2021 Lexus RX 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 resurrected Bronco. It featured a modern retro design reminiscent of the classic Bronco, with a focus on being an everyday driver ready for weekend adventures. The Bronco Sport's exterior boasted short front and rear overhangs, tall fender wells, and a tucked-in body designed for trail driving. 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, convenient storage cubbies, and a rotary gear selector.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus RX showcased the modern design aesthetic of Lexus, with a large grille, angular headlamps, and a floating roof. The RX was available in five variants, including the RX, RX F Sport, RXL, RX Hybrid, and RXL Hybrid. The RX's exterior featured standard 18-inch aluminum wheels, LED lighting, and rear privacy glass, with available upgrades like 20-inch wheels and triple-beam LED headlights. Inside, the RX offered a well-appointed interior with standard features like carpeted floor mats, NuLuxe-trimmed seats, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Higher trims added semi-aniline leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and a power-folding third row.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices tied to trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped 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 more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All models came with 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.

The 2021 Lexus RX, RXL, and RX F-Sport were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RX Hybrid and RXL Hybrid models combined a 3.5-liter V6 with three electric motors, producing 308 horsepower and managed by an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). The RX offered a comfortable and dynamic driving experience, with AWD providing stability in corners and adaptive variable suspension available in the F Sport Handling package. The RX's fuel efficiency varied, with the FWD RX 350 achieving 23 mpg combined, while the RX Hybrid managed up to 31 mpg in the city.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with features like cargo space designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes and a catalog of over 100 accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds, and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds. The cargo hold included a flip-up rear glass, a slide-out work table, and a 400-watt inverter. The front cabin offered ample storage compartments, though taller drivers might find visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2021 Lexus RX provided a functional and spacious interior, with the two-row RX models seating five and the three-row RXL models seating six or seven. Front and second-row seats offered plenty of space, while the third row was tight. The RX's cargo space was limited compared to traditional SUVs, with 18.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row RXL offered 7.5 cubic feet behind the third row and 58.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free liftgate available.

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

The 2021 Lexus RX came standard with dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD Radio, a WiFi hotspot, six USB ports, and a nine-speaker sound system. Upgrades included a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, navigation, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system. The touchpad controller for the infotainment system was functional but took up valuable center console space. The RX did not offer wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist, 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 navigation system. All models featured AWD and a terrain management system with traction control, anti-lock braking, and electronic stability control. Crash-worthiness ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2021 Lexus RX received the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation, with Good marks on crashworthiness tests. The NHTSA rated the RX 350, RX 350L, and RX 450h with four out of five stars overall and five stars for side-impact crashworthiness. Standard safety features included a rearview camera, 10 airbags, enhanced vehicle stability control, blind-spot monitoring, and the Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 suite. This suite included a pre-collision system, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and road sign assist. The RX lacked the advanced hands-off piloting technology found in some competitors.