2022 Lexus NX vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its 2019 redesign, retained a somewhat dated appearance due to its continuation of the previous generation's styling. The most noticeable update was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to adhere to the philosophy of not fixing what wasn't broken, maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim appeared plain with 17-inch steel wheels, but the overall design was clean and unpretentious. The Forester Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which significantly enhanced its visual appeal, especially in colors like Dark Blue Pearl. The Forester shared its platform with other Subaru models, emphasizing its rugged SUV image, though it shared underpinnings with sedans and hatchbacks. Inside, the Forester's interior was practical, with materials designed for durability rather than aesthetics. The Sport trim added orange accents, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and heated features.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus NX presented a fresh and unmistakably Lexus design, highlighted by its prominent spindle grille and refined styling details. The new NX was longer, wider, and taller, offering more passenger and cargo space. Most models featured NuLuxe simulated leather, with real leather and open-pore wood trim available in the Luxury trim. The NX 350 F Sport stood out with a unique mesh-pattern grille, body-color fender trim, and 20-inch gloss black wheels. Inside, the F Sport featured sport-bolstered seats and a black headliner, while the interior adopted a minimalist approach, moving away from the button-heavy dashboard of the previous model. The NX's new infotainment system integrated many functions into a large touchscreen, which, while modern, could be challenging to navigate quickly. Despite some ergonomic issues, the NX's interior quality was generally high, though some controls felt less premium than expected.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was equipped with a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This engine, with its boxer configuration, offered a lower center of gravity compared to competitors' inline-four engines. The Forester had a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds and included Trailer Stability Assist as standard. While the power felt adequate for most situations, it lacked the desired thrust for highway merging or overtaking. The suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride with noticeable body roll in corners and bounce on uneven surfaces. All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard, with a sophisticated drivetrain featuring X-Mode for different surfaces. The Forester offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance, enhancing its capability on rough terrain, though it wasn't suited for serious off-roading.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions: the NX 350h hybrid with 239 horsepower and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 302 horsepower and an estimated 36 miles of electric range. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The NX 350 F Sport added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension. On winding roads, the F Sport felt agile, while the NX 350 Luxury provided a more relaxed driving experience. Lexus claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds for the NX 350, with observed fuel economy varying between the F Sport and Luxury trims. The NX's handling was improved over the previous model, though the turbocharged engine lacked the refinement of some German rivals. The NX was not designed for off-road use, with limited ground clearance and approach angles.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered generous headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also provided excellent outward visibility but allowed sunlight to raise cabin temperatures. The Forester's cargo space was substantial, with 35.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded. It surpassed competitors like the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson in cargo capacity with the seats down but lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on higher trims. The Forester's interior featured practical storage solutions, though the phone-storage cubby was small, and wireless charging was unavailable. The infotainment controls were user-friendly, but the steering wheel had an overwhelming number of buttons.

The 2022 Lexus NX claimed increased interior space, though it felt more intimate from the driver's seat due to the new dashboard design. The NX was comfortable, especially with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim offered better seat bolstering, while rear-seat passengers enjoyed ample space and amenities like air conditioning vents and USB ports. The NX's panoramic sunroof extended over the back seat, enhancing the sense of space. The Luxury trim featured ambient lighting with various themes, though it wasn't tested in bright conditions. The NX's cargo space increased by 14%, offering 22.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46.9 cubic feet with them folded.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and USB ports. Sport models upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio, while higher trims added navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and physical shortcut buttons, though it was slow to start. Additional screens displayed secondary information, but the setup felt overly complex.

The 2022 Lexus NX introduced the Lexus Interface infotainment system, a significant advancement for the brand. It featured large touchscreen displays, natural voice recognition, and cloud-based services. A 9.8-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 14-inch screen optional. Both versions included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and various connected service plans. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson system available. The new Voice Assistant responded to natural commands, and a three-year trial of Drive Connect service was included. The NX also offered a digital mirror, head-up display, and digital key capability. However, the touchscreen collected fingerprints and reflections, and there was no tuning knob.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with EyeSight, a suite of driver-assist features using cameras near the rearview mirror. EyeSight included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. The Forester also offered a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking.

The 2022 Lexus NX featured the comprehensive Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including new technologies like Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist and Oncoming Vehicle Detection. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a safe stop if the driver was unresponsive. The NX also had standard blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Assist. Premium trim added rear pedestrian detection, adaptive front lighting, and more. A Vision Package offered additional safety features.