2022 Porsche Macan vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2021 Lexus NX was available in various models, including the NX 300, NX 300 F Sport, and NX 300h hybrid. Our focus was on the gasoline models, specifically the NX 300 and the performance-oriented NX 300 F Sport. Despite being relatively small, the NX carried over Lexus’ distinctive design attributes seamlessly. Its sharp design lines and sculpted exterior gave it an appearance quite reminiscent of its smaller sibling, the Lexus UX, and the larger Lexus RX. Standard features included power-folding outside mirrors and 17-inch wheels.

The NX F Sport ramped up the sportiness with a fresh honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, a lower bumper with chrome trim, laser fog light housing, a larger exhaust opening, and 18-inch F Sport wheels with all-season or summer tires. Inside, it featured quilted NuLuxe sport seats exclusive to the F Sport, with options for Circuit Red, Black, and Arctic White/Black interiors, alongside wood and leather trim options.

The interior of the NX boasted excellent material fit and finish, living up to Lexus’ reputation. Drivers found a familiar gauge cluster comprising a sculpted metal-faced four-dial setup with 3D speedometer and tachometer displays, and a 4.2-inch multi-information display. This somewhat older design contrasted with more modern all-digital displays found in competitors like the 2022 Hyundai Tucson and 2021 Nissan Rogue.

In the F Sport, a G-Force meter derived from the Lexus LFA supercar showed metrics such as steering angle, throttle opening angle, and brake pressure, although it felt more like a gimmick for a suburban vehicle. The center stack displayed its age with an elevated design featuring now-rare elements like a CD player and elevated climate-control buttons. This area, combined with the shifter, infotainment touchpad, and drive mode selector, lacked open small-item storage, barring the use of cup holders.

In contrast, the 2022 Porsche Macan, introduced initially in 2015 and refined over the years, continued its legacy with a sleek, sporty aesthetic. Revamped for 2022, it featured larger standard wheels, seven new wheel designs, and an interior facelift that included haptic touch controls and more usable storage space. The Macan lineup comprised the base Macan, Macan S, and Macan GTS models, each coming with more power and standard equipment.

Our Macan S test vehicle, priced at $87,670 with extras, sported a Volcano Gray paint job and 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels. Its exterior conveyed an athletic vibe with the sloping clamshell hood, swollen haunches, and rakish roofline, clearly designed to highlight its performance-oriented nature.

Inside, the Macan drew heavily on Porsche’s rich sports car heritage. It featured a large tachometer at the center of the gauge cluster, a flat and wide dashboard, and a center console housing most secondary controls. Our test vehicle's red leather, gloss black trim, and silver metallic accents lent an upscale, sporty feel to the cabin.

While not designed to be overly sporty, the 2021 Lexus NX managed to be capable in every sense. It housed a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Matched to a six-speed automatic transmission, it could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in approximately seven seconds. Although the engine got noisy under hard acceleration, the ride generally remained quiet, with the F Sport models featuring Active Sound Control to enhance the engine note.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard across all trims, but all-wheel drive (AWD) was available and could transfer up to 50% of the torque to the rear axle. The NX achieved EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined for FWD models, while the AWD models had slightly lower combined efficiency at 24 mpg. The car had a top speed limited to 124 mph and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Porsche Macan significantly prioritized performance with multiple engine options. Base Macans featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Macan S came equipped with a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 from the previous year’s GTS, offering 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, reaching 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package and launch control. The Macan GTS elevated performance further with 434 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque from the same engine.

All Macan models were paired with Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable AWD system that emphasized rear-wheel power distribution. Porsche retuned the 2022 Macan's steering and suspension for improved ride and handling, with the Macan S receiving standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), larger wheels, and optional upgrades like Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB). The result was a vehicle adept at both spirited drives and relaxed commutes, merging sports-car agility with SUV practicality.

The Lexus NX’s interior, beyond its somewhat outdated center stack, offered a comfortable experience with plenty of room in the front and decent legroom in the second row for two adults. The rear seats featured a 60/40 split-fold design but fell short on cargo space. It had 17.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the second-row seats, expandable to 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. While the NX's tranquility was occasionally disturbed by engine noise, it excelled in filtering out road and wind noise. Lexus also offered practical features like a power liftgate with kick sensor technology and optional power-folding rear seats.

The Porsche Macan, renowned for its sporty nature, still managed to provide substantial comfort for the driver and front-seat passenger. Our Macan S vehicle came with the optional Premium Package, which included 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The rear seats, however, were cramped, especially if the front seats were occupied by taller individuals. Entry and exit were easy, and the seats themselves were supportive.

The 2022 Macan’s updated center console featured haptic touch controls in a gloss black surface, enhancing its modern, tech-forward appearance but complicating usability by requiring a glance away from the road. It claimed increased storage capacity, though it still lacked adequate space for everyday items, especially when considering the presence of two iced vanilla lattes. Cargo capacity stood at 17.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat, increasing to 53 cubic feet with the 40/20/40-split rear seat folded down, slightly less than that of the Lexus NX.

The 2021 Lexus NX came with an infotainment system that many found challenging to use. It featured an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.3-inch option available in the Navigation package, which also offered predictive traffic information, ETA calculation, and fuel station guidance. The addition of HomeLink was new for 2021, integrating services like Lexus Enform Destination Assist and the Lexus Enform Remote mobile app. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, though the overall system usability lagged behind its competitors. The standard audio system was decent, with options for an upgraded Mark Levinson 14-speaker system on higher trims.

In comparison, the 2022 Porsche Macan’s Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system was more intuitive. It featured a 10.9-inch high-definition touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and a variety of connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The base audio system had ten speakers, with options for a Bose premium surround-sound system or a high-end Burmester system. The interface was user-friendly, with proximity sensing and touch-sensing virtual buttons adding to the experience, although the voice recognition system lagged compared to rivals.

For 2021, the Lexus NX came equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 as standard, including lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, and more. Additional standard features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with optional extras like adaptive headlights and a surround-view camera system. The NX earned top ratings from both IIHS and NHTSA, with a perfect five-star overall safety rating from the latter.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning as standard, with blind-spot monitoring available in higher trims. The addition of front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, and an optional Park Assist system helped with parking ease. However, advanced driving assistance beyond this level was not available.