2021 Lexus GX vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Lexus GX retained its decade-old body shell, with minor updates over the years, including the signature spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. Despite its age, the GX's styling remained coherent and distinctive, appealing to SUV shoppers with its tough, aggressive look. However, the interior did not meet modern luxury standards, with wood trim resembling plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. The semi-aniline leather was a standard feature, but the overall interior quality felt outdated.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning it with Nissan's new signature exterior design. The redesigned exterior featured a new grille, bumpers, and LED lights, giving it a modern look while maintaining its traditional beefy styling. The Armada's interior, though upgraded with new tech features, still felt dated due to design choices like rouched material and abstract patterned hard plastic. Despite these drawbacks, the Armada offered a spacious and comfortable cabin, especially in the Platinum trim with optional captain’s chairs.

The 2021 Lexus GX was powered by a 4.6-litre V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While the V8 provided ample power for initial acceleration, the GX's weight of 2,349 kilograms made high-speed maneuvers challenging. The body-on-frame construction resulted in a less refined ride quality, with noticeable body roll and low grip in corners. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen centre differential, standard 4WD with a low range, and various off-road modes. It offered a towing capacity of 2,948 kilograms.

The 2021 Nissan Armada came equipped with a 5.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Despite its weight of over 2,700 kilograms, the Armada was a capable off-roader, featuring a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and 23.4 centimetres of ground clearance. However, its fuel efficiency was on the lower end, with an estimated 17.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the city. The Armada offered a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,856 kilograms, making it a strong contender for those needing to tow heavy loads.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics reflected its age, with limited legroom and an awkward steering wheel position. The dashboard design provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was hindered by the tall hood. Storage options were limited, with small centre-console storage and cupholders. The GX offered three rows of seating, but the third row was best suited for children, and accessing it was cumbersome. Cargo space was limited, with only 1,833 litres available with the second and third rows folded.

The 2021 Nissan Armada offered a spacious interior, with comfortable seating for first- and second-row occupants. The Platinum trim allowed for optional captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The third row was less comfortable for adults but usable in a pinch. Cargo space was 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 2,692 litres with all seats folded. The high load floor made loading challenging, but a power liftgate and power-folding third-row seats were standard. Small-item storage was limited, but the centre console storage bin was spacious.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functionality. However, analog controls were available for most functions, providing a straightforward interface. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was standard, offering a high-quality audio experience.

The 2021 Nissan Armada featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with responsive controls. Standard tech included navigation, a 13-speaker Bose stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Platinum trim offered a rearview camera mirror and a rear-seat entertainment system. The Armada's steering wheel allowed for limited control of the infotainment system, but it was functional.

The 2021 Lexus GX came with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, including a pre-collision system, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, but the GX lacked some advanced safety features found in other Lexus models.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, featuring automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and rear automatic braking. Additional safety features included adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning. However, the Armada lacked advanced driving assist technologies like Nissan ProPilot Assist.