2021 Nissan Murano vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 retained its rugged and aggressive styling, a testament to its long-standing presence in the market. Despite its decade-old body shell, the GX had undergone several updates over the years, including the addition of the signature spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model did not introduce any new styling changes, but it did standardize silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim. While the exterior maintained a distinctive and coherent look, the interior fell short of modern luxury standards. The wood trim in the Premium test car resembled molded plastic, and the abundance of actual plastic detracted from the luxury feel. However, standard leather upholstery and semi-aniline leather on the Luxury trim provided some comfort.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Murano's design, once considered cutting-edge, had become more mainstream. Its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end were now typical in car design. The interior and dash design remained conservative, focusing on comfort and practicality. The Murano's cabin was user-friendly, with controls intuitively placed to minimize the learning curve. The trims ranged from S to Platinum, with each level adding more features. The base S trim included essentials like 18-inch alloy wheels and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered additional luxuries such as leather upholstery, a Bose premium stereo system, and a dual-panel panoramic moonroof.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While the V8 provided ample power for initial acceleration, the GX's 5,130-pound weight was noticeable at higher speeds, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, with low grip and body roll in corners. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, equipped with a Torsen center differential, a standard 4WD system with a low range, and several driver aids. It offered a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds and had a ground clearance of 8.1 inches.

The 2021 Nissan Murano was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The V6 provided strong low-speed acceleration, making it ideal for city driving. However, the CVT dulled the power at higher speeds, requiring patience for highway overtaking. The Murano prioritized comfort, offering a smooth ride that absorbed road imperfections well. Its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, which was lower than many midsize and even some compact SUVs.

The interior of the 2021 Lexus GX revealed its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console limiting legroom. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position contributed to a bus-like driving feel. Despite these drawbacks, the GX offered excellent outward visibility due to its boxy profile. The center-console storage was limited, and the third row was best suited for children. The GX provided 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, but the third row significantly reduced cargo capacity when in use.

The 2021 Nissan Murano offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with them in use. While not the most spacious in its class, the Murano excelled in ease of use, with a center console designed for practicality. The two-row seating configuration provided ample headroom and legroom, with the second row offering partial reclining functionality. The SL and Platinum trims featured a hands-free power liftgate for added convenience.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. It offered Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, with two USB ports for the first two rows. The available 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was a highlight, but the standard infotainment system was outdated, with graphics reminiscent of the 1990s. However, the analog controls provided a straightforward interface, a refreshing change from the screen-centric systems in other luxury SUVs.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring a user-friendly menu layout and hard buttons for easy navigation. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, with available upgrades like an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation. The combination of touchscreen and physical controls made it easy to switch between connected smartphone apps.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 came with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. However, it lacked some advanced safety features found in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition. The GX had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2021 Nissan Murano featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, with newly standard reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. It also included forward automatic emergency braking and driver drowsiness monitoring. Additional features like a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control were available as options.