2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek embodied the adage “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Car shoppers flocked to crossovers for their rugged looks, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and tall driving positions, so Subaru decided to imbue its Impreza hatchback with those same characteristics. This strategy allowed the larger Outback to outlast nearly every other station wagon in the United States. The Crosstrek was differentiated from the Impreza by black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height that afforded 8.7 inches of ground clearance. These changes had a big impact, allowing the Crosstrek to do a reasonably good impression of an SUV and giving it more character than the base Impreza hatch.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460’s styling was a product of its long time on the market. It still had the same basic body shell from a decade ago, with a few updates that accumulated over the years. The GX got Lexus’ trademark spindle grille for the 2014 model year, and that grille was updated for the 2020 model year with a new, textured insert. The 2021 model didn’t get any styling changes, but silver 18-inch wheels were now standard on the Premium trim level. The GX’s tough, aggressive look appealed to SUV shoppers and was genuinely distinctive. However, the interior did not feel up to the standards of a modern luxury SUV, with wood trim that looked and felt like molded plastic and plenty of actual plastic as well.

For 2021, the Subaru Crosstrek got a second gasoline powertrain option. Standard on the Sport and Limited trim levels, the new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine made 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trim levels continued with the previous 2.0-liter boxer-four, which produced 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission was still standard on Base and Premium trim levels, but most buyers likely upgraded to the optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Sport and Limited trim levels were CVT only, so you had to go automatic to get the bigger engine. All trim levels got standard AWD, which included torque vectoring and X-Mode for loose surfaces. Despite gestures at SUV ruggedness, most Crosstreks probably spent their entire lives on the pavement, where they exhibited predictable handling, a comfortable ride, and a low level of wind noise.

Lexus kept it simple in the powertrain department for the 2021 GX. The only available engine was a 4.6-liter V8, which produced 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX 460 was a throwback to a different generation of SUVs, with plenty of grunt when moving away from a stop and a nice NASCAR bellow at wide-open throttle. However, the GX’s 5,130 pounds made their presence felt at higher speeds, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking maneuvers. Bringing this SUV to a stop also required more advanced planning than the average modern vehicle. In corners, low grip and body roll were the order of the day, and the ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle. However, the GX 460 excelled in off-road capability, with a Torsen center differential, low range for crawling, and several driver aids, including hill-descent control and hill-start assist.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback. Front headroom was the same as well, but the Crosstrek had slightly more rear headroom. With 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, the Crosstrek was competitive against other small crossovers on passenger space but not cargo space. CVT-equipped Crosstrek models also got a rear-seat reminder to stop drivers from leaving children or pets unattended. Up front, Subaru provided a handy cubby hole ahead of the shifter for a phone, but storage space was minimal overall. The driving position felt higher than an Impreza’s, but the Crosstrek didn’t allow you to tower over other vehicles like traditional crossovers or SUVs.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics betrayed its age. The upright dashboard and high center console left very little legroom, and the steering wheel was positioned at an odd angle, making the driving experience feel like driving a bus. The dashboard shape and the GX’s boxy profile produced excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited due to the tall hood. The center-console storage bin, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders were fairly small. The GX came standard with three rows and seating for seven, but the third row was best reserved for children. Accessing the third row wasn’t easy, as the second-row seats got in the way even when folded and moved forward. The Lexus had more first-row legroom on paper but wasn’t generous in practice. Cargo space with the second and third-row seats folded was 64.7 cubic feet, substantially less than the Discovery’s 73.0 cubic feet.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek used Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trim levels got a Multimedia Plus setup that added WiFi, a SiriusXM satellite radio receiver, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the top Limited trim level and optional on lower trim levels. Subaru displayed some information on a second screen above the main touchscreen, which seemed redundant. The 8-inch touchscreen was easy to navigate and responsive, and Subaru equipped the Crosstrek with large analog knobs and buttons for vital functions like audio volume and climate control.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features. Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity were standard, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility weren’t available. Two USB ports for each of the first two rows were standard, but the third row didn’t get any. The standard infotainment system’s graphics looked dated, and the system didn’t offer much in the way of functions. Below the main screen was a display for time and temperature, which used a seven-segment format like a digital clock. However, Lexus included analog controls for nearly everything, making the interface easier to use than the screen-centric approaches of most other new luxury SUVs.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 model, virtually identical to the 2021 model, a “Top Safety Pick” award. EyeSight driver-assist features were standard on CVT-equipped models, including adaptive cruise control with lane centering, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The Limited trim level and optional packages on Premium and Sport included additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hadn’t published crash-test ratings for the 2021 Lexus GX 460. The GX 460 came with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle of driver aids as standard equipment, 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, the GX 460 missed out on some safety features available in other Lexus models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist automated lane centering.