2020 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Lexus RX

The 2020 Ford Explorer was a striking vehicle, boasting a more refined and athletic design compared to its predecessors. Its widened headlights, large grille, and distinctive "Explorer" lettering on the hood gave it a recognizable and bold appearance. The ST version, with its black 21-inch rims and quad exhaust pipes, was particularly eye-catching. However, the interior did not match the exterior's appeal. Despite its high price tag, the interior materials felt subpar, with low-grade vinyl and hard plastics dominating the cabin. The Explorer's interior lacked the luxury feel expected at its price point, making it less appealing compared to more affordable competitors like the Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander.

The 2020 Lexus RX, despite its age, remained a stylish contender in the luxury SUV market. The exterior updates, including slimmer headlights and a refreshed grille, kept it looking modern and sophisticated. Inside, the RX offered a well-appointed cabin with standard heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a variety of interior colour options. The F Sport packages added unique features like aluminum pedals and 20-inch wheels, enhancing its sporty appeal. While the centre stack design was somewhat dated, the RX's interior was durable and comfortable, making it suitable for family use.

The 2020 Ford Explorer offered a range of powerful engine options, with the ST trim featuring a 3.0-litre EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivered smooth and addictive power. The Explorer's rear-wheel-drive chassis provided excellent weight distribution, enhancing its nimble handling and cornering capabilities. The Explorer also offered a 2.3-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and a hybrid option with a net 318 horsepower. However, the hybrid's fuel efficiency did not justify its higher price. The Explorer's towing capacity ranged from 2,268 to 2,540 kilograms, depending on the engine choice, and it featured seven drive modes for various driving conditions.

The 2020 Lexus RX was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque in the RX 350 models. The RX 450h hybrid version combined the V6 with an electric motor for a total of 308 horsepower. The RX's eight-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifting, and the standard all-wheel drive ensured stability in various driving conditions. While not the fastest SUV, the RX offered a comfortable and connected driving experience. The RX 350 achieved a combined fuel efficiency of 10.8 litres per 100 kilometres, while the hybrid models excelled with ratings as low as 7.9 L/100 km. The F Sport models featured adaptive variable suspension and 20-inch wheels, enhancing agility and offering multiple drive modes for a customizable driving experience.

The 2020 Ford Explorer excelled in interior space, offering ample headroom and legroom for passengers, even in the third row. The second row felt luxurious with air vents, USB ports, and a panoramic moonroof. However, the third-row bench was flat and less comfortable for long journeys. The Explorer's cargo space was generous, with 509 litres behind the third row, 1,359 litres behind the second row, and 2,491 litres with all seats folded. The Explorer's physical controls were user-friendly, but thick D-pillars and fuzzy cameras created blind spots.

The 2020 Lexus RX's interior was comfortable for four adults in the two-row model, but the three-row RX-L's third row was cramped, suitable only for small children. The RX's cargo space was limited compared to competitors, with a high load floor reducing capacity. The RX 350 and 450h models had a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat, while the RX 350 L and 450h L offered less storage than rivals. A hands-free liftgate was available on most models, enhancing convenience.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen featuring Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premium Technology Package added a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. While the interface was high-resolution and well-organized, it lacked customization options. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ system offered semi-automated driving features but needed improvement in lane tracking. The Explorer's tech was promising but required software updates for refinement.

The 2020 Lexus RX's infotainment system was criticized for its complexity, but improvements included moving the touchscreen closer to the driver. The 12.3-inch touchscreen was difficult to navigate, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided a workaround. The RX offered a range of connectivity options, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The touchpad system was more responsive, and the RX featured six USB ports. The standard 12-speaker audio system was adequate, with a 15-speaker Mark Levinson system available.

The 2020 Ford Explorer featured Ford Co-Pilot 360, which included forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, auto high beams, and lane-keep assist. Adaptive cruise control with steering assist and reverse braking were also standard. The Explorer received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2020 Lexus RX came with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, offering adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and a backup camera. The RX also included daytime bicyclist detection, low-light pedestrian detection, road-sign assist, and lane-tracing assist. The RX received good safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, though not as high as newer models.