2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB vs 2020 Lexus GX

The 2020 Lexus GX, despite some new design tweaks, was a decade-old vehicle. It featured the garish hourglass grille design that had become a hallmark of the Lexus lineup. While this design was hard to look at on some Lexus models, it was more palatable on the GX. The GX shared a platform with the Toyota 4Runner, making it one of the last true sport utility vehicles. Its rugged capability outweighed the necessity to innovate, allowing it to soldier on for years.

Inside, the GX's age was apparent. The cabin looked unchanged from a decade ago, with a large, chunky center console and big buttons. This old-school design worked for a rugged SUV like the GX, even if it wouldn't be desirable in a new Lexus RX. The GX's interior was designed to be operable while wearing work gloves, a feature that had become less relevant over time. The GX was available in three trims: the 460, 460 Premium, and 460 Luxury, each offering a range of features from leather upholstery to a rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB, introduced in 2020, joined an extensive lineup of Mercedes SUVs. It slotted between the smaller GLA and larger GLC, with distinct measurements that made it hard to distinguish from its lineup-mates. The GLB had an attractive, athletic stance with 7.9 inches of ground clearance, making it more forgiving on soft roads and speed humps. Inside, the GLB was a modern stunner with round shapes across the dash, polished metal details, and a single panel housing both the virtual instrument cluster and infotainment screen.

The GLB's cabin had Mercedes-Benz levels of fit and finish, with a beefy steering wheel and perforated leather grips. The front seats were comfortable and highly adjustable, with available heated and ventilated options. The second row was also comfortable for two adults, though a third adult would be cramped. The GLB offered modern amenities like door pockets with bottle holders, map pockets, and cupholders, making it a well-sorted cabin.

The 2020 Lexus GX 460 was powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. This power was sent through a 6-speed automatic transmission to standard 4-wheel drive (4WD). While these specs might not impress compared to modern V6 or turbocharged engines, the V8 offered an unmistakable swell of power in real-world driving. The GX's light steering felt over-boosted at first but proved to be direct and responsive on the road. The self-leveling air suspension provided a smooth yet composed ride, capable of handling potholes and bumps with ease.

The GX's 4WD system made it a beast off-road, capable of handling deep snow, mud, sand, and mild off-road driving without breaking a sweat. The GX also featured a panel of toggle switches for various 4WD modes, suspension height adjustment, and Downhill Assist Control. The GX could tow up to 6,500 pounds and had a tight turning radius of 19 feet, making it a sensible city vehicle for urbanites. However, its fuel economy was not impressive, with estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB had a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with wheel-mounted shift paddles. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with 4MATIC all-wheel drive (AWD) available for an additional $2,000. The GLB's fuel economy was estimated at 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined for FWD, and 23 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined for AWD.

The GLB's curb weight ranged from 3,638 to 3,891 pounds, depending on configuration. It had a 0-60 mph time of 6.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. The AWD version of the GLB offered better handling in foul weather and during cornering maneuvers, making it worth the upcharge. The Off-Road Engineering Package, standard with 4MATIC, included hill-start assist, downhill speed regulation, and an animation program for off-road maneuvers.

The 2020 Lexus GX offered second-row captain's chairs on the Premium and Luxury trims, with power-folding third-row seats standard on the Luxury trim. The captain's chairs provided a small access way to the third row and a natural barrier between kids. However, getting into the third row was a chore for adults. With all rear seats folded, the GX offered 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space, less than some competitors. The GX had a unique side-opening rear hatch, with a separately opening rear window/hatch for easier access to the cargo area.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB offered an optional third-row seat, affecting the second row and cargo compartments. The second row's seatbacks were divided 40:20:40, with adjustable recline angles and a sliding function. The third row was retractable, folding flat when not needed. Cargo space for the five-passenger GLB was 27.0 cubic feet behind the second row and 62.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The seven-passenger GLB had 5.1 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 24.0 cubic feet behind the second row, and 56.7 cubic feet behind the first row.

The GLB's third row was suitable for children or brief trips for smaller adults, with modest legroom and headroom. The rest of the GLB cabin was well-sorted, with comfortable and highly adjustable front seats, available heated and ventilated options, and a heated steering wheel. The second row was comfortable for two adults, with modern amenities like door pockets, map pockets, and cupholders.

The 2020 Lexus GX's infotainment system showed its age, with a true touchscreen flanked by large buttons for audio, navigation, and climate controls. This simpler layout was easier to use than the modern Lexus Remote Touch cursor system. However, the GX lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a tough tradeoff for some drivers.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB was packed with technology, including the latest Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with voice control and natural language understanding. The GLB had a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen multimedia display, with a new-generation touchpad in the center console. Standard features included a rearview camera, smartphone integration with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, keyless start, and a power liftgate.

The Premium Package added a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and touchscreen media display, keyless go, and an upgraded Burmester Surround Sound System. The optional Multimedia Package included navigation with augmented reality (AR) and traffic-sign assist. AR navigation used a camera in the windshield to superimpose information over live images, enhancing navigation and safety. Other advanced options included adaptive damping, 64-color ambient interior lighting, wireless device charging, NFC pairing, parking assistance with surround view, active parking assist, and a head-up display (HUD).

The 2020 Lexus GX came standard with the Lexus Safety System+, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also had blind-spot monitoring and an available surround-view camera. The GX's great visibility, with massive windows and mirrors, added to its safety.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB featured standard safety technology like active brake assist, adaptive braking with hill-start assist and brake hold, crosswind assist, attention assist, and emergency call service. Available safety features included active LED headlamps, adaptive high-beam assist, and blind-spot assist. The Driver Assistance Package added advanced features like active distance assist Distronic adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, active brake assist with cross-traffic function, active speed limit assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, and Pre-Safe Plus with Pre-Safe Sound. Pre-Safe Sound emitted a brief interference signal to trigger a protective reflex in the human ear, reducing hearing loss from a car accident. The 2021 GLB had not yet been rated for safety by the NHTSA or IIHS.