2022 Lexus NX vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Ford Escape, a fourth-generation model, straddled the line between SUV and hatchback. Its curved snout and sleek roofline made it resemble an engorged Focus at first glance, yet it maintained the tall ride height of a proper SUV. This design gave the Escape a less truck-like appearance compared to the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, but it also resulted in a more generic look than the latest Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package. These upgrades featured 19-inch alloy wheels, ActiveX upholstery with Miko Suede seat inserts, and leather-wrapped steering wheels.

Inside, the Escape's design choices were less cohesive. The angular instrument cluster clashed with the exterior's sleek lines, and the interior materials felt low-rent. Even the top-tier Escape Titanium model lacked standard leather upholstery, although it did offer ambient lighting. Dual-zone automatic climate control was only available starting from the SEL trim level.

The 2022 Lexus NX, redesigned and available in four model series (NX 250, NX 350, NX 350h, and NX 450h+), offered a range of trim levels including base, Premium, F Sport, and Luxury. Prices ranged from $37,950 to $49,000, excluding a $1,075 destination charge. The NX 250 and NX 350 were non-electrified, while the NX 350h was a hybrid and the NX 450h+ a plug-in hybrid. The NX 350, with its turbocharged engine, was available in F Sport and Luxury trims. The NX's design featured a distinctive spindle grille and new block lettering on the tailgate, reflecting a refined attention to detail. The 2022 model was longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor, offering more passenger and cargo space. Most NX models had NuLuxe simulated leather, while the Luxury trim included real leather and open-pore wood trim. The F Sport trim featured unique design elements like a mesh-pattern grille, 20-inch gloss black wheels, and sport-bolstered seats.

Inside, the NX adopted a minimalist look, a departure from the previous model's button-laden dashboard. However, the integration of many functions into the 14-inch touchscreen made it challenging to quickly locate and use some features. Physical controls for frequently used functions like stereo volume and temperature adjustment remained, and the new electronic shifter was easy to acclimate to. While quality levels were generally high, some elements like the turn signal felt inexpensive.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered two gasoline powertrains, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. The base powertrain was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). An upgrade to the EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbo-four engine increased output to 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, available only with AWD. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, delivering a total system output of 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery pack allowed for significant electric-only driving range. The hybrid was available with FWD or AWD, while the plug-in hybrid was FWD only. The Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it feel like a chore to drive. For 2021, the 2.0-liter, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models could be equipped with a Class 2 Trailer Tow Package, with a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds for the 2.0-liter engine.

The 2022 Lexus NX emphasized electrification, offering two electrified versions. The NX 350h had a combined output of 239 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in combined driving. The NX 450h+, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), delivered 302 hp and an estimated 36 miles of pure electric range. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The NX 250 had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, with FWD standard and AWD optional. Both the NX 250 and NX 350 offered Normal, Sport, and Eco driving modes, while the NX 350 F Sport added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension. The NX 350 F Sport felt taut and lean on winding roads, while the NX 350 Luxury offered a softer driving character. Lexus estimated 25 mpg in combined driving for the NX 350. The new NX was a dynamic improvement over its predecessor, though the turbocharged 2.4-liter engine didn't sound as refined as those in German rivals. Handling impressed in both versions, but the F Sport better isolated impacts from sharp bumps. The NX's ground clearance and approach/departure angles limited its off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Ford Escape compared well against more traditionally-styled compact SUVs in terms of interior space. First-row and second-row headroom and legroom were near the top of the segment, and the Escape featured a standard sliding rear seat that could be moved to expand legroom or cargo space. Sliding the bench seat all the way back yielded 40.7 inches of rear legroom in non-hybrid models. However, the placement of the battery pack in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models reduced some of that legroom. The gasoline Escape offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up and in its default position, while hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had 30.7 cubic feet. Sliding the rear seat forward increased cargo space to 37.5 cubic feet for gasoline models and 34.4 cubic feet for hybrid/plug-in hybrid models. Folding the rear seat provided 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space in gasoline models and 60.8 cubic feet in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. Most competitors offered more cargo space, with the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester exceeding 70 cubic feet with their rear seats folded.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered more interior room for people and cargo, though it didn't necessarily feel that way from the driver's seat. The new dashboard design created a more intimate and cozy feeling compared to the previous NX. The NX was comfortable, especially models with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim featured better-bolstered front seats, and Lexus thoughtfully padded the driver's door panel and the side of the center console. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations, with rear air conditioning vents, heated cushions, and USB charging ports. The NX's panoramic glass sunroof extended over the back seat. The Luxury trim included a Thematic Ambient Illumination system with 14 themes. Lexus claimed a 14% increase in cargo space behind the back seat, bringing the figure to 22.7 cubic feet. Folding the back seats down created 46.9 cubic feet of volume.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base Escape S models featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Upgrading to the Escape SE added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Escape Titanium trim level included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Sync 3 was user-friendly, but the Escape lacked some standard tech features compared to competitors and missed out on the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with the newer Sync 4 system.

The 2022 Lexus NX made significant advancements in technology with the new Lexus Interface infotainment system. A 9.8-inch touchscreen display was standard, with a 14-inch screen optional. Both versions included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and readiness for five connected service subscription plans. Over-the-air software updates kept the system up to date. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system available. The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural voice commands. Lexus included a complimentary three-year trial subscription to its new Drive Connect service, which included cloud-based navigation, destination assist, and Intelligent Assistant technology. Additional connected services included Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Service Connect. The NX also featured User Profiles for storing preferences and settings, digital key capability, and a digital mirror showing a camera-based view of what's behind the SUV. The 10-inch head-up display was detailed but faded with polarized sunglasses. The 14-inch touchscreen collected fingerprints and dust and cast reflections on sunny days. The system lacked a tuning knob and the ability to show multiple data panels simultaneously.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. It earned high marks for front-crash prevention tech but received "Acceptable" and "Marginal" ratings for headlights, depending on the trim level. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Escape a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.

The 2022 Lexus NX included every driver assistance and collision avoidance system available from Lexus, bundled in the standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0). New features included Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a stop if the driver was unresponsive. The NX also had standard blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Assist technology. Premium trim added rear pedestrian detection, an adaptive front lighting system, rain-sensing wipers, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. The Vision Package included a panoramic view monitoring system, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assistance.