2020 Lexus GX vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2020 Lexus GX, despite its updated front end and headlights, retained much of its decade-old design. The vehicle's hourglass grille, a signature of the Lexus lineup, was more palatable on the GX than on other models. Sharing a platform with the Toyota 4Runner, the GX emphasized rugged capability over modern innovation, making it a unique offering in the luxury SUV market. Inside, the GX's cabin remained largely unchanged from the early 2010s, featuring a large, chunky center console with big buttons and a recessed infotainment screen. This old-school interior design, while outdated for some, worked well for a rugged SUV like the GX.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Escape presented a more modern, car-like appearance with its curved snout and sleek roofline. This design made the Escape look less truck-like compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, enhancing its visual appeal with features like 19-inch alloy wheels and upgraded upholstery. However, the interior design choices, such as the angular instrument cluster, did not align well with the exterior's cohesive theme, and the materials used felt low-rent, even in the top Titanium trim.

The 2020 Lexus GX 460 was powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and standard 4-wheel drive. While these figures might not impress compared to modern V6 or turbocharged engines, the V8 offered a distinctive swell of power in real-world driving. The GX's light yet direct steering and self-leveling air suspension provided a smooth and composed ride, making it capable of handling both city streets and off-road trails with ease. The GX could tow up to 6,500 pounds and had a tight turning radius of 19 feet, making it surprisingly maneuverable for its size. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with an average of 16.3 mpg observed during testing.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a variety of powertrains, including two gasoline engines and hybrid options. The base 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine produced 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, while the upgraded 2.0-liter turbo-four delivered 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the 2.0-liter engine available only with all-wheel drive. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing a combined 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery allowed for significant electric-only driving. Despite the variety of powertrains, the Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it less enjoyable to drive. The Escape's towing capacity maxed out at 3,500 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine.

The 2020 Lexus GX offered second-row captain's chairs on the Premium and Luxury trims, with the latter also featuring power-folding third-row seats. While the captain's chairs provided easier access to the third row and a natural barrier between passengers, getting adults into the third row was challenging. The GX's cargo space was limited, with 64.7 cubic feet available with all rear seats folded. The side-opening rear hatch was unique but not particularly advantageous, though the separately opening rear window/hatch was a convenient feature.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space. The first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, with a standard sliding rear seat that could be adjusted to expand legroom or cargo space. The gasoline Escape models offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up, expandable to 37.5 cubic feet by sliding the seat forward, and 65.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo space due to the battery pack. While the Escape's cargo space was decent, competitors like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester offered more.

The 2020 Lexus GX's infotainment system was outdated, featuring the last generation of Lexus Enform. However, it was a true touchscreen, flanked by large buttons for audio, navigation, and climate controls, making it simpler to use than modern Lexus systems. The downside was the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which might be a dealbreaker for some.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with the base Escape S models getting a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. Upgrading to the Escape SE added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim level featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some of the standard tech features offered by competitors and missed out on the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with Sync 4.

The 2020 Lexus GX came standard with the Lexus Safety System+, which included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and a surround-view camera were also available. The GX's high driving position and large windows provided excellent visibility, enhancing overall safety.

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. The NHTSA awarded the Escape a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, 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.