2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson featured a more conventional design compared to its futuristic successor. It had an upright layout that provided a commanding view of the road. Inside, the Tucson boasted a modern and attractive dashboard design, seamlessly integrating tech features into the overall aesthetic. Every button and dial was easy to find, enhancing the user experience.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460, on the other hand, retained its decade-old body shell with minor updates over the years. It featured Lexus' trademark spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The GX's tough and aggressive look appealed to SUV shoppers, but its interior did not meet modern luxury standards. The wood trim felt like molded plastic, and there was an abundance of actual plastic. Despite standard leather upholstery, the interior felt dated.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came with two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims were equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that made 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at highway speeds, while the 2.4-liter engine provided a livelier performance. The Tucson had a comfortable and refined ride, with a towing capacity of up to 2,000 pounds with the 2.4-liter engine.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's 5,130-pound weight impacted its performance at higher speeds, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, with noticeable body roll and low grip in corners. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and several driver aids. The GX had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it offered adequate space for weekend bags or large boxes. The Tucson's front seats provided solid headroom and legroom, and the rear seats were accommodating enough for adults. The Sport and higher trims included a hands-free power liftgate.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics reflected its age. The upright dashboard and high center console limited legroom, and the steering wheel's odd angle made it feel like driving a bus. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. The center-console storage bin and cupholders were small, and the third row was best reserved for children. The GX offered 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, significantly less than some competitors.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim featured an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was user-friendly with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Additional available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features. It included Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions. However, Lexus included analog controls for nearly everything, providing a refreshing alternative to screen-centric interfaces.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Upper-tier trims added features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned five stars from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, 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 lacked some safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist. The NHTSA and IIHS had not published crash-test ratings for the GX.