2021 Lexus GX vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a highly anticipated addition to the Ford lineup, serving as a smaller sibling to the yet-to-be-released Bronco. It drew inspiration from the classic 1966-1996 Bronco, aiming to compete with rugged models like the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner. The Bronco Sport featured a unibody crossover design, making it more suitable for everyday driving while still being ready for weekend adventures. Its modern retro aesthetic, short front overhang, and tall fender wells were designed for trail driving, with minimal adornments to avoid catching on obstructions. The bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, along with various wheel options, added to its rugged appeal.

Inside, the Bronco Sport offered a tastefully rugged interior with an uncluttered design. The HVAC vents had a unique shape, and the center stack featured convenient storage cubbies and an 8-inch infotainment screen. The rotary gear selector and cupholders were well-placed in the center console. Interior trim levels ranged from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, with the First Edition model offering Navy Pier Leather power front seats. The cargo area featured practical options like a rubberized cargo floor and second-row seat protector, catering to the needs of active buyers.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 retained its decade-old body shell with updates over the years, including the signature spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model didn't see significant styling changes, but it did come with standard silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim level. Despite its age, the GX's tough and aggressive look remained distinctive, appealing to SUV shoppers. However, the interior didn't quite meet modern luxury SUV standards, with wood trim that felt like molded plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, with semi-aniline leather available on the Luxury trim level.

The GX's interior ergonomics reflected its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console that limited legroom. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position made it feel like driving a bus. While the dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. Storage compartments were small, and the third row was best suited for children. The GX offered three rows of seating, but accessing the third row was challenging. Cargo space was limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded, significantly less than competitors like the Land Rover Discovery.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices tied to trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models came with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road with its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance, making it a capable trail vehicle. On-road, it offered good manners, with the 2.0-liter engine providing a better match for its character.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 kept things simple with a single powertrain option: a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's V8 engine provided ample grunt for acceleration, but its 5,130-pound weight made higher-speed maneuvers and braking more challenging. The body-on-frame construction resulted in a less refined ride quality compared to modern unibody SUVs. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, with a Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and various driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, and multi-view camera system, enhancing its off-road prowess.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with clever features. Its cargo space was designed to accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes, and Ford offered a catalog of over 100 accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds (100 with a moonroof), and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds, while the 1.5-liter engine could tow 2,000 pounds. The cargo area featured a flip-up rear glass, an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin had ample storage compartments, but taller drivers might find outward visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics reflected its age, with limited legroom and an odd steering wheel angle. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. Storage compartments were small, and the third row was best suited for children. The GX offered three rows of seating, but accessing the third row was challenging. Cargo space was limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded, significantly less than competitors like the Land Rover Discovery.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured the latest infotainment systems, including an 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC 3, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Ford+Alexa, and SiriusXM capability. FordConnect with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard. The base audio system had six speakers, with a Bang & Olufsen sound system available on higher trims. The terrain management system offered up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, and trail control technology provided a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was included on all trims except the Base model, and higher trims had heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel.

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. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions. The touchscreen's graphics looked dated, and the system didn't offer much in the way of functions. However, Lexus included analog controls for nearly everything, providing a refreshing alternative to screen-centric interfaces. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available, but the overall tech offering was lacking for a luxury SUV in 2021.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, dynamic brake support, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and more. AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes were standard on all models, enhancing traction and stability. However, crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 came with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, including forward-collision warning, 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 advanced safety features found in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist. Crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the 2021 GX 460.