2021 Ford Escape vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 retained its decade-old body shell with minor updates over the years, including the spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights introduced in 2014 and 2020, respectively. The 2021 model added standard silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim. Despite its age, the GX's aggressive and distinctive styling appealed to SUV shoppers, although the interior felt outdated with wood trim resembling plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, with semi-aniline leather available on the Luxury trim.

The 2021 Ford Escape, a fourth-generation model, blended SUV and hatchback characteristics with a curved snout and sleek roofline, giving it a less truck-like appearance compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. For 2021, new appearance packages were introduced for three of its four trims, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package. These packages offered upgrades like 19-inch alloy wheels, ActiveX upholstery, and leather-wrapped steering wheels. However, the interior design lacked cohesion, with low-quality materials and odd design choices, such as an angular instrument cluster.

The 2021 Lexus GX kept it 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 older SUVs, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. However, its 5,130-pound weight made high-speed maneuvers and braking challenging. The body-on-frame construction resulted in a rough ride, and the low grip and body roll in corners were noticeable. Despite these drawbacks, the GX excelled in off-road capability with a Torsen center differential, standard 4WD with low range, and various driver aids. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, and Multi-Terrain Select. The GX had 8.1 inches of ground clearance and a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered two gasoline powertrains, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in FWD or AWD. The EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbo-four engine produced 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, available only with AWD. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing 200 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid had a larger battery for extended electric-only driving. The Escape's chassis tuning was criticized for sloppy suspension and steering, making it less enjoyable to drive. 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 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics showed its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console limiting legroom. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position felt bus-like. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. Storage space was limited, with small center-console bins, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders. The GX came standard with three rows of seating for seven, but the third row was best suited for children and difficult to access. Cargo space was limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded, and minimal space with the third row up.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered competitive interior space for a compact SUV. First and second-row headroom and legroom were near the top of the segment, with a standard sliding rear seat to adjust legroom or cargo space. Non-hybrid models had 40.7 inches of rear legroom, while hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less due to the battery pack. Cargo space varied, with gasoline models offering 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 65.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo space. Competitors like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester offered more cargo space.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, with standard Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions, with a separate display for time and temperature. The GX included analog controls for most functions, providing a refreshing alternative to touchscreen-centric interfaces. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base models featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. Upgrading to the SE trim added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim 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 found in competitors and missed out on the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with Sync 4.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, including 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 lacked some safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. It also earned high marks for front-crash prevention tech but had mixed ratings for headlights. The NHTSA gave the Escape a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover 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.