2020 Lexus RX vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

Lexus refreshed the RX for the 2020 model year, giving it significant upgrades inside and out. The exterior featured standard 18-inch wheels, slimmer headlights, and L-shaped taillights. Optional triple-beam LED headlights and a redesigned grille added to its appeal. Two new paint colors, Moonbeam Beige Metallic and Nori Green Pearl, were introduced. The rear received a fresh look with dual exhaust, a rear diffuser, and updated reflectors, along with an available hands-free tailgate.

Inside, the RX offered a well-appointed cabin with various interior colors and material combinations, including wood and satin-brushed aluminum trim. The F Sport appearance package added unique elements like a special steering wheel, shift knob, aluminum pedals, and 20-inch wheels. Leather-wrapped surfaces provided a premium feel, and the center stack, though functional, appeared dated.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, on the other hand, relied on styling details to differentiate its trim levels. The exterior was generic SUV with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille. Different trims had unique styling elements, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The base Traverse L had 18-inch wheels, while higher trims offered 20-inch wheels.

The Traverse shared a platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6 but aimed for a more blue-collar feel. It featured car-like unibody construction and slotted below the Chevy Tahoe in size. The interior had restrained styling, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof. Materials in the higher-level RS trim were good but not quite worthy of the $50,000 MSRP.

The 2020 Lexus RX 350 was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, achieving 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The three-row RX 350L had slightly lower figures at 290 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with an electric motor for 308 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. The RX 450hL had 259 horsepower from the gasoline engine and 165 horsepower from an electric motor. The RX took 7.9 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph and achieved an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined for the RX 350, with the hybrid models getting up to 30 mpg combined.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse didn't feel as powerful as its specs suggested but had enough power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well overall but had occasional rough shifts. The Traverse impressed with its highway road manners, combining a quiet cabin and bump-absorbing suspension with good body control and precise steering. It had a somewhat puzzling AWD system that required manual activation and could send torque to individual wheels. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2020 Lexus RX interior wasn't as minimalist or stylish as its German competitors but was functional. The two-row RX model comfortably seated four adults, while the three-row RX-L's third row was best for small children or pets. The cabin was wide and tall, with comfortable front seats and decent outward visibility. The cargo area was smaller than rivals, with a high load floor compromising space. The RX 350L and 450hL had even less cargo space compared to competitors like the Lincoln Aviator.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse had a significant advantage in cargo space, with 23.0 cubic feet with all three rows in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2020 Lexus RX's infotainment system was often criticized, but the 2020 model made improvements by moving the display closer to the driver. The 12.3-inch touchscreen was still difficult to navigate, but Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, Android Auto, and other integrations helped mitigate issues. The RX had six USB ports and a standard 12-speaker audio system, with a 15-speaker Mark Levinson system available.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse had a standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Traverse retained analog controls for audio and climate, and its rearview camera mirror and HD surround-view camera system improved visibility and maneuverability. The Traverse had two USB ports for each row, with wireless phone charging standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2020 Lexus RX came with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, including adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. The 2020 model added daytime bicyclist detection, low-light pedestrian detection, road-sign assist, and lane-tracing assist. The RX received good safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. However, it had "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking only available on higher trims.