By its nature, the Lexus GX 460 was created to function in two different worlds. Delivering impressive off-road capabilities while surrounding its passengers in a cabin of Lexus luxury, this SUV manages to do it all pretty well.
If you think about a luxury SUV weighing in at 2.5 tons, and the 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway that results from such girth, the GX 460 might seem obnoxious to some potential buyers. However, when you consider the premium quality of the product, its ability to get you wherever you need to be with the best Land Rovers and Jeeps, and that it is capable of pulling a 6,500-pound load, there will be plenty of takers.
While the takers list is shorter and more select than that of the average off-road-capable SUV and the basic luxury sedan, the Lexus GX 460 does deliver everything it promises — along with a laundry list of high-tech goodies and smart applications to make the driving experience, well, Lexus.
While the takers list is shorter and more select than that of the average off-road-capable SUV and the basic luxury sedan, the Lexus GX 460 does deliver everything it promises — along with a laundry list of high-tech goodies and smart applications to make the driving experience, well, Lexus.
Perched upon gorgeous 18-inch alloy rims, it is hard to imagine them caked with the remnants of an off-road excursion. In the event you get the GX 460 onto the trails, trust me — it cleans up quite well.
The seven-passenger GX 460 is offered in Base and Premium trim packages. While the Base is loaded to your heart’s content, I tested the Premium model and it added on standard adaptive variable suspension (with rear adjustable height control), additional chrome trim, adaptive xenon headlights, upgraded leather upholstery, a heated wood-trimmed steering wheel, heated second-row seats and rear air conditioning.
The cabin experience in the GX 460 is predictably comfortable and convenient at every turn. From 10-way power heated and ventilated front seats to three-zone auto climate control to a power fold-flat third-row seat, the Lexus experience is crafted into every stitch of the leather and supple surface textures.
As long as the standard list may be, there’s always a little something else you can add to the experience and options for both trims include front and rear parking sensors, front and side view cameras, power-folding exterior mirrors, adaptive cruise control, crawl control, a navigation system and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system with DVD changer.
The GX 460 is powered by a tough 4.6-liter V-8 producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque; it’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels.
The driving experience is a mixed bag. The GX 460 is a body-on-frame SUV and it delivers more truck feel than a crossover might offer. On one hand you have a refined ride with a high seating position with an amazingly capable four-wheel-drive system that can handle whatever you might throw at it.
On the other hand, I found the lean in turns to still be a bit excessive, even with the firmest of the three suspension settings engaged. Braking on the GX 460 is a learned process — and you had better learn it pretty quickly, as braking distances during my test were soft. Truth is, it’s hard to bring 2.5 tons to a stop on a dime.
At a base of $57,140, the GX 460 Premium model delivers the luxury goods as expected. The surprisingly agile off-road ability of the GX is peace of mind for weather conditions here in the Midwest. With an additional $6,500 in options added on, my GX 460 landed at a refined $64,679. This is not a vehicle for everyone, but that’s why it is a Lexus.
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