2020 Toyota 4Runner vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner had a timeless design characterized by tall slab sides, a high beltline, short overhangs, and a near-vertical front fascia. Its utilitarian attitude was reminiscent of an XJ Jeep Cherokee, with flared wheel wells designed to accommodate bulky off-road tires and short overhangs for tackling steep pitches and sharp declines. The hood scoop, a visual cue for the off-road-focused TRD trim, was one of the few non-functional elements. Small, angular headlights highlighted the front end, and the grille varied by trim, with body-color bars on most trims and blacked-out accents on the TRD Pro. The Limited trim featured bright chrome accents. The trim lineup included SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro, Limited, Nightshade Special Edition, and the new Venture Special Edition. The Limited trim, aimed at comfort, featured leather upholstery and an 8-inch touchscreen, but still had plenty of plastic and a seating position designed for off-roading.

The 2021 Lexus NX carried over familial design and styling attributes, with sharp design lines giving it a familiar appearance similar to the smaller Lexus UX and larger Lexus RX. It had power-folding outside mirrors and 17-inch wheels as standard. The NX F Sport variant featured a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, chrome-trimmed lower bumper, laser fog light housing, larger exhaust opening, and 18-inch F Sport wheels. Inside, the F Sport models had quilted NuLuxe sport seats with optional Circuit Red interior color scheme, leather, and wood trim. The material fit and finish were excellent, with a gauge cluster featuring a sculpted metal-faced four-dial setup and a 4.2-inch multi-information display. The F Sport also had a G-Force meter, though it was more of a gimmick. The center stack, with its elevated climate-control buttons and rare CD player, showed its age but remained functional.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4-liter V6 engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission, delivering 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. This engine was not designed for smoothness or efficiency but for durability and off-road capability. It had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds and an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 16 mpg city, 19 highway, and 17 combined. The 4Runner excelled off-road, with body-on-frame construction and advanced traction systems like Toyota’s CRAWL control and Multi-Terrain Select. The full-time 4WD system on the Limited trim was better suited for maintaining forward progress, while the part-time system in the TRD models handled crawling up boulders with ease.

The 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport were powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The standard six-speed automatic transmission was adequate but not as smooth as newer multi-speed transmissions. The NX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in around seven seconds. It offered a relatively quiet ride, with Active Sound Control on F Sport models enhancing the engine note electronically. The NX had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds and an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 28 highway, and 25 combined for FWD models, with AWD models getting slightly lower combined mileage. The adaptive-suspension system, based on the LC 500 sport coupe, provided a smooth and comfortable driving experience, though the steering was numb. The NX had three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport, influencing throttle response and power-steering assist.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner offered excellent outward visibility and a relatively tight turning radius of 18 feet, 7 inches. The interior featured large, chunky knobs for HVAC and stereo controls, and an 8-inch touchscreen. The tall seating position provided a commanding view, though climbing in and out could be tiring without power-retractable running boards. The 4Runner offered an optional third row of seats, but they were best for short and occasional use, lacking legroom and comfort.

The 2021 Lexus NX had an upscale interior with comfortable front seats and adequate legroom in the second row. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the rear seats offered a 60/40 split-folding configuration. The NX had 17.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down, making it one of the smallest in its class. A power liftgate with kick sensor technology and power-folding rear seats were available. The cabin was quiet, with minimal road and wind noise.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The system included Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth connectivity, a single USB media port, and various subscription services like Sirius XM Radio, Safety Connect, and WiFi Connect. Higher trims offered a JBL stereo and navigation system. However, the 4Runner lagged behind competitors in total features and usability, with the most advanced features hidden in the powertrain.

The 2021 Lexus NX had an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.3-inch screen available in the Navigation package. The infotainment system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HomeLink, and Lexus Enform Destination Assist. Standard features included keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, and a WiFi hot spot. The Lexus Premium Audio system had eight speakers, with an optional Mark Levinson 14-speaker system. The NX was compatible with the Lexus Enform Remote mobile app and Lexus Enform Services Connect, providing remote access and maintenance alerts.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner came with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and automatic high beams. It had eight standard airbags and received four out of five stars overall from the NHTSA, with three stars in the rollover test. The IIHS gave it a Good rating in most crash tests, except for a Marginal rating in the small overlap front: driver-side test.

The 2021 Lexus NX featured Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, including a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, with optional park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights. The IIHS gave it top Good scores in all crash tests, a Superior rating for front crash-prevention technology, and an Acceptable score for the LATCH system. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating.