2023 Nissan Ariya vs 2022 Lexus GX

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition, evaluated in Black Onyx, was a striking vehicle that eradicated almost all chrome from its exterior. This treatment transformed the SUV into a rolling black hole, attempting to extinguish all light within its event horizon. However, it took less than 24 hours for a layer of brown dust to coat the Lexus, making it look drab and old. Despite its modern touches like the signature Lexus spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights, the GX's design remained reminiscent of its first-generation model from 2002.

Inside, the Lexus GX boasted high-quality craftsmanship with smooth, silky refinement. The cabin was quiet, with only the faint roar of the standard V8 engine making its way to occupants' ears. The 2022 model was available in Standard, Premium, and Luxury trims, with prices ranging from $56,700 to $66,210, including destination charges. The Black Line Special Edition, based on the GX 460 Premium, started at $60,535.

The 2023 Nissan Ariya flaunted a modern and striking design, with a smooth, oval shape and minimal creases and angles. The front featured thin LED headlights supported by diagonal arrays of LED running lights and turn signals, while the rear had a thin taillight spanning the width and "NISSAN" lettering above the license plate bracket. Inside, the Ariya showcased beautiful craftsmanship with minimal hard plastic and a simplistic dashboard. Dual 12-inch monitors displayed all necessary information, and illuminated haptic buttons added a modern touch.

The Ariya's interior felt open and airy, thanks to the lack of a transmission tunnel. It offered a range of trim levels, including Engage, Engage+, Venture+, Evolve+, Empower+, Premiere, and Platinum+, with both FWD and AWD options. The test vehicles, a Premier trim with FWD and a Platinum+ trim with e-4ORCE AWD, provided comfortable seating with eight-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way for the front passenger.

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. The 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 driving conditions. The GX's drag coefficient of 0.35, combined with its V8 engine and always-on 4WD system, resulted in 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) helped maximize wheel articulation off-road while reducing excessive 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, skid plates, improved drivetrain cooling, and monitoring cameras.

The 2023 Nissan Ariya offered a range of powertrains, starting with the Engage FWD, which featured a 63-kWh battery pack and a 160-kW motor producing 214 horsepower. The Engage AWD added an additional motor for AWD, while the Engage+ AWD and other "+" trims received an 87-kWh extended-range battery. The Venture+ FWD, with a 178-kW motor, produced 238 horsepower. The top-tier Platinum+ AWD featured a dual-motor powertrain with 389 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds.

The Ariya's 87-kWh battery charged from 20% to 80% in 40 minutes on a 130-kW DC fast charger, while the smaller battery took 35 minutes. The FWD Ariya offered quick and spritely performance, with well-managed body roll and a comfortable suspension. The AWD Ariya provided added power and impressive grip, thanks to its torque-split tuning. The Ariya featured three drive modes: Eco, Standard, and Sport, with Sport mode offering a temporary performance boost. The auto-parking function allowed for autonomous parking in perpendicular and parallel spots. The FWD Ariya achieved an average of 3.5 miles per kWh, translating to over 300 miles of range, while the AWD Ariya averaged 3.0 miles per kWh, translating to around 260 miles of range.

The 2022 Lexus GX offered an elevated driving position with a 10-way power-adjustable seat and clear outward visibility. Its tall height, narrow width, and short length made it easy to maneuver in various situations. The seats were comfortable, with interior padding in appropriate places. However, some switchgear was old-school, and the placement of stereo and off-roading controls led to confusion. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner, with heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats.

Entering the rear seat was challenging due to narrow door openings, but once inside, there was ample legroom. The third-row seat was difficult to access and uncomfortable for adults, with limited rear crush space. The third-row seat also reduced cargo space, and when stowed, it created a higher load floor. The GX's side-swinging tailgate further complicated loading, especially in tight spaces. Cargo capacity was limited to 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 2023 Nissan Ariya's ground-up EV architecture provided a spacious interior with plenty of legroom for front and rear passengers. Although headroom was tight in the back due to the sunroof, the lack of a transmission tunnel created an open, airy feel. Total cargo space measured 59 cubic feet, comparable to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ford Mustang Mach-E but less than the Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, or Ford Escape.

The Ariya featured a powered bin under the center stack, controlled by a haptic button on the center console. The console also had power adjustability, allowing it to slide forward or back for different drivers. Other buttons controlled drive modes, auto-parking, and e-Step regenerative braking. The pre-production FWD Ariya required significant pressure to operate these buttons, but the issue was resolved in the Platinum+ AWD model.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 featured a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, eliminating the need for the old Remote Touch Interface (RTI) touchpad. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation, along with a CD player and Lexus Enform connected services. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround-sound audio system was available but not included in the test vehicle. The stereo controls were awkwardly placed below the off-roading controls, making them difficult to use. The infotainment display offered a dual-screen view, and the voice recognition technology was quick and accurate. The GX also included Intuitive Parking Assist, surround-view, and terrain-view cameras.

The 2023 Nissan Ariya featured dual 12-inch displays for driver information and infotainment. The screens were crisp and bright, with a seamless physical connection. Wireless Apple CarPlay was standard, while Android Auto required a wired connection. Most trims included a head-up display. The Ariya's infotainment system was modern and user-friendly, with Alexa compatibility for smart home integration. The system allowed for voice commands to control smart devices and start the Ariya.

The 2022 Lexus GX, with its older structure, lacked crash-test ratings. However, it included Lexus Safety System+ with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The GX did not offer more advanced safety technologies like lane-keeping assist or semi-autonomous driving systems.

The 2023 Nissan Ariya introduced ProPilot Assist 2.0 on the Empower+ and Platinum+ trims, offering hands-free driving capabilities and lane-change assist. The system used HD map data and a driver-monitoring camera for smooth and predictable highway driving. All Ariya models included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, a driver-attention monitor, and traffic-sign recognition. Crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were not yet available.