2022 Mazda CX-5 vs 2021 Lexus GX

ost modern SUVs are really car-based crossovers—lifted station wagons, or minivans without the sliding doors. That’s not the case with the 2021 Lexus GX 460.

Like the mythical Loch Ness Monster, the GX is a creature that time forgot. It’s one of the last SUVs with truck-like body-on-frame construction and true off-road capability. That’s because the GX is actually a rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (a smaller version of the iconic Toyota Land Cruiser not sold in North America), and is related to the Toyota 4Runner. It’s also genuinely old: the current generation dates back to the 2010 model year, and Lexus has kept it in production with some updates of styling and tech over the years.

That makes the GX a fairly odd proposition on the new-car market. It has the off-road capability, not as a lifestyle statement, but because that’s what was still expected of SUVs when it was launched. The GX sits between the RX and LX in the Lexus lineup but has little direct competition. Its only real rival is the much newer Land Rover Discovery.

For the 2021 model year, the GX gets some minor updates. Lexus continues to offer only the GX 460 model, with a single powertrain option, a standard four-wheel drive (4WD) drivetrain, and two pricing levels: base, or the Executive package.

It’s easy for a luxury brand to lose stature and cachet, but it’s hard for a mainstream brand to gain it. Nevertheless, Mazda is giving it the good old college try, having discussed its plan to become a premium brand for more than half a decade.

Unlike some automakers that rely solely on marketing to support their premium brand positioning, Mazda heavily invests in everything from design and engineering to dealership facilities, all to ensure there is substance behind its claim. Now, numerous updates to its most popular model elevate the 2022 Mazda CX-5 solidly into premium territory.

Don’t believe us? Drive one of the turbocharged versions of the 2022 CX-5 back to back with a similarly priced Audi Q3, Buick Envision, BMW X1, GMC Terrain, or Mercedes-Benz GLA, and you’ll see what we mean.