2021 INFINITI QX50 vs 2021 Lexus RX

The 2021 Lexus RX showcased a modern design aesthetic that was unmistakably Lexus. It featured a large grille, angular headlamps, a shapely body, and a floating roof. Inside, the RX offered sumptuous seating with perforated leather upholstery, although the center console design was considered bland and dated. Lexus offered the RX in five variants, including the RX, RX F Sport, RXL, RX Hybrid, and RXL Hybrid, each catering to different needs from performance to extended seating.

Changes made to the RX's body in 2020, such as elongated headlights and a redesigned front end, carried over to 2021. Standard features included 18-inch aluminum wheels, LED lighting, and rear privacy glass. Optional upgrades included 20-inch wheels, triple-beam LED headlights, and a windshield wiper de-icer. The F Sport Appearance package added unique styling elements and performance dampers. The interior was well-appointed with standard features like NuLuxe-trimmed seats and power-adjustable front seats, while higher trims offered semi-aniline leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and more. However, the center console's dated design and the infotainment system's functionality were points of contention.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 stood out in the luxury compact crossover segment with its distinctive design and engineering. Its large honeycomb grille and athletic-looking hood gave it a sporty appearance. The rear featured a unique chrome strip, adding character to the vehicle. The panoramic moonroof brightened the cabin and offered stunning views, enhancing the overall feel of spaciousness.

However, the QX50 had some visibility issues due to thick B-pillars and a short rear window. The Sensory AWD test vehicle came with 20-inch alloy wheels and all-season run-flat tires. Inside, the QX50 boasted an attractive cabin with soft-touch materials, aluminum trim, and a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel. The front seats offered heating and cooling, making them comfortable in various weather conditions. The interior controls were user-friendly, with actual knobs and buttons for radio and climate settings. The gear shift lever, though somewhat unconventional, was easy to use.

The 2021 Lexus RX, RXL, and RX F-Sport were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which was generally smooth but occasionally struggled to find the right gear under acceleration. The front-wheel-drive RX 350 was the most fuel-efficient, with an EPA rating of 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. All-wheel-drive and RXL models had slightly lower fuel economy.

The RX Hybrid and RXL Hybrid models featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine combined with three electric motors, producing 308 horsepower. These models came standard with all-wheel drive and achieved 29-31 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. The RX's suspension and handling were improved for 2020, making it more dynamic, though some body roll was noticeable at higher speeds. The F Sport Handling package added adaptive variable suspension and other performance features. The RX was limited to a top speed of 124 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7-7.9 seconds, depending on the drivetrain.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The QX50's VC-Turbo engine adjusted the compression ratio for a balance of power and efficiency. While the engine's operation was smooth and quiet, the CVT had a reputation for droning and being unrefined, though improvements over the years had mitigated these issues.

Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional cost. The QX50's drive mode selector offered Standard, Sport, Eco, and Personal modes, adjusting engine torque, transmission shift points, and steering effort. Sport mode provided increased responsiveness and steering effort, while Eco mode prioritized fuel efficiency at the expense of acceleration. The QX50 handled well in various conditions, including a long, rainy interstate drive, and remained composed and stable throughout.

The 2021 Lexus RX was a highly functional SUV despite its design quirks. The two-row RX 350, RX F-Sport, and RX 450h seated five, while the three-row RXL and RXL Hybrid seated six or seven. Front-seat occupants enjoyed ample space, and the second row was comfortable for adults. However, the third row in the RXL models was tight for passengers of any age. The RX's sport seats provided a comfortable ride even on long journeys.

Cargo space in the RX was limited compared to traditional SUVs. The two-row RX offered 18.4 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row RXL provided just 7.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 23 cubic feet behind the second row, and 58.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50, though a compact vehicle, felt spacious inside. It offered ample hip and shoulder room in both the front and rear seats, with plenty of headroom even with the panoramic moonroof. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed 38.7 inches of legroom, and the sliding second-row seats allowed for flexible legroom or cargo space.

The QX50's cargo area was particularly accommodating, with 31.1 cubic feet of space behind the second-row seats in models with the moonroof, expanding to 64.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Without the moonroof, these figures increased slightly. The optional Cargo package added practical features like a reversible cargo area protector and cargo nets. The QX50 also offered plenty of cupholders, storage bins, and charging options, including USB ports and a 12-volt charging port.

The 2021 Lexus RX came standard with a robust array of technology, including dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD Radio, a WiFi hotspot, six USB ports, and a nine-speaker sound system. Available upgrades included a 12.3-inch touchscreen, additional USB ports, a moonroof, a panoramic roof, wireless charging, navigation, a 12-speaker audio system, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system.

The infotainment system's touch aspect worked well, though the operating system was not the easiest to use. The Remote Touch controller allowed drivers to navigate the system without touching the screen, but it took up valuable center console space and was less refined than competitors' systems. Steering-wheel controls were user-friendly, but the RX lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which might be a dealbreaker for some buyers.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 featured Infiniti's InTouch infotainment system with dual display screens—an 8-inch upper LCD/VGA and a 7-inch lower color unit. It included voice recognition and Infiniti InTouch Services, offering navigation, entertainment, communications, convenience, and safety features. Pairing a smartphone via Bluetooth was easy, and Apple CarPlay integration worked seamlessly. The 16-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system delivered excellent sound quality.

The QX50's native navigation system was less user-friendly than using Apple CarPlay's Maps app. The Around View Monitor with front and rear sonar and moving-object detection made parking easier. ProPilot Assist, available on all but the base trim, combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, providing a glimpse of autonomous driving. This system worked well during long trips, though drivers still needed to remain attentive.

The 2021 Lexus RX received the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation, scoring Good marks on crashworthiness tests. The RXL and RXL Hybrid, with their longer bodies, were not tested by IIHS. The NHTSA rated the RX 350, RX 350L, and RX 450h with four out of five stars overall and five stars for side-impact crashworthiness.

Standard safety features included a rearview camera, 10 airbags, enhanced vehicle stability control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 suite included a pre-collision system with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, lane-keep assist, lane-trace assist, and road sign assist. The RX had two complete sets of LATCH connectors for child safety seats.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including blind-spot warning, predictive forward-collision warning, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, automatic collision notification, emergency call, rearview monitor, hill-start assist, and high-beam assist. Lane-departure prevention and blind-spot intervention were standard on all but the base trim, and traffic sign recognition was standard on higher trims.

The QX50 received four out of five stars for rollover resistance from the NHTSA, and the structurally similar 2020 model received five-star ratings for overall, front, and side crash protection. The IIHS gave the QX50 Good ratings for moderate overlap front and side crash protection and a Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.