2021 Lexus RX vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lexus RX represented the pinnacle of Lexus' modern design aesthetic. It exhibited a striking combination of a large spindle grille, angular headlamps, and a sleek floating roof. The vehicle's shape was accentuated by a body with shapely contours. Inside, the RX boasted a luxurious interior with sumptuous seating draped in perforated leather upholstery. However, the center console's dated design was a sore point for many. Lexus offered the RX in five variants: the RX, RX F Sport, RXL, RX Hybrid, and RXL Hybrid.

Changes made to the RX for the 2020 model year carried over into 2021, including more elongated headlights and a refined front end. The vehicle came standard with 18-inch aluminum wheels and LED lighting, while exterior upgrades included 20-inch wheels, triple-beam LED headlights, and a windshield wiper de-icer. The F Sport Appearance package added distinctive features such as F Sport wheels, black outer mirrors, and unique fascia.

Inside, even the base model RX 350 impressed with features like carpeted floor mats, chrome door handles, and NuLuxe-trimmed seats. Higher trims offered semi-aniline leather upholstery, sport seats, and an array of comfort-oriented features. The only downside was the dated look of the center console, with its traditional buttons and charcoal plastic surrounds.

Conversely, the 2021 Lexus GX 460's styling was a product of its long-standing market presence. Retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago with incremental updates, the GX featured Lexus' spindle grille starting in 2014, which was further updated in 2020 along with new triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model added silver 18-inch wheels as standard on the Premium trim.

Despite the GX not being initially designed around the spindle grille, its styling held up well, offering a tough, aggressive look that appealed to SUV enthusiasts. Lexus maintained the RX's exterior, but regrettably, the interior showed its age. The wood trim appeared plastic-like and there was extensive use of actual plastic, making it fall short of modern luxury SUV standards. However, the GX did come with standard leather upholstery, with semi-aniline leather reserved for the Luxury trim.

The 2021 Lexus RX offered varied performance configurations across its models. The RX, RXL, and RX F-Sport were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivered 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the engine performed smoothly but occasionally hesitated to find the right gear under acceleration. The EPA rated the front-wheel-drive RX 350 at 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The AWD versions and the RXL saw a slight decrease in fuel economy.

The RX Hybrid and RXL Hybrid combined a 3.5-liter V6 with three electric motors, producing 308 hp. These models, managed by an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT), provided either 29 or 31 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Suspension and handling adjustments made the 2021 RX more dynamic. The F Sport Handling package further enhanced performance with adaptive variable suspension and sport-oriented interior upgrades. The RX maxed out at 124 mph and accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.7 to 7.9 seconds depending on the drivetrain.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus GX was straightforward in its powertrain offerings, featuring a single 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While the V8 had ample grunt at lower speeds, it struggled due to the vehicle’s 5,130-pound weight when performing merging and overtaking maneuvers. The GX did manage a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds.

Driving the GX felt like stepping back to an older SUV era. Its body-on-frame construction led to a less refined ride quality, noticeable body roll, and low grip in corners. Despite its rugged on-road performance, off-road capability was where the GX shined. Equipped with a Torsen center differential, 4WD with low range, hill-descent control, and various off-road modes, the GX was a capable off-road machine. An optional Off-Road Package further enhanced these capabilities. The GX 460 appealed to those needing a formidable off-road vehicle and had a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2021 Lexus RX was an unquestionably functional SUV. The two-row RX models provided seating for five, while the three-row RXL and RXL Hybrid accommodated six or seven passengers, though the third row was tight. Front- and second-row passengers enjoyed ample space, while sport seats offered comfort even on long drives.

The RX didn't excel in cargo space compared to traditional SUVs. The two-row RX provided 18.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row variants offered just 7.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 23 cubic feet behind the second row, and 58.5 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2021 Lexus GX, on the other hand, showed its age with its interior design. The upright dashboard and high center console limited legroom, and the steering wheel's odd positioning added to a bus-like driving feel. Despite these drawbacks, outward visibility was excellent thanks to the boxy profile.

The GX's center-console storage bin, cupholders, and door bottle holders were fairly small but provided ample analog controls for various functions. The three-row GX seated seven, with an option for captain’s chairs in the second row. However, accessing the third row was challenging, and when in use, it left very little cargo space. With all seats folded, the GX provided 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which was less than the Land Rover Discovery’s 73.0 cubic feet.

The 2021 Lexus RX came well-equipped with technology. Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, an 8-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD Radio, a WiFi hot spot, six USB ports, and a nine-speaker sound system. Upgrades were available for trip-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, additional USB ports, moonroof options, wireless charging, navigation, and an upgraded 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system.

While the RX’s touchscreen operated as expected, the Lexus infotainment system could be cumbersome. The Remote Touch controller was intended to make screen navigation easier but took up valuable console space. Steering-wheel controls, on the other hand, were intuitive. However, the RX lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a potential deal-breaker for tech enthusiasts.

In stark contrast, the 2021 Lexus GX was sparse in tech features. Although it included standard Bluetooth and Amazon Alexa, it lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The touch screen’s graphics felt dated, and the system offered minimal functionality. The primitive interface relied heavily on analog controls, a rare sight in modern luxury SUVs.

The 2021 Lexus RX received top marks from safety organizations. The IIHS awarded the RX its Top Safety Pick designation with Good ratings across all crashworthiness tests. The RXL and RXL Hybrid hadn’t been tested by IIHS but shared the same basic structure as the RX. The NHTSA rated the RX 350, RX 350L, and RX 450h with four out of five stars overall and a perfect five stars for side-impact crashworthiness.

The RX came standard with a rearview camera, 10 airbags, and Lexus Safety System+ 2.0. This suite included a pre-collision system, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and various lane-keeping assists. The RX also featured two complete sets of LATCH connectors for child safety seats in the second-row outboard seats.

The 2021 Lexus GX lacked crash-test ratings from either the NHTSA or IIHS. It did come standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, high beams, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, it missed out on advanced features available on other Lexus models, such as traffic sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.