2022 Kia Sportage vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lexus GX 460’s styling was a testament to its long tenure on the market. Retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago, it had undergone several updates over the years, including the addition of Lexus’ trademark spindle grille in 2014 and a textured insert in 2020. The 2021 model didn’t see any new styling changes, but it did come with standard silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim level. Despite its age, the GX’s tough, aggressive look remained distinctive and appealing to SUV shoppers. However, the interior did not meet modern luxury standards, with wood trim that felt like molded plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, but the overall interior quality lagged behind contemporary expectations.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Sportage showcased a more modern and stylish design, although its tiger-nose grille was somewhat controversial. The grille, positioned under oversized headlights and above a chrome trim, gave the front end a somewhat awkward appearance. However, Kia nailed other design details, such as the four-dot running light signature and the symmetrical rear fascia. The Sportage’s proportions and planted stance, especially with the SX Turbo’s 19-inch wheels, contributed to its overall stylish look. Inside, the Sportage featured Germanic design cues, with a black dashboard, polished metallic accents, and plain white markings on a black background. The SX Turbo trim added metal pedal covers and a high-contrast interior look, making the Sportage feel upscale and sophisticated.

The 2021 Lexus GX kept things simple with a single powertrain option: a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX 460’s performance was a throwback to an earlier era of SUVs. While the V8 engine provided ample grunt for acceleration, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds, the vehicle’s 5,130-pound weight made higher-speed maneuvers and braking more challenging. The body-on-frame construction resulted in a less refined ride quality, with noticeable body roll and low grip in corners. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen center differential, a standard 4WD system with a low range, and several driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added even more off-road features, making the GX a formidable off-road vehicle. It also had a respectable towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered two engine options. Most models came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, while the SX Turbo trim featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 240 horsepower (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and Kia’s Dynamax all-wheel-drive system was available as an option. The SX Turbo’s acceleration was quick, with maximum torque arriving at a low 1,450 rpm, giving it a lively and responsive feel. The Sportage’s suspension setup provided a smooth and compliant ride, with the SX Turbo trim offering upgraded brakes and exclusive 19-inch wheels. While the Sportage felt athletic and sporty in turns, it wasn’t as refined as some competitors, like the Mazda CX-5 Turbo. Overall, the Sportage delivered a sophisticated driving experience with a hint of sportiness.

The 2021 Lexus GX’s interior ergonomics reflected its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console that limited legroom. The steering wheel’s odd angle and the tall seating position made it feel like driving a bus. However, the dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility. The center-console storage bin, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders were all fairly small, and the third row was best reserved for children due to limited space and difficult access. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but cargo space was limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded. With the third row up, cargo space was almost nonexistent.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, despite being on the smaller side of the compact crossover SUV scale, offered a remarkably roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching, ten-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, and eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger seat. The rear seats provided generous legroom and comfort, with air conditioning vents and a USB charging port for rear passengers. Interior storage space was generous, but maximum cargo volume was limited to 60.1 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The 30.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat was sufficient for most needs. The Sportage also offered a smart liftgate technology, which allowed hands-free access to the cargo area.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, reflecting its decade-old design. Standard features included Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were notably absent. The infotainment system’s graphics were outdated, and the system offered limited functionality. However, Lexus included analog controls for most functions, providing a straightforward and user-friendly interface. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available as an option.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came equipped with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trim levels also included UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo trim added wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was easy to use, with knobs for stereo volume and radio tuning, and logical onscreen menus. However, the UVO Link system was starting to show its age, with an 8-inch screen that felt small, no WiFi hotspot, and wired smartphone mirroring. Despite these limitations, the system was simple and user-friendly.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 had not been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX missed out on some advanced safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. Higher trim levels and packages added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning. The SX Turbo trim also included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received favorable crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an Acceptable headlight rating, qualifying it for an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.