2021 Lexus GX vs 2020 Jeep Compass

The 2020 Jeep Compass was a handsome SUV, reflecting the more refined side of the Jeep brand, much like the Grand Cherokee. It came in four core trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with various packages and special edition trim upgrades available. Prices started at $22,280 for a Compass Sport with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission, while a fully kitted-out Compass Limited with all-wheel drive could reach up to $39,755, including destination charges. Despite some cost-cutting measures, the Compass offered soft-touch surfaces, premium leather, and sophisticated technology, making it a significant improvement over its predecessor.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 retained the same basic body shell from a decade ago, with updates like the spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The Premium trim level came with standard silver 18-inch wheels, while 19-inch wheels were also available. The GX's styling was coherent and distinctive, appealing to SUV shoppers with its tough, aggressive look. However, the interior did not meet modern luxury SUV standards, with wood trim that felt like plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, with semi-aniline leather available on the Luxury trim level.

The 2020 Jeep Compass featured a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, known as the Tigershark, producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Despite these figures, the engine was loud, slow, and thirsty, with sluggish acceleration and an average fuel economy of 23.1 mpg, falling short of the EPA rating of 25 mpg. The nine-speed automatic transmission often shifted harshly and resisted downshifts, while the automatic engine stop/start system could make the air conditioning swampy on warm days. The Compass's suspension controlled body roll but allowed too much vertical motion and impact harshness, with heavy and vague steering and a sensitive brake pedal. However, the Compass excelled in off-road capability, especially in Trailhawk trim, with features like added ground clearance, an Active Drive Low AWD system, and a Rock driving mode.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 was powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The V8 provided plenty of grunt for moving away from a stop, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. However, the GX's 5,130-pound weight made merging and overtaking maneuvers challenging. Stopping the SUV required advanced planning, and the ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, with low grip and body roll in corners. The GX's off-road capability was impressive, with a Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, 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, and Crawl Control.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a new-for-2020 Luxury Seat Group, adding premium leather, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a memory function for the driver. The back seat was roomy, with air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a 115-volt power outlet for rear passengers. Cargo space was 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, beating both the Jeep Renegade and Cherokee in volume. However, scant storage room inside the cabin and awkwardly positioned cupholders could be aggravating.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics showed its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console leaving little legroom. The steering wheel was positioned at an odd angle, making the driving experience feel like a bus. 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 storage bins, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders. The GX came standard with three rows and seating for seven, but the third row was best reserved for children. Cargo space was 64.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded, substantially less than the Land Rover Discovery's 73.0 cubic feet.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered an excellent Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and 4G LTE WiFi. The system was intuitive and featured appealing graphics, though some features were embedded into menus that should have been more accessible. The voice recognition system worked well with naturally spoken requests, and drivers could adjust both the stereo and climate controls using voice commands. Overall, Uconnect impressed for the segment.

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 compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions, with a seven-segment display for time and temperature. However, Lexus included analog controls for nearly everything, making the interface easy to use. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available, but the overall tech offering was primitive for a luxury SUV.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a range of driving assistance and collision avoidance technology, available even on the base Sport trim level. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Compass earned Good ratings in all IIHS crash tests except for headlight performance, while NHTSA gave it a mix of three-star, four-star, and five-star ratings.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 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 Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist. NHTSA and IIHS had not published crash-test ratings for the 2021 GX 460.