2020 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2020 Subaru Ascent, with its practical and utilitarian design, resembled a larger Subaru Forester. It featured gray plastic cladding for 360-degree protection, an oversized grille, and exaggerated fender flares that added visual strength. The robust roof rails and appealing 20-inch aluminum wheels on three of the four trim levels demonstrated a clear purpose and intent. The base Ascent, starting at $31,995, came with smaller 18-inch wheels and lacked dark-tinted privacy glass. Upgrading to the Premium trim at $34,395 offered nicer detailing, a superior infotainment system, and larger wheels. The Limited trim at $39,345 added leather seats, while the top-tier Touring trim at $45,045 included premium leather, a panoramic sunroof, and special wood trim. The test vehicle, a Touring trim, was priced at $46,285 and featured a stylish Abyss Blue Pearl exterior with Java Brown leather interior, showcasing quality materials and thoughtful details.

In contrast, 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 2021 model didn't receive any styling changes, but silver 18-inch wheels became standard on the Premium trim. Despite its age, the GX's styling remained coherent, with a massive grille and a tough, aggressive look. However, the interior didn't meet modern luxury SUV standards. The wood trim in the Premium test car felt like molded plastic, and there was an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was included, with semi-aniline leather available on the Luxury trim. The GX's interior ergonomics, with an upright dashboard and high center console, left little legroom and made the steering wheel feel like driving a bus. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited due to the tall hood.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). This setup provided good acceleration, but the powertrain was thirsty, averaging 18.9 mpg on the test loop, below the EPA estimate of 22 mpg. The Ascent's handling was not particularly engaging, with slow and numb steering, and the suspension struggled with pavement undulations. The CVT, while decent, produced uneven power delivery and an unpredictable powertrain. The shifter felt cheap, and the Ascent rolled significantly when parked on a hill. However, the Ascent excelled on freeways and off-road, thanks to its Active Torque Split AWD system, X-Mode off-road traction system, Hill Descent Control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine, generating 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The V8 provided strong acceleration from a stop, but the GX's 5,130-pound weight was noticeable at higher speeds, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, with low grip and significant body roll in corners. The Premium test car lacked the adaptive suspension of the Luxury trim, making the ride less civilized. However, the GX excelled off-road, with a Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, multi-view camera system, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select. The GX had 8.1 inches of ground clearance and respectable approach, departure, and break-over angles, but the Land Rover Discovery outperformed it in these metrics. The GX's maximum towing capacity was 6,500 pounds.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent offered comfort, especially in the Touring trim, with soft leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat included a manual thigh support extension, and the armrests were densely padded. The front seats had significant track travel, making the Ascent appealing to tall people. The dashboard featured a useful shelf and upscale ambient lighting, but the controls appeared dated. Storage options included a center bin, door panel bins, armrest bins, and a glove compartment. The Ascent could be configured with a second-row bench seat or captain's chairs, with the latter available in Premium and Limited trims. The third-row seat offered better comfort than some competitors, with easy access and acceptable space for shorter trips. The Ascent provided 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 47 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics reflected its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console that left little legroom. The steering wheel was positioned at an odd angle, making it feel like driving a bus. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited due to the tall hood. The center-console storage bin, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders were small. The GX came standard with three rows and seating for seven, with a power-folding third row available on the Premium trim with the Premium Plus Package and standard on the Luxury trim. The third row was best reserved for children, and accessing it was difficult. The GX had more first-row legroom on paper but felt cramped. The Discovery offered more second-row legroom and nearly the same headroom. The GX's cargo space with the second and third rows folded was 64.7 cubic feet, less than the Discovery's 73.0 cubic feet. With the third row up, cargo space was minimal.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent featured a Starlink infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, integrated apps, and a CD player. Premium trim added an 8-inch touchscreen, text-messaging capability, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Starlink Safety and Security connected services. The Touring trim improved with a high-resolution screen and navigation. The screen size was small by modern standards, but the display was satisfying, with stereo knobs and separate climate controls. The voice-control system was outdated and slow to respond. The navigation system had issues with accuracy during testing. Pairing via Bluetooth and streaming music was easy, and the Harman Kardon speakers provided rich sound quality. USB ports were available in all three rows, but there was no wireless smartphone charging pad. The Ascent Touring offered a 180-degree front camera view, a 180-degree rear camera view, and a PIN Code Vehicle Access system for active lifestyles.

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. Two USB ports were available for each of the first two rows, but none for the third row. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions. Below the main screen was a display for time and temperature, using a seven-segment format like a digital clock. The touchscreen was complemented by analog controls for nearly everything, including large shortcut buttons for the screen's menus. This interface was primitive for a luxury vehicle but provided a refreshing alternative to screen-centric approaches.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent was built on Subaru's latest global platform, engineered for exceptional occupant protection. It received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The EyeSight system included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Premium trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while Limited trim included LED steering-responsive headlights with automatic high-beam operation and reverse automatic braking. The EyeSight Assist Monitor projected lights onto the windshield to indicate system status. A rear-seat reminder system was new for 2020. Starlink Safety Plus connected services were free for three years, including automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, and roadside assistance. The Security Plus upgrade plan was free for six months, offering curfew, speed, and boundary alerts, and remote engine start with climate control.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 had not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Lexus Safety System+ bundle included 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 lacked some safety features available in other Lexus and non-luxury Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist automated lane centering.