2021 Lexus NX Hybrid vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid, positioned between the Lexus UX and RX, featured a design that was both distinctive and familiar. Its sharp edges and streamlined profile gave it a unique look, though the styling had remained largely unchanged over the years. The NX shared its platform with the previous-generation Toyota RAV4, which was common for Lexus as Toyota's luxury division. Despite its luxury status, the NX lagged behind the RAV4 in engineering advancements. The F Sport Black Line model added a larger mesh grille, dark-finish 18-inch wheels, and a striking Grecian Water blue paint, which contrasted nicely with the dark trim elements. Inside, the design felt radical at its debut but had become familiar over time. The interior featured a stepped center console and lacked traditional luxury elements like wood trim. The F Sport package added unique touches like a heated steering wheel and aluminum pedals, but material quality felt more mainstream than luxury.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, redesigned in 2019, retained a familiar look with its boxy, upright shape, appealing to SUV shoppers. The styling was clean and unpretentious, with the Sport model adding orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels. The Forester rode on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other Subaru models, maintaining its rugged SUV image. Inside, the Forester's no-nonsense materials promised durability, with the Sport trim adding orange accents. Cloth upholstery was standard on lower trims, while higher trims offered leather. The All-Weather Package added heated features, enhancing comfort. The Forester's interior was practical, with large knobs for controls, though the steering wheel had an overwhelming number of buttons.

The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing a total of 194 horsepower. It came standard with all-wheel drive, but its performance was more focused on fuel efficiency than excitement. The NX Hybrid accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds, with a top speed of 112 mph. The drivetrain struggled with quick acceleration, and the transition between electric and gasoline power was clunky. The Black Line package's sport-tuned suspension improved handling, but the steering felt numb. Drive modes like Normal, Eco, and Sport offered minimal differences, with Eco mode further dulling acceleration.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. It featured a continuously variable automatic transmission with a manual mode and paddle shifters on certain trims. The Forester's engine had a boxer configuration, providing a lower center of gravity. It had a 1,500-pound towing capacity and standard Trailer Stability Assist. While power was adequate, the engine lacked thrust for highway merging and overtaking. The suspension was softly sprung, resulting in poor body control and noticeable body roll in corners. The Forester's all-wheel drive was standard, with X-Mode enhancing traction on different surfaces. It offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance, suitable for light off-roading.

The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid had limited front and rear headroom, with rear legroom being the worst in its segment. The front seats were comfortable, offering excellent support and 10-way power adjustment. The sloping roofline and thick rear pillars hindered rear visibility, though large mirrors helped. The NX Hybrid had 16.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 53.7 cubic feet with them folded, less than its gasoline counterpart. A power-folding second row and power liftgate were available but not standard.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom, with a tall roofline providing excellent visibility. It had 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded. While it lacked a sliding second-row bench, a power liftgate was available on higher trims. The Forester's interior featured practical storage solutions, though the phone-storage cubby was small. The center console was reasonably sized, and the controls were user-friendly, though the steering wheel had many buttons.

The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid's infotainment system was a weak point, featuring an 8-inch display with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The lack of a touchscreen and reliance on the awkward Remote Touch Interface touchpad made it difficult to use while driving. The graphics felt outdated, and the base audio system was underwhelming. Higher trims offered a 14-speaker Mark Levinson system.

The 2021 Subaru Forester's Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls. However, the screen was slow to boot up. Additional screens displayed secondary information, though the setup felt overly complex.

The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid received a “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and more. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were newly standard.

The 2021 Subaru Forester also earned a “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It featured the EyeSight suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Subaru's DriverFocus system monitored driver attention. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking.