2022 Lexus GX vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, adding more character while retaining its recognizable Volvo identity. Unlike Lexus, which opted for a radical styling overhaul, Volvo maintained its traditional boxy profile and blunt front end but softened the lines and added more chrome. The LED headlights with "Thor's Hammer" daytime running lights were a distinctive touch. The Inscription trim level, with its extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more basic looks, respectively. The XC90 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models, ensuring a cohesive design language across the brand.

Inside, the XC90 embraced "Swedish minimalism," offering thoughtfully arranged, high-quality materials. The matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery provided a natural and unique touch. The Orrefors crystal shifter, although high-end, seemed a bit out of place in the otherwise restrained interior. The overall design aimed to provide a luxurious yet understated experience, focusing on comfort and functionality.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition aimed to appeal to those who love black-on-black vehicles, with its Black Onyx color and eradication of almost all chrome. However, the GX's design felt dated, resembling the first-generation 2002 GX 470. Despite the signature Lexus spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights, the overall look was old-fashioned. The GX's cabin, though crafted with care and featuring high-quality materials, also felt outdated. The standard V8 engine provided a satisfying note and plenty of refinement, but the overall design lacked the modernity seen in competitors.

The GX's interior 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 a comfortable experience. However, the rear door openings were narrow, making entry tricky. The third-row seat was challenging to access and uncomfortable for adults, and the tailgate's side-opening design made loading cargo difficult. Despite these drawbacks, the GX's ride and handling were refined, and it remained capable off-road.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all built around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, also known as Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric assist, resulting in a total output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T5 came standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8.

Despite the impressive power figures, the XC90's small engine struggled to provide the flexibility of six-cylinder or V8 engines found in competitors. The XC90 Recharge's electric-only mode was limited to low speeds, and the gasoline engine often had to assist. The XC90 excelled in ride quality, thanks to the optional air-suspension system, and offered a quiet cabin. The maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds for most models, with the base FWD T5 rated at 4,000 pounds.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time 4WD system, the GX offered a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds. The GX's V8 engine provided a satisfying note and plenty of torque, making the 7.8-second run to 60 mph feel more exciting. However, the GX's fuel economy was poor, with an EPA estimate of 16 mpg in combined driving.

The GX's Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) helped maximize wheel articulation off-road while reducing body motions on pavement. Despite its age, the GX remained agreeable to drive, with refined ride and handling. However, the slow, heavy steering and touchy brake pedal detracted from the overall driving experience. The Off-Road Package, available with the Luxury trim, added features like Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, and skid plates, enhancing the GX's off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with second-row captain's chairs or a bench seat. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were average for the segment, with the third row being tight for adults. The seats in the second and third rows felt hard and lacked support. The optional power moonroof and upright roof profile gave the interior a spacious feel. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but the steering wheel was not power-adjustable. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin and few storage options on the console.

Cargo space for the T8 Recharge model was near the bottom of the segment, with 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The hands-free power tailgate was a convenient feature, but overall cargo space was limited with the third row in place.

The 2022 Lexus GX offered a 10-way power-adjustable driver's 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, and the interior featured physical controls, clearly labeled in white on a matte-black background. However, the placement of the stereo and off-roading controls was confusing, leading to accidental adjustments.

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. The rear door openings were narrow, making entry difficult, and the third-row seat was challenging to access and uncomfortable for adults. The side-opening tailgate made loading cargo difficult, and the third-row seat eliminated cargo space when in use. With the third-row seat stowed, the GX offered 46.7 cubic feet of cargo space, and with the second-row seat folded, it provided 64.7 cubic feet.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which included a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system was easy to use, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen that allowed for swiping across menus like a tablet. However, the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones, and the XC90 only had second-row USB-C ports.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 introduced a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was a significant improvement. The screen was easy to see and use, and the old Remote Touch Interface (RTI) touchpad was no longer necessary. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. The GX also had a CD player, a 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 included in the test vehicle.

The placement of the stereo controls at the bottom of the center control panel, below the off-roading controls, was confusing. The stereo knobs were shallow and smooth, making them harder to grasp and turn. The infotainment display offered a dual-screen view, and the voice recognition technology was quick and accurate. The GX's new system was more user-friendly than the next-generation Lexus infotainment system in the 2022 NX.

The 2021 XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for non-hybrid models. It earned top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave all 2021 XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo's Pilot Assist driver aid.

The 2022 Lexus GX did not have crash-test ratings due to its age. However, it came with Lexus Safety System+, which included 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. However, it lacked some modern safety technologies found in competitors, such as lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and semi-autonomous driving systems.