2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 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, including the addition of Lexus’ trademark spindle grille in 2014 and a textured insert in 2020. The 2021 model didn’t see any new styling changes, but it did come with standard silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim level. Despite its age, the GX’s tough, aggressive look remained distinctive and appealing to SUV shoppers. However, the interior did not meet modern luxury standards, with wood trim that felt like molded plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, but the overall interior quality lagged behind contemporary expectations.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 presented a polished and futuristic exterior. Its design, referred to as Parametric Pixel, utilized 8-bit box elements extensively, giving it a concept car feel. The Ioniq 5’s exterior featured numerous LED lights and aerodynamic wheels with ornamental designs. Inside, the cabin was a stark contrast to the exterior, offering a mellow and comfortable “Living Space” theme. The interior was available in black, gray, and dark green hues, with sustainable materials used throughout. The seats were stain-resistant cloth or leatherette, and recycled fibers were used for door inserts and armrests. The Ioniq 5’s interior was designed for relaxation, with features like a “Relaxation” mode for the driver’s seat, providing a zero-gravity resting position.

The 2021 Lexus GX kept it 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, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. However, its 5,130-pound weight made higher-speed maneuvers challenging, and braking required careful planning. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, with noticeable body roll and low grip in corners. Despite these drawbacks, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen center differential, standard 4WD with a low range, and several driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added even more features for rugged terrain. The GX 460 had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 offered a range of powertrains and configurations. Available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, the Ioniq 5 featured rear-wheel drive (RWD) as standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option. The base SE Standard Range model had a single 128-kW rear motor producing 168 horsepower and a range of 220 miles. The extended-range models featured a 168-kW rear motor with 225 horsepower and a range of 303 miles. The AWD variants had a dual-motor system with a total output of 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, but the range dropped to 256 miles. The Ioniq 5 handled well, with four drive modes including Sport, which added excitement but reduced range. Paddle shifters allowed for adjusting regenerative braking levels. The Ioniq 5 was quiet and comfortable, with features to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness.

The 2021 Lexus GX’s interior ergonomics showed 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 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. Storage space was limited, with small center-console bins, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders. The GX came standard with three rows of seating for seven, but the third row was best suited for children and difficult to access. Cargo space was limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded, and virtually no space with the third row up.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), maximized interior space and utility. Despite looking like a hatchback, it was sized like an electric SUV, with a longer wheelbase than the seven-passenger Palisade. The Ioniq 5 offered a total interior volume of 133.7 cubic feet, exceeding competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4. The Ioniq 5 prioritized passenger comfort with 106.5 cubic feet of passenger volume. The interior featured soft touch points and a moveable center console, creating a spacious and flexible cabin. The leatherette seats were comfortable and supportive, with a modern take on the retro front bench seat allowing for easy entry and exit.

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 functionality. The touchscreen was complemented by analog controls, which were easier to use than the touchscreen-based systems in many other luxury SUVs. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available, but the overall tech offering was primitive for a luxury vehicle.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 was packed with advanced technology. It featured a high-voltage, energy-dense system with vehicle-to-load capabilities, allowing it to charge other devices and even homes. The Ioniq 5 supported 800-volt charging infrastructure, enabling ultra-fast charging to 80 percent capacity in just 18 minutes. Hyundai partnered with Electrify America to offer unlimited 30-minute fast-charging sessions for two years. The Ioniq 5 also included a redesigned Blue Link connected car app, digital key, enhanced smartphone pairing, and over-the-air updates. The 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment were elegant and intuitive, with an anti-glare coating for clear visibility.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 came with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, 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. However, it lacked some advanced safety features found in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had published crash-test ratings for the 2021 GX 460.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and front- and rear-collision avoidance. The Ioniq 5 also came with Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system with machine-learning adaptive cruise control. This system learned the driver’s habits to provide a more personalized driving experience. The Ioniq 5 also offered a head-up display (HUD) with augmented reality overlays, although it could be distracting. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had released crash-safety ratings for the Ioniq 5, but Hyundai had a strong track record of safety awards.