2021 Lexus GX vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy distinguished itself with a unique grille pattern, revised exterior lighting including puddle lamps, additional lower body trim, exclusive 20-inch wheels, upgraded interior detailing, and a simulated suede interior headliner. These features made the Calligraphy trim look fancier than other Palisades, drawing attention for its unconventional styling. Inside, the Calligraphy’s cabin, with its Beige over Navy Blue color scheme, quilted and stitched premium Nappa leather, and suede headliner, appeared far more luxurious than its price suggested.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus GX 460 retained the same basic body shell from a decade ago, with updates like the spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model didn’t get any new styling changes, but silver 18-inch wheels became standard on the Premium trim. The GX’s tough, aggressive look was distinctive, but the interior felt outdated. The wood trim in the Premium test car looked and felt like molded plastic, and there was plenty of actual plastic as well. Despite standard leather upholstery, the interior didn’t meet modern luxury SUV standards.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel-drive system. Drivers could choose between Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, with AWD models adding a Snow mode and a Lock function for improved low-speed traction. The Palisade AWD had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg in combined driving, and our test vehicle averaged 21.1 mpg. The Palisade’s firmer suspension provided excellent body-motion control, making it enjoyable to drive, though not outright fun. It was undemanding in typical driving scenarios, with plenty of power and easy maneuverability. The Palisade also had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX’s 5,130 pounds made their presence felt at higher speeds, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, meaning it wasn’t very good. The GX excelled in off-road capability, with a Torsen center differential, low range for crawling, and several driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, and multi-view camera system. The GX 460 had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered a spacious and accessible interior, with eight-way power-adjustable seats for the driver and passenger, heated and ventilated front seats and second-row captain’s chairs, and separate climate controls for third-row passengers. The Palisade’s third-row seat was more accommodating than most other SUVs in the class. Cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, expanding to 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. The hands-free Smart Liftgate added convenience.

The 2021 Lexus GX’s interior ergonomics felt outdated, with an upright dashboard and high center console leaving little legroom. The steering wheel’s odd angle and the tall seating position made it feel like driving a bus. The GX offered excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. The center-console storage bin and cupholders were small, and accessing the third row was difficult. The GX had 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third-row seats folded, substantially less than competitors. With the third row up, cargo space was minimal.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered two infotainment systems: an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen requiring a wired connection. The Calligraphy trim included features like SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, Blue Link connected services, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, wireless smartphone charging, a Driver Talk intercom system, Quiet Mode, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, with standard Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions. The GX included analog controls for most functions, which was a refreshing change from screen-centric interfaces. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in safety, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping systems, and a rear occupant alert system. Limited and Calligraphy trims added a more sophisticated rear occupant alert system, active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, Safe Exit Assist, and a Blind View Monitor. Highway Drive Assist provided smooth and sophisticated adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. The Palisade earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 included the Lexus Safety System+ bundle with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX missed out on some safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, like traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist. The NHTSA and IIHS hadn’t published crash-test ratings for the GX.