2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2020 Ford Escape was a visually appealing compact crossover, sharing its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks. Its headlights were inspired by the Ford GT supercar. 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 perhaps only 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 SE trim, recommended by CarGurus, included an 8-inch Sync 3 screen, automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a power driver’s seat, making it a tremendous value.

The 2021 Lexus NX carried over its familial design and styling attributes, with sharp design lines that made it resemble the smaller Lexus UX and larger Lexus RX. The NX F Sport variant added sporty touches like a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and 18-inch F Sport wheels. Inside, the NX F Sport featured quilted NuLuxe sport seats and optional Circuit Red interior color scheme. The material fit and finish were excellent, typical of Lexus. However, the gauge cluster design looked dated compared to newer models. The center stack also showed its age, with an odd layout and limited small-item storage. Despite these quirks, the NX provided a comfortable and upscale interior experience.

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. A plug-in hybrid variant was also available. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids used a CVT. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, with strong, responsive brakes, giving it an athletic feel. The most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, with fuel economy of 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport were powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The standard six-speed automatic transmission was adequate but not as smooth as newer multi-speed transmissions. The NX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in around seven seconds. The F Sport variant included Active Sound Control, which enhanced the engine note electronically. The NX offered FWD as standard, with AWD available on all trims. Fuel economy for the FWD model was 22 mpg city, 28 highway, and 25 combined, while the AWD model had similar numbers. The NX also featured an adaptive-suspension system for a smooth and comfortable driving experience, though the steering was numb and lacked feedback.

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. Despite the reduced cargo capacity, the Escape emphasized passenger space, with plenty of headroom and legroom for second-row passengers. The front seats provided a commanding seating position with good visibility. The Escape also featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2021 Lexus NX had an upscale interior with comfortable front seats and adequate legroom for second-row passengers. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the NX offered a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The NX's cargo space was limited, with 17.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. These numbers made the NX's storage capacity one of the smallest in its class. The NX featured a power liftgate with kick sensor technology and optional power-folding rear seats. Despite engine noise, the cabin remained quiet, typical of Lexus.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim came with a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which stood out as an eyesore due to the floating screen design. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync 3 screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a flip-up screen, which limited the experience for taller drivers. The latest version of Sync allowed for multi-tasking, enhancing the user experience.

The 2021 Lexus NX featured an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.3-inch screen available in the Navigation package. The infotainment system added HomeLink and Lexus Enform Destination Assist for 2021. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with integrated Google Assistant. The NX also included keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, and a WiFi hot spot. The Lexus Premium Audio system was standard, with an optional Mark Levinson 14-speaker audio system. The NX was compatible with the Lexus Enform Remote mobile app, offering various remote functions and alerts.

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 NX included Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 as standard, featuring a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. Optional extras included park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights. The NX received top "Good" scores from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Lexus backed the NX with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.