2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2020 Ford Escape was a visually appealing compact crossover, sharing its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks. The headlights were inspired by the Ford GT supercar, giving it a sporty look. The previous Escape had a more upright rear end, but the new curvaceous design came at a cost. Despite this, the Escape remained one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market, trailing only behind the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape featured a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel, floating infotainment screen, and a smooth, contemporary design. The base S trim came with 17-inch steel wheels, a 4.2-inch instrument-panel screen, and Sync infotainment. Higher trims like the SE added more features, including a larger 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system, automatic climate control, and heated front seats. The range-topping Titanium trim boasted unique 19-inch wheels, a dual-panel moonroof, and a premium B&O audio system.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 retained its decade-old body shell with a few updates over the years, including the trademark spindle grille and new triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model didn't see any styling changes, but silver 18-inch wheels became standard on the Premium trim. The GX's tough, aggressive look appealed to SUV shoppers, and its styling remained coherent despite the massive grille. However, the interior didn't meet modern luxury SUV standards. The wood trim felt like molded plastic, and there was an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, with semi-aniline leather available on the Luxury trim. The upright dashboard and high center console limited legroom, and the steering wheel's odd angle made driving feel like operating a bus. Despite these drawbacks, the GX offered excellent outward visibility and easy-to-use analog controls for climate and seat heaters.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a variety of engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, produced 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, part of the hybrid drivetrain, made 198 horsepower and was standard on the SE Sport and available on the Titanium. A plug-in hybrid variant was optional on the SE, SEL, and Titanium. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids had a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Escape's most efficient version, the non-Sport hybrid, returned 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined. The 2.0-liter turbo with AWD on the Titanium returned 23/31/26 mpg. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, with strong, responsive brakes, giving it an athletic feel.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 kept it simple with a single 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's 5,130-pound weight made its presence felt at higher speeds, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, meaning it wasn't very good. The GX's off-road capability was a standout feature, with a Torsen center differential, 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 features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, multi-view camera system, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select. The GX had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds and respectable ground clearance, but the Land Rover Discovery outperformed it in most off-road metrics.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleeker design resulted in reduced cargo space compared to its predecessor. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, dropping to 34.4 cubic feet in hybrid models. With the backseat folded down, the Escape provided 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space, or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. This was less than the outgoing 2019 Escape and rivals like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. However, the Escape emphasized passenger space, with plenty of headroom and legroom for second-row passengers. The front seats provided commanding seating positions and good visibility. The Escape also featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics showed its age. The upright dashboard and high center console limited legroom, and the steering wheel's odd angle made driving feel like operating a bus. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. The center-console storage bin, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders were small. The GX came standard with three rows and seating for seven, with a power-folding third row available on the Premium and standard on the Luxury trim. However, accessing the third row was difficult, and it was best reserved for children. The GX had more first-row legroom on paper than the Land Rover Discovery, but it wasn't generous. The Discovery also had more second-row legroom and nearly the same headroom. The GX's cargo space with the second and third rows folded was 64.7 cubic feet, less than the Discovery's 73.0 cubic feet. With the third row up, the GX had very little cargo space.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim came with a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which looked out of place with the new floating screen design. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync 3 screen, which included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The latest version of Sync allowed for multi-tasking, letting users operate their phone while projecting on the car's display. The Titanium trim featured a head-up display (HUD) with a small flip-up screen, which limited the experience for taller drivers.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, with Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity as standard, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions. Below the main screen was a display for time and temperature, using a seven-segment format like a digital clock. However, Lexus included analog controls for nearly everything, providing a refreshing alternative to screen-centric interfaces in other luxury SUVs.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system (TPMS). It earned the best overall score of Good from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) in all phases of testing. The Escape also came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor were also standard.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 hadn't been tested 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, 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 missed out on some safety features available in other Lexus and non-luxury Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist automated lane centering.