2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Lexus GX
Overview | |
MSRP$32,925 | MSRP$53,450 |
Average price$31,423 | Average price$45,260 |
Listings5053 | Listings505 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews7.5 out of 10 | Expert reviews5.3 out of 10 |
Pros
| Pros
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2021 Ford Explorer Reviews SummaryThere was a time when everybody in America seemingly drove an Explorer. That may be an exaggeration, but not by much. In its first four years of production, Ford sold over a million examples. In 1998, Ford was selling its second-generation Explorer at a rate of nearly 440,000 per year. Whether your family purchased an Explorer or not, this was the nameplate that invented the midsize SUV segment. Fast forward to the 2021 model year and the Explorer is in its sixth generation. It's now a three-row SUV that clocks in at a maximum of 4,700 pounds, with a price tag north of $50,000 for the Explorer Platinum trim level. Long gone are the days when it was the only game in town. Almost every automaker has a competitor. So how does the Explorer shake out for 2021? | |
2021 Lexus GX Reviews SummaryMost modern SUVs are really car-based crossovers—lifted station wagons, or minivans without the sliding doors. That’s not the case with the 2021 Lexus GX 460. Like the mythical Loch Ness Monster, the GX is a creature that time forgot. It’s one of the last SUVs with truck-like body-on-frame construction and true off-road capability. That’s because the GX is actually a rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (a smaller version of the iconic Toyota Land Cruiser not sold in the United States), and is related to the Toyota 4Runner. It’s also genuinely old: the current generation dates back to the 2010 model year, and Lexus has kept it in production with some updates of styling and tech over the years. That makes the GX a fairly odd proposition on the new-car market. It has the off-road capability, not as a lifestyle statement, but because that’s what was still expected of SUVs when it was launched. The GX sits between the RX and LX in Lexus’ lineup but has little direct competition. Its only real rival is the much newer Land Rover Discovery. For the 2021 model year, the GX gets some minor updates, including a new Premium Plus Package, and acoustic front side glass. Lexus continues to offer only the GX 460 model, with a single powertrain option, standard four-wheel drive (4WD), and three trim levels: base, Premium, and Luxury. Our test car was the midlevel Premium version. | |
No video found | No video found |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine2.3L 300 hp I4 | Engine4.6L 301 hp V8 |
Drive TrainRWD | Drive TrainAWD |
Seating Capacity7 | Seating Capacity7 |
Horsepower | Horsepower301 hp @ 5500 rpm |
MPG City21 | MPG City15 |
MPG Highway28 | MPG Highway19 |
Engine | |
Engine Name2.3L 300 hp I4 | Engine Name4.6L 301 hp V8 |
Torque | Torque329 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm |
Horsepower | Horsepower301 hp @ 5500 rpm |
DrivetrainRWD | DrivetrainAWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City21 | MPG City15 |
MPG Highway28 | MPG Highway19 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity7 | Seating Capacity7 |
Key Features | |
Sunroof/Moonroof | Sunroof/MoonroofStandard |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall5 | Front Crash Overall |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space18.2 cu ft | Cargo Space11.6 cu ft |
Curb Weight4345 lbs | Curb Weight5130 lbs |
Height69.9 in | Height74.2 in |
Length198.8 in | Length192.1 in |
Width89.3 in | Width74.2 in |
Wheelbase119.1 in | Wheelbase109.8 in |
Maximum Payload1425 lbs | Maximum Payload1315 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Maximum Towing Capacity5300 lbs | Maximum Towing Capacity6500 lbs |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $32,925 | $53,450 |
Average price | $31,423 | $45,260 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | 4.8 | 4.7 |
Expert reviews | 7.5 out of 10Read full review | 5.3 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
| Pros
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Summary | There was a time when everybody in America seemingly drove an Explorer. That may be an exaggeration, but not by much. In its first four years of production, Ford sold over a million examples. In 1998, Ford was selling its second-generation Explorer at a rate of nearly 440,000 per year. Whether your family purchased an Explorer or not, this was the nameplate that invented the midsize SUV segment. Fast forward to the 2021 model year and the Explorer is in its sixth generation. It's now a three-row SUV that clocks in at a maximum of 4,700 pounds, with a price tag north of $50,000 for the Explorer Platinum trim level. Long gone are the days when it was the only game in town. Almost every automaker has a competitor. So how does the Explorer shake out for 2021? | Most modern SUVs are really car-based crossovers—lifted station wagons, or minivans without the sliding doors. That’s not the case with the 2021 Lexus GX 460. Like the mythical Loch Ness Monster, the GX is a creature that time forgot. It’s one of the last SUVs with truck-like body-on-frame construction and true off-road capability. That’s because the GX is actually a rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (a smaller version of the iconic Toyota Land Cruiser not sold in the United States), and is related to the Toyota 4Runner. It’s also genuinely old: the current generation dates back to the 2010 model year, and Lexus has kept it in production with some updates of styling and tech over the years. That makes the GX a fairly odd proposition on the new-car market. It has the off-road capability, not as a lifestyle statement, but because that’s what was still expected of SUVs when it was launched. The GX sits between the RX and LX in Lexus’ lineup but has little direct competition. Its only real rival is the much newer Land Rover Discovery. For the 2021 model year, the GX gets some minor updates, including a new Premium Plus Package, and acoustic front side glass. Lexus continues to offer only the GX 460 model, with a single powertrain option, standard four-wheel drive (4WD), and three trim levels: base, Premium, and Luxury. Our test car was the midlevel Premium version. |
Video | No video found | No video found |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 2.3L 300 hp I4 | 4.6L 301 hp V8 |
Drive Train | RWD | AWD |
Seating Capacity | 7 | 7 |
Horsepower | 301 hp @ 5500 rpm | |
MPG City | 21 | 15 |
MPG Highway | 28 | 19 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 2.3L 300 hp I4 | 4.6L 301 hp V8 |
Torque | 329 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm | |
Horsepower | 301 hp @ 5500 rpm | |
Drivetrain | RWD | AWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 21 | 15 |
MPG Highway | 28 | 19 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 7 | 7 |
Key Features | ||
Sunroof/Moonroof | Standard | |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 5 | |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 18.2 cu ft | 11.6 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 4345 lbs | 5130 lbs |
Height | 69.9 in | 74.2 in |
Length | 198.8 in | 192.1 in |
Width | 89.3 in | 74.2 in |
Wheelbase | 119.1 in | 109.8 in |
Maximum Payload | 1425 lbs | 1315 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
Maximum Towing Capacity | 5300 lbs | 6500 lbs |
By: CarGurus + AI
This car comparison has been created with using generative AI. It is based entirely on CarGurus expert review content, ratings and data, and leverages our extensive library of hands-on product tests to create thousands of unique comparisons to help shoppers choose the right car.