2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2022 Lexus GX

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek embodied the adage “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” As car shoppers flocked to crossovers for their rugged looks, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and tall driving positions, Subaru imbued its Impreza hatchback with those same characteristics. This strategy allowed the Crosstrek to do a reasonably good impression of an SUV, giving it more character than the base Impreza hatch. The Crosstrek featured black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height, affording 8.7 inches of ground clearance. The Crosstrek also offered more vibrant colors, including Plasma Yellow Pearl for the 2021 model year.

Underneath, the Crosstrek rode on the same Subaru Global Platform as other models like the Legacy/Outback, Ascent, and Forester. The interior remained virtually unchanged from the Impreza hatchback, functional but somewhat plain-looking. The Sport-trim-level test car had Plasma Yellow Pearl accents that clashed with the Horizon Blue Pearl exterior, and the simulated carbon-fiber trim pieces looked cheap. However, the model did get water-repellant StarTex upholstery, which was handy for trips to the beach.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition was a dream for those who loved black-on-black vehicles. The Black Line treatment eradicated almost all chrome from the GX’s exterior, transforming the SUV into a rolling black hole. However, it took less than 24 hours for a layer of brown dust to coat the Lexus, making it look drab and old. The GX’s design looked dated, resembling the first-generation 2002 GX 470. Inside, the cabin’s quality was undeniable, featuring the smooth, silky refinement for which Lexus was legendary. The 2022 GX 460 was available in Standard, Premium, and Luxury trims, with prices ranging from $56,700 to $66,210, including destination charges.

Despite its age, the GX remained surprisingly agreeable to drive. The standard V8 engine provided a satisfying engine note and plenty of refinement, with little more than the faint roar making its way to occupants’ ears. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and the back seats were heated, offering triple-zone automatic climate control. However, entering the rear seat was tricky due to narrow back door openings, and the third-row seat was inhospitable for adults.

For 2021, the Subaru Crosstrek offered a second gasoline powertrain option. The new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine, standard on the Sport and Limited trims, produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trims continued with the 2.0-liter boxer-four, making 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The Crosstrek Hybrid plug-in hybrid had been available since 2019, but no updates were announced for 2021. The boxer engine, a Subaru trademark, provided a lower center of gravity, improving handling. However, the SUV-like stance likely negated some of that benefit.

A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trims, while the Sport and Limited trims were CVT-only. All trims featured standard AWD with torque vectoring and X-Mode, designed for loose surfaces and incorporating hill descent control. The new Sport trim also had Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes. Despite these features, most Crosstreks likely spent their lives on pavement, where they exhibited predictable handling and a comfortable ride. The new 2.5-liter engine in the Sport test car provided adequate acceleration but was accompanied by droning from the CVT.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, with a base curb weight of 5,126 pounds, featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. This powertrain allowed the GX to tow up to 6,500 pounds and achieve a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. A six-speed automatic transmission paired with a full-time 4WD system, sending 40% of the power to the front wheels and 60% to the rear in normal conditions. The GX’s drag coefficient was 0.35, contributing to an EPA fuel economy estimate of 16 mpg in combined driving. During testing, the GX returned 16.8 mpg.

The GX’s Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) maximized wheel articulation off-road while alleviating excessive body motions. The GX felt stable and secure, despite its tall and narrow design. However, the slow, heavy steering made parking a chore, and the touchy brake pedal made smooth driving in traffic difficult. The Off-Road Package, available with the Luxury trim, added features like Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, skid plates, improved drivetrain cooling, and monitoring cameras.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. Cargo space was 20.8 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This made the Crosstrek competitive against other small crossovers in passenger space but not cargo space. CVT-equipped models featured a rear-seat reminder to prevent leaving children or pets unattended. Up front, a handy cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports was provided, but storage space was minimal.

The driving position in the Crosstrek felt higher than the Impreza’s, but it didn’t allow drivers to tower over other vehicles like traditional crossovers or SUVs. However, outward visibility was good, thanks to a large amount of side glass and a car-like front fascia and hood.

The 2022 Lexus GX offered an elevated driving position from a 10-way power-adjustable seat with clear outward visibility. The GX’s tall height, narrow width, and short length made it easy to maneuver in various situations. The seats were comfortable, with interior padding in all the right places. However, some switchgear was old-school, and the stereo controls were confusingly placed below the off-roading controls. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner.

Entering the rear seat was tricky due to narrow back door openings, but once inside, there was plenty of room for legs and feet. The third-row seat was challenging to access and uncomfortable for adults. The GX’s cargo space was limited, with 11.6 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 46.7 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with the second-row seat folded. The side-swinging tailgate made loading difficult, especially when parked at a curb or with another vehicle close behind.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek used Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, featuring a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trims added WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the Limited trim and optional on lower trims. Subaru also displayed some information on a second screen above the main touchscreen, which seemed redundant.

The 8-inch touchscreen in the test car was easy to navigate and responsive. Subaru equipped the Crosstrek with large analog knobs and buttons for vital functions like audio volume and climate control. Chunky buttons on the steering wheel controlled EyeSight driver-assistance features, ensuring the driver didn’t make mistakes.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 featured a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. The GX also had a CD player, a smartwatch-compatible Lexus app, and Lexus Enform connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround-sound audio system was available but not installed in the test vehicle.

The stereo controls were mounted at the bottom of the center control panel under the off-roading controls, making them harder to grasp and turn. The infotainment display offered a dual-screen view, and the voice recognition technology was quick and accurate. For 2022, Lexus made its Intuitive Parking Assist technology standard, with front and rear parking sensors and optional surround-view and terrain-view cameras.

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 a “Top Safety Pick” rating, with the highest “good” rating in all crash tests and for front-crash prevention tech. EyeSight driver-assist features were standard on CVT-equipped models, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included automatic high beams, reverse automatic braking, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2022 Lexus GX, structurally a teenager, lacked crash-test ratings. However, it featured standard Lexus Safety System+, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The GX also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services with automatic collision notification and emergency calling. However, it lacked some modern safety technologies available in competitors, such as lane-keeping assist and active blind-spot intervention.