engine that is more powerful than the base engine of the GS, and it gives you a very similar performance to the GS V6 engine. The 2019 Acura RLX starts out at a slightly higher price, but it offers you more standard performance and features. The 2019 Acura RLX seems to be the better vehicle for your money.

*Prices shown do not include a destination & handling charge. Destination charges for MDX, RDX, RLX, TLX, ILX is $995.00, NSX (2019 MY) is $1,800 and NSX (2020 MY) is $1,995.