2021 Ford Explorer vs 2022 Lexus NX

The 2021 Ford Explorer had a design that fit well within Ford's SUV lineup, sharing a family resemblance with models like the Escape, Edge, and Expedition. Its exterior featured sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive visages, making it recognizable among other brands' SUVs. Depending on the trim, the Explorer's grille varied from black to full chrome, with six trim levels ranging from the base model to the luxurious Platinum. Inside, the Explorer offered three rows of seating as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model and leather available on higher trims. The dashboard was clean, featuring an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a rotary gearshift that freed up storage space.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus NX showcased a more refined and minimalist design. The NX was unmistakably a Lexus with its spindle grille and new block lettering on the tailgate. The interior was comfortable, especially with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim added sport-bolstered seats and unique instrumentation. The NX also featured a panoramic sunroof and a nature-inspired Thematic Ambient Illumination system in the Luxury trim. The new dashboard design created a cozy feeling, and the NX offered more passenger and cargo space than its predecessor.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds and featured a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Limited Hybrid trim offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims came with a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while the sport-oriented Explorer ST offered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer's towing capacity ranged from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions: the NX 350h hybrid with 239 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 39 mpg, and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 302 hp and an estimated 36 miles of pure electric range. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The NX 250 had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The NX 350 F Sport added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension.

The 2021 Ford Explorer had seating for seven in the base trim, with captain’s chairs in the second row for other trims, reducing capacity to six. It offered 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers and 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row deployed. With the rear seats folded, the Explorer provided 81 cubic feet of cargo room.

The 2022 Lexus NX claimed a 14% increase in cargo space, offering 22.7 cubic feet behind the back seat and 46.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The interior was comfortable, with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and padded areas for leg bracing. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations, rear air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. The NX Luxury trim featured a Thematic Ambient Illumination system with 14 themes.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came with an 8-inch touchscreen, AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, and Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system. Higher trims offered a 10.1-inch touchscreen and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, with up to 14 speakers available.

The 2022 Lexus NX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system with a 9.8-inch touchscreen, upgradeable to a 14-inch screen. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and cloud-based services. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system available. The NX also featured a digital mirror, a 10-inch head-up display, and User Profiles for storing driver preferences.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer came with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.

The 2022 Lexus NX included the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The NX also had standard blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Assist. Premium trim added rear pedestrian detection, an adaptive front lighting system, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. The Vision Package included a panoramic view monitoring system and front cross-traffic alert.