2022 Lexus GX vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully aligned its exterior with Ford's more recent designs. This refresh gave the Edge a cleaner look compared to the more elaborate styling of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance upgrades and higher price tag.

Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, despite attempts to modernize it with features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models came with leather upholstery, and the ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching. However, the interior updates felt somewhat awkward and less cohesive than the exterior.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition, evaluated in Black Onyx, eliminated almost all chrome from its exterior, transforming the SUV into a sleek, dark presence. However, it quickly accumulated dust, making it look drab and old. The GX's design, despite updates like the signature spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights, still resembled the first-generation 2002 GX 470, giving it an outdated appearance.

Inside, the GX's cabin quality was impeccable, with smooth, refined materials and a quiet atmosphere, save for the faint roar of the V8 engine. The GX 460 was available in Standard, Premium, and Luxury trims, with prices ranging from $56,700 to $66,210. The Black Line Special Edition, based on the Premium trim, started at $60,535. Despite its age, the GX's interior maintained a high level of craftsmanship and comfort.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. An optional package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires.

The Edge ST, introduced in 2019, aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though it fell short of that benchmark. Nonetheless, it offered a refined driving experience, especially for a vehicle based on an aging platform. The non-ST models' turbo-four engine felt somewhat sluggish. The Edge's towing capacities were 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model, 4,122 pounds for the AWD model, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered ST, though competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered higher towing capacities.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, with a base curb weight of 5,126 pounds, featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. This powertrain, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time 4WD system, provided a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds. The GX's 0-60 mph time was a leisurely 7.8 seconds, but the torque made the drive feel more exciting.

The GX's drag coefficient of 0.35, combined with its V8 engine, always-on 4WD system, and heavy curb weight, resulted in an EPA fuel economy estimate of 16 mpg in combined driving. During testing, the GX achieved 16.8 mpg. The standard Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) improved the GX's ride and handling, making it more stable and secure. However, the slow, heavy steering and touchy brake pedal detracted from the overall driving experience. The Off-Road Package, available with the Luxury trim, added features like Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, and skid plates, enhancing the GX's off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered competitive interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard. Cargo space was 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims. The rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited its usefulness, and the storage nook below was hard to reach and easy to forget.

The 2022 Lexus GX provided an elevated driving position with a 10-way power-adjustable seat and clear outward visibility. Its tall, narrow, and short design made it easy to maneuver in various environments, though the slow steering required extra effort. The seats were comfortable, with padding in all the right places, and the Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner. The front seats were heated and ventilated, the rear seats were heated, and triple-zone automatic climate control was included.

However, accessing the rear seats was challenging due to narrow door openings, and the third-row seat was cramped and difficult to reach. The third-row seat also reduced cargo space, and when stowed, it raised the load floor, making it harder to load heavy objects. The GX's side-swinging tailgate further complicated loading, especially in tight spaces. Cargo capacity was 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with the second row folded, less than a Toyota RAV4.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for 2021, provided ample connectivity. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts made it user-friendly, and the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were notable advantages over some competitors.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 introduced a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, eliminating the need for the outdated Remote Touch Interface (RTI) touchpad. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, navigation, and a CD player. The Lexus app, smartwatch compatibility, and Lexus Enform connected services, including a WiFi hotspot, offered modern connectivity. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround-sound audio system was available but not included in the test vehicle.

The GX's stereo controls were awkwardly placed below the off-roading controls, making them harder to use. The dual-screen view allowed simultaneous display of navigation and radio, and the voice recognition technology was quick and accurate. The GX's new system was preferred over the next-generation Lexus infotainment system in the 2022 NX. Standard Intuitive Parking Assist, surround-view, and terrain-view cameras enhanced the GX's technology offerings.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," with top ratings in all crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base SE trim.

The 2022 Lexus GX, with its older design, lacked crash-test ratings. Standard Lexus Safety System+ included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services with automatic collision notification and emergency calling were also standard. However, the GX lacked some modern safety technologies found in competitors, such as lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The absence of these features might appeal to some buyers, while others might prefer more advanced safety tech.