2022 Lexus NX vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring. It stood out with its wide headlights, long hood, and assertive trapezoidal grille. The character line along its side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and taillights that looked like they came off a Lexus model, gave it a distinctive appearance. The Highlander XSE trim added a more aggressive front end, 20-inch wheels with black accents, and a unique front fascia, making it look sportier. Inside, the Limited trim featured near-flawless fit and finish, with tan leather seats and dark brown trim, creating a luxurious feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus NX had a more refined and minimalist design. The NX featured a jutting spindle grille and new block lettering on the tailgate, giving it a modern look. The NX 350 F Sport trim stood out with a unique mesh-pattern grille, body-color fender trim, 20-inch gloss black wheels, and black mirrors. Inside, the F Sport trim had sport-bolstered seats, a black headliner, and a new F Sport steering wheel. The NX's interior was simple and minimalist, with many functions integrated into the available 14-inch touchscreen, which could be challenging to use at times.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered smooth and predictable operation, making it a reliable family car. The Highlander Hybrid was also available, providing an alternative for those seeking better fuel efficiency. While the Highlander wasn't designed for high-performance driving, it handled well in everyday situations, offering a comfortable ride with its soft suspension. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar, providing a slightly sportier driving experience.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions: the NX 350h hybrid with 239 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in combined driving, and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 302 horsepower and an estimated 36 miles of pure electric range. The NX 350 had a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The NX 250 had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The NX 350 F Sport trim added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension. The NX 350 accelerated to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and offered a dynamic driving experience, although it had more road and wind noise than expected.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and practicality. It featured large shelves ahead of the front seats, a wireless charging pad, and plenty of legroom for second-row passengers. The third row could accommodate adults, but only if the second-row passengers compromised on space. The Highlander offered 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2022 Lexus NX provided more interior room for passengers and cargo, although it felt more intimate from the driver's seat. The NX was comfortable, especially with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations, rear air conditioning vents, and USB ports. The NX's panoramic glass sunroof extended over the back seat. The NX offered 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 46.9 cubic feet with the back seats folded.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Limited and Platinum trims. The infotainment system was easy to use, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard. The 12.3-inch screen was bright and crisp, but it only displayed certain apps on the full width. The JBL audio system sounded good but wasn't overly impressive.

The 2022 Lexus NX featured the new Lexus Interface infotainment system with a 9.8-inch touchscreen display as standard and a 14-inch screen as an option. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and cloud-based features. The NX also offered a 10-speaker sound system and an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system. The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural voice commands, and the NX included a complimentary three-year trial subscription to Drive Connect service. Additional technologies included a digital mirror, a 10-inch head-up display, and User Profiles for storing preferences and settings.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The Highlander received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Lexus NX came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0), which included Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The NX also featured an Emergency Driving Stop System, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Safe Exit Assist, and rear pedestrian detection. Premium trim added an adaptive front lighting system, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. The Vision Package included a panoramic view monitoring system, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assistance.