Long after all the good points of the Lexus GX 460 are forgotten, it will be remembered as the first Lexus to have a Consumer Reports “Don’t Buy” recommendation put on it. Lexus even stopped delivery of ordered units to upgrade the stability control program, which is what caused the concern of Consumer Reports. Once the upgrade was done, the “Don’t Buy” Recommendation was lifted and now Lexus sent me one to try it out.
Engine
Power (all 301 horses and 329 lb-ft of torque) from the 4.6-litre V8 doesn’t come on like gang busters, thanks to a fairly long throttle tip-in. If you do happen to put the pedal down to the floor, the transmission heads down a couple of cogs, the revs come up and you get pushed back in your seat and a very un-Lexus-like growl comes from the exhaust as you go by the dweeb that is merging about 40 km/h below what the traffic is moving at.
Transmission and Differential
The six-speed automatic has a good set of electronic controls, because it always seemed to select the right gear for what I wanted when I put my foot down. On pavement, this consisted mostly of getting out to pass and making a quick lane change. In the part-throttle applications, the downshift was usually just one gear so that the revs came up and you could move without a fuss.
Off-road activity (as in $20 at the car wash) was a bit restricted due to the weather. The GX 460 does have a low range and a Torsen limited-slip center differential. Additional off-road ability comes with an electronically locking centre diff.
The GX 460 is a true SUV by definition since it has a body-on-frame construction. As such, it retains its double wishbone front suspension and stabilizer bar up front with recalibrated gas shocks. In the rear, a multi-link set up with coil springs and gas shocks keeps you comfortable.
In the Front Row
Comfort is what the Lexus is all about. Front seats are leather-clad and heated. Side bolsters are wide and the set cushion is plush. Just about anyone can find a comfortable seating position in seconds.
There is one thing you should know about the GX 460 driver’s seat. It has a feature where the driver’s seat moves back when you push the button to stop the engine and get out. The seat goes to the back of its track and shorter drivers may not be able to reach the brake pedal, which must be pressed before the vehicle will start which it must do before the seat will move back forward.
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| The GX 460 is a capable vehicle and should be right at the top of the list when you go looking for a premium. (Photo: Charles Renny/Auto123.com) |
Engine
Power (all 301 horses and 329 lb-ft of torque) from the 4.6-litre V8 doesn’t come on like gang busters, thanks to a fairly long throttle tip-in. If you do happen to put the pedal down to the floor, the transmission heads down a couple of cogs, the revs come up and you get pushed back in your seat and a very un-Lexus-like growl comes from the exhaust as you go by the dweeb that is merging about 40 km/h below what the traffic is moving at.
Transmission and Differential
The six-speed automatic has a good set of electronic controls, because it always seemed to select the right gear for what I wanted when I put my foot down. On pavement, this consisted mostly of getting out to pass and making a quick lane change. In the part-throttle applications, the downshift was usually just one gear so that the revs came up and you could move without a fuss.
Off-road activity (as in $20 at the car wash) was a bit restricted due to the weather. The GX 460 does have a low range and a Torsen limited-slip center differential. Additional off-road ability comes with an electronically locking centre diff.
The GX 460 is a true SUV by definition since it has a body-on-frame construction. As such, it retains its double wishbone front suspension and stabilizer bar up front with recalibrated gas shocks. In the rear, a multi-link set up with coil springs and gas shocks keeps you comfortable.
In the Front Row
Comfort is what the Lexus is all about. Front seats are leather-clad and heated. Side bolsters are wide and the set cushion is plush. Just about anyone can find a comfortable seating position in seconds.
There is one thing you should know about the GX 460 driver’s seat. It has a feature where the driver’s seat moves back when you push the button to stop the engine and get out. The seat goes to the back of its track and shorter drivers may not be able to reach the brake pedal, which must be pressed before the vehicle will start which it must do before the seat will move back forward.
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| Front seats are leather-clad and heated. Side bolsters are wide and the set cushion is plush. (Photo: Lexus) |