2021 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lexus GX 460’s styling was a testament to its long tenure on the market. Retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago, it had undergone several updates over the years. The GX adopted Lexus’ signature spindle grille in 2014, which was further refined in 2020 with a new textured insert and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model didn’t introduce any new styling changes but did make silver 18-inch wheels standard on the Premium trim level, with 19-inch wheels available as an option. Despite its age, the GX’s tough, aggressive look remained distinctive and appealing to SUV shoppers.

However, the interior of the GX did not meet the standards of a modern luxury SUV. The wood trim in the Premium test car felt like molded plastic, and there was an abundance of actual plastic throughout the cabin. While leather upholstery was standard, with semi-aniline leather available on the Luxury trim, the overall interior quality felt dated. The upright dashboard and high center console left little legroom, and the steering wheel’s odd angle, combined with the tall seating position, made the driving experience feel bus-like.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle, showcased a distinctive look that set it apart from Volkswagen’s gasoline models. Unlike the Tiguan and Atlas crossovers, the ID.4 featured a streamlined profile with wheels pushed out to the corners of the body, eschewing the fake toughness of its gasoline counterparts. Based on VW’s EV-specific MEB platform, the ID.4 followed the European-market ID.3 hatchback, but with a crossover design more suited to the U.S. market. Despite its SUV-like styling, the ID.4 didn’t quite look like an SUV, a common trait among many EV crossovers.

Inside, the ID.4 blended Volkswagen’s trademark minimalism with a smartphone aesthetic. The use of piano black and matte plastic in a shade reminiscent of a 1990s Compaq monitor pushed the tech theme. The base ID.4 Pro came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, while the Pro S and 1st Edition models featured leatherette upholstery. The interior design aimed to provide a modern, tech-savvy feel, although some elements, like the narrow center console, limited storage space for larger items.

The 2021 Lexus GX kept things simple with a single powertrain option: a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX 460’s performance was a throwback to an earlier era of SUVs. The V8 engine provided ample power for moving away from a stop, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds, but the SUV’s 5,130-pound weight was noticeable at higher speeds. Merging and overtaking required careful planning, and stopping the vehicle demanded more effort than modern SUVs. The GX’s body-on-frame construction resulted in a ride quality that was less refined compared to unibody SUVs, with noticeable body roll and low grip in corners.

Despite its on-road shortcomings, the GX 460 excelled in off-road capability. It featured a Torsen center differential that could split torque 40/60 front to rear or lock for a 50/50 split. The standard 4WD system included a low range for off-road trails, and the GX came with driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package for the Luxury trim added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, multi-view camera system, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance and respectable approach, departure, and break-over angles, the GX was well-equipped for off-road adventures. It also had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 launched with a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. This made it the first rear-wheel-drive Volkswagen passenger car sold in the U.S. since the Beetle. An all-wheel-drive version with a second electric motor arrived later in 2021, boosting power to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The RWD setup provided balanced handling, with the front wheels steering and the rear wheels driving, making the ID.4 fun to drive with its instantaneous torque.

While the AWD version added power and traction, the ID.4 was tuned more for comfort than sportiness. It exhibited body roll in corners but offered a smooth ride over bumps and potholes. The ID.4’s regenerative braking system didn’t allow for one-pedal driving, as VW opted for a more traditional driving experience with friction brakes. This decision aimed to provide a familiar feel for drivers transitioning from gasoline cars, although it might disappoint EV enthusiasts.

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, combined with the tall seating position, made the driving experience feel like piloting a bus. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was hindered by the tall hood. Storage space was limited, with small center-console storage bins, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders. The GX’s array of buttons and knobs for climate control and seat heaters were easier to use than touchscreen-based controls in other luxury SUVs.

The GX came standard with three rows of seating for seven, with the option to swap the second-row bench for captain’s chairs. The power-folding third row was available on the Premium trim with the Premium Plus Package and standard on the Luxury trim. However, the third row was best suited for children, and accessing it was challenging due to the second-row seats. The GX offered 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, significantly less than competitors like the Land Rover Discovery. With the third row up, cargo space was minimal, making the GX more practical as a two-row SUV.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 felt spacious compared to other EVs, though not as roomy as gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 offered more front and rear headroom than competitor EVs, but legroom was average for the segment. VW quoted 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, more than most EV competitors but less than the CR-V and RAV4. The ID.4 didn’t have a front trunk (frunk), as VW prioritized cabin space, resulting in a spacious interior from the driver’s seat.

The ID.4’s forward visibility was good despite the steeply-raked windshield, but rearward visibility was compromised by thick rear pillars and a small back window. The unconventional twist-grip gear selector on the dashboard freed up space on the center console, but the console itself was narrow and close to the floor, limiting storage for larger items. The ID.4’s heated steering wheel and front seats proved effective in cold weather, but the driver’s seat lacked thigh support, leading to an uncomfortable seating position.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, reflecting its decade-old design. Standard features included Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility were absent. The GX had two USB ports for each of the first two rows, but none for the third row. An available 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provided premium sound quality. The standard infotainment system featured outdated graphics and limited functionality, with a seven-segment display for time and temperature below the main screen. However, the analog controls for most functions were a refreshing change from the touchscreen-centric interfaces in other luxury SUVs.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 came with a standard 10-inch touchscreen (a 12-inch screen was optional) featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 5.3-inch display screen served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced nearly all switchgear. While the setup looked modern, it was difficult to use due to the lack of tactile feedback from the touchpads. The control setup required drivers to relearn simple tasks, like adjusting mirrors or lowering rear windows. However, the natural-language voice-control system allowed drivers to bypass the haptic controls, responding to prompts like “Hello ID” to adjust settings.

The ID.4 also introduced ID.Light, a light strip at the base of the windshield that communicated information to the driver through color changes and blinking lights. While it added a futuristic touch, it wasn’t particularly useful after the initial novelty wore off. Despite some gimmicky features, the ID.4’s infotainment system had well-positioned touchscreens with smart graphics and easy-to-navigate menus, offering a choice between smartphone-like icons or a split-screen setup.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 had not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, it came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle of driver aids, including 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. The GX 460 lacked some advanced safety features found in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist automated lane centering.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received the highest-level Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA for the RWD model. The AWD model had not been tested by the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The ID.4 also introduced Travel Assist, which added automated lane centering to the adaptive cruise control for highway driving, and Emergency Assist, designed to bring the car to a stop if the driver is incapacitated. Travel Assist performed well, smoothly following curves and responding well to acceleration and deceleration.