2021 Lexus RX vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Lexus RX showcased a modern design aesthetic with its large grille, angular headlamps, shapely body, and floating roof. The interior featured 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 performance-focused RX F Sport and the extended-body RXL with a third row of seating. The 2021 model retained the elongated headlights and redesigned front end introduced in 2020, which aimed to address previous criticisms. Standard exterior features included 18-inch aluminum wheels, LED lighting, and rear privacy glass, with available upgrades like 20-inch wheels and triple-beam LED headlights. The interior boasted standard features such as NuLuxe-trimmed seats and a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, with options for semi-aniline leather upholstery and heated second-row seats.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite being redesigned for the 2019 model year, retained a styling that appeared older due to its carryover design. The boxy, upright shape appealed to SUV shoppers, and the distinctive cross-shaped taillights set it apart. The Forester Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, enhancing its appearance. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, the Forester shared underpinnings with other Subaru models, maintaining a rugged SUV image. The interior featured a no-nonsense mix of materials designed for durability, with the Sport trim adding orange accents. Cloth upholstery was standard on Base, Premium, and Sport models, while Limited and Touring trims offered leather upholstery. The All-Weather Package, standard on Premium and higher trims, included heated front seats and exterior mirrors.

The 2021 Lexus RX, RXL, and RX F-Sport were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RX Hybrid and RXL Hybrid models combined a 3.5-liter V6 with three electric motors, delivering 308 horsepower managed by an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). The front-wheel-drive RX 350 achieved 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined, while the all-wheel-drive versions saw slightly lower fuel economy. The RX Hybrid models offered up to 31 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The RX's suspension and handling were improved for 2020, providing a more dynamic driving experience, though some body roll was noted at higher speeds. The F Sport Handling package added adaptive variable suspension and other performance enhancements. The RX's top speed was limited to 124 mph, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.7 to 7.9 seconds, depending on the drivetrain.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity. The Forester's towing capacity was 1,500 pounds, with standard Trailer Stability Assist. The lack of a turbocharged engine option was noted, and the power felt adequate but not impressive, especially during highway merging and overtaking. The suspension tuning prioritized comfort, resulting in significant body roll in corners and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. All-wheel drive was standard, with X-Mode and Dual X-Mode available for different surfaces. The Forester offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard hill-descent control on Premium and higher trims, enhancing its off-road capability.

The 2021 Lexus RX provided a functional and spacious interior, seating five in the two-row RX 350, RX F-Sport, and RX 450h models, and six or seven in the three-row RXL and RXL Hybrid models. Front and second-row seating offered ample space, while the third row was tight. Cargo space in the two-row RX was 18.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row versions offered 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 Subaru Forester provided above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also allowed for excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling. Cargo space was generous, with 35.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Forester offered more cargo space than some competitors with the rear seats folded but less with the seats up. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on the Limited and Touring trims. The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone, and wireless charging was not available. A power-adjustable driver's seat was standard on the Premium trim and higher.

The 2021 Lexus RX came standard with 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 hot spot, 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 touchpad controller for the infotainment system was functional but took up valuable center console space. The RX did not offer wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2021 Subaru Forester's standard Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, though the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also featured a secondary screen in the center of the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure.

The 2021 Lexus RX received the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation, with Good marks on crashworthiness tests. The RXL and RXL Hybrid 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, blind-spot monitoring, and Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which included a pre-collision system, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-trace assist, and road sign assist. The RX had two complete sets of LATCH connectors in the rear outboard seats.

The 2021 Subaru Forester earned the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from IIHS, with top ratings in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA gave the Forester a five-star overall rating, with five stars in frontal and side-crash tests, and four stars in rollover tests. The Forester came standard with EyeSight, a suite of driver-assist features including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. EyeSight's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions performed adequately, though the latter's steering inputs were jerky. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus, which checked for signs of distraction.