Written by Marco Carvajal
Lexus GX
I am test driving the Lexus GX 460 luxury trim, a premium mid-size SUV with three rows, priced around $65K.
The name GX stands for Grand Crossover. The Lexus GX 460 will amaze you with its luxury-lined cabin style, expansive features, extremely safety, off-road performance and smooth ride do to its great adaptive variable suspension.
In the Lexus lineup, the GX is positioned between the Lexus RX crossover and the full-size premium Lexus LX SUV. The GX first generation, the GX 470, debuted around twenty years ago at the 2002 NAIAS Auto Show in Detroit, becoming the third SUV to enter the Lexus family lineup.
The GX uses the robust Toyota Land Cruiser Prado platform, which also powers the Toyota 4Runner and Toyota FJ Cruiser. Since its beginnings until the present time, both generations of the GX are influenced by the Toyota Prado, using a stylish and premium-looking front fascia typical of Lexus vehicles.
GX 460
The GX 460 is a large three-row SUV that uses a traditional body-on-frame structure. It has three rows with capacity for seven people, and with the available captain’s chairs in the second row then the capacity is reduced to six passengers.
All GX models, along with the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, have been produced at the advanced Tahara plant in Japan, known to be one of the most computerized and robotized automotive plants in the world.
The 2021 GX 460 is a great mid-size SUV, and the 2022 model gets even better receiving several enhancements, including a new infotainment system and a redesigned instrument panel. Both 2021 and 2022 versions are similar.
The exterior look of the GX is very attractive with different GX body colors like Black Onyx, Starfire Pearl and Green Pearl, and stylish decorative fog lights among many other small details typical of the luxury brand Lexus.
Four-Wheel Drive
The GX is powerful with a full-time automatic four-wheel drive system. Four-Wheel Active Traction allows you to drive on any type of road. A TORSEN torque-sensing limited slip center differential distributes power 40:60 front to rear under most driving conditions and it adapts and changes the ratio as needed depending on wheel slip. The advanced four-wheel-drive system offers a low range for slow speed off-road driving, and the center differential can be electronically locked.
A two-speed transfer case with low range is supported by a wide array of chassis control technology. With great features like Downhill Assist Control (DAC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and available Crawl Control, the GX 460 can drive on unpaved roads, trails, and steep inclines.
Optional for those who need extreme power off-road, you can add the Off-Road Package, that offers off-road technologies such as Lexus’ Multi-Terrain Monitor and Panoramic View Monitors with driver and passenger cameras; transmission cooler; fuel tank protector; Crawl Control; and Multi-Terrain Select among other features to enhance your GX.
Trims and Pricing for the 2022 GX 460
All GX models are powerful all-wheel drive. Each trim model stays in a similar price range between $55K and $65K. It is not the most expensive SUV, but it has a medium-high price range more expensive than most other SUVs.
The GX is luxury, powerful, smart and premium on any of its tour trim models. The three rows with capacity for seven people make the GX a great car with plenty of space for all the family.
- GX 460
$55,425 Starting MSRP
- GX 460 PREMIUM
$56,760 Starting MSRP
- GX 460 LUXURY (the one I am test driving)
$64,935 Starting MSRP
- GX 460 BLACK LINE SPECIAL EDITION
$59,260 Starting MSRP
GX new touch screen multimedia system
Initially only the GX 460 Black Line Special Edition trim had the advanced large touchscreen, but starting with the 2022 model year all GX trims will receive the new modernized central panel and the 10.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system, instead of the previous smaller eight-inch system.
This 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard in all GX models and includes support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa and a few other little things. It includes smartphone integration and Amazon’s virtual assistant. Navigation is standard, along with power folding heated side mirrors and an intuitive parking assistant.
2022 GX 460 Luxury
The 460 Luxury trim I am test driving includes a smooth adaptive variable suspension, semi-aniline leather interior trim, power-reclining and folding third row. Just like all other GX models includes a powerful four-wheel drive engine.
Some of the Interior features are Lexus memory system 10-way power-adjustable front seats reclining, sliding middle-row seats with 40/20/40-split seatback.
Exterior highlights include the premium triple-beam led headlamps, power moonroof and privacy glass.
The interior of the GX 460 Luxury includes smart technology like Lexus app, Enform remote engine start, service scheduling, vehicle health reports/alerts. four usb ports (two front/two rear) and 10 standard airbags. The interior is very stylish and looks great, with an impressive combination of rich materials and textures, it looks well built and durable.
Performance is not a problem with full-time four-wheel drive with active traction control adaptive variable suspension auto-leveling rear air suspension kinetic dynamic suspension system, KDSS. The GX 460 luxury is available with 5 multi-terrain settings, off-road capability with its naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 engine and all-wheel drive.
The GX 460 class-exclusive kinetic dynamic suspension system makes you feel a smooth ride even in bad road conditions. A powerful 301 horse power engine with 329 lb-ft of torque enables the GX to tow up to a heavy load of 6,500 pounds.
For extreme safety, the Lexus Safety System suite of technologies is standard on the entire 2022 Lexus vehicle lineup. Lexus Safety System includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert, Intelligent High Beams and High-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Intuitive Parking Assist is also standard. From advanced lane assistance technology to intuitive high beams that offer added illumination to help keep you focused on the road ahead, this integrated suite of standard active safety equipment brings us the best technology to stay safe when driving this smart SUV.
The GX 460 offers very good visibility all around you due to the large area of its glass, low doors, good size mirrors and the large camera screen, giving you great tools for easy driving and almost 360 view of the road and surroundings.
The GX comes with a clever suspension system that provides flat corners on mountain roads and automatically shuts off for excellent articulation when off-road. The result is a very agile SUV for its size and height. The GX 460 is extremely reliable, wherever you take it, offering superior driving modes, interior space, and power.
The Lexus GX 460 will amaze you with its luxury-lined cabin, expansive features, and smooth highway ride. It has an excellent resale value, and that should get you where you want to go without any difficulty.
GX 460 Luxury Highlights
- Naturally aspirated 4.6-liter v8 engine
- 10.3-in high-resolution touchscreen multimedia display
- Color multi-information display
- Rear-seat reminder
- Bluetooth and USB smartphone connectivity
- SiriusXM 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription is included
- Remote Touchpad
- Lexus Enform Wi-Fi. 4GB/three-month trial is included.
- Lexus Enform Remote. Accessible via Lexus app; works with Alexa and Hey Google. Included for the first three years of ownership.
- Lexus app (Enform Remote engine start, service scheduling, Vehicle Health Reports/Alerts and more)
- Four USB ports (two front/two rear)
- SmartAccess with push-button Start/Stop
- Backup camera
- Navigation System
- Apple CarPlay integration
- Alexa compatibility
- Android Auto compatibility
- Dynamic Voice Command
- Lexus Enform Dynamic Navigation. Included for the first three years of ownership.
- Lexus Enform Destination Assist. Included for the first three years of ownership.
- Mark Levinson 17-speaker, 330-watt Premium Surround Sound Audio System
- Panoramic View Monitor with Multi-Terrain Monitor
- Lexus Safety System+: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- Lexus Safety System+: Lane Departure Alert
- Lexus Safety System+: High-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Lexus Enform Safety Connect and Service Connect
- Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Intuitive Parking Assist
- Trailer Sway Control
