2021 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport had a modern retro aesthetic that evoked the rugged spirit of its larger sibling, the Bronco. It featured a short front overhang for optimal approach angles and tall fender wells designed for trail driving. The vehicle's exterior was adorned with bold white "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, with a smaller "SPORT" postscript. The wheels varied by trim, ranging from 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model to 18-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks and Badlands models. The interior was tastefully rugged, featuring an uncluttered design with a unique shape for the HVAC vents and an 8-inch infotainment screen. The trim levels offered a step-up in interior features, from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats.

The 2021 Lexus NX carried over its familial design and styling attributes, featuring sharp design lines that made it look similar to the smaller Lexus UX and larger Lexus RX. The NX 300 and 300 F Sport gasoline models had power-folding outside mirrors and standard 17-inch wheels. The F Sport variant added sportier elements like a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and 18-inch F Sport wheels. Inside, the F Sport models featured quilted NuLuxe sport seats with optional Circuit Red interior color schemes. The material fit and finish were excellent, with a gauge cluster that included a 4.2-inch multi-information display. However, the center stack showed its age with an odd design and outdated switchgear.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims came with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models featured 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, along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. On-road, it offered good manners, although the 1.5-liter engine could sound strained under hard acceleration.

The 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport were powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivered 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The standard six-speed automatic transmission was adequate but not as smooth as the eight-, nine-, and 10-speed transmissions found in competitors. The NX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in around seven seconds. The F Sport models featured Active Sound Control to enhance the engine note electronically. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The NX offered three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport, which influenced throttle response and power-steering assist. The NX had a 2,000-pound towing capacity and a top speed electronically limited to 124 mph.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was designed with active buyers in mind, offering cargo space high enough to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford provided a catalog of over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting various 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. The cargo hold featured a flip-up rear glass and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin had ample storage compartments, although taller drivers might find outward visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2021 Lexus NX offered a comfortable and upscale interior. The front seats provided ample room for adults, and the second-row seats could comfortably fit two adults. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the rear seats had a 60/40 split-folding design. The NX had 17.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats, expanding to 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. These numbers were among the smallest in its class. The NX featured a power liftgate with kick sensor technology and optional power-folding rear seats. Engine noise could intrude into the cabin, but road and wind noise were well-muted.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also offered Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM capability, along with a standard FordConnect 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system had six speakers, with a Bang & Olufsen sound system available on higher trims. The Bronco Sport's terrain management system included up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, depending on the trim. Trail control technology allowed for a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was standard on all trims except the Base model, and higher trims featured a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel.

The 2021 Lexus NX had an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.3-inch screen available as part of the Navigation package. This package also included predictive traffic information, ETA calculation, and fuel station guidance. New for 2021, the infotainment system added HomeLink to its Navigation package. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the system was compatible with the Lexus Enform Remote mobile app. Standard features included keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, and a WiFi hotspot. The Lexus Premium Audio system had eight speakers, with a Mark Levinson 14-speaker system available on top-tier models.

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, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system. Trailer sway control was included in the tow package. All models featured AWD and a terrain management system with traction control, anti-lock braking, and electronic stability control. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had released crash-worthiness ratings for the Bronco Sport.

The 2021 Lexus NX came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which included 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 also standard. Optional safety features included park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights. The IIHS gave the NX top "Good" scores in all crash tests, with "Superior" front crash-prevention technology and an "Acceptable" LATCH system. The NHTSA awarded the NX a five-star overall safety rating. Lexus backed the NX with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.