Despite its midsize dimensions the GX seats up to eight with the optional 3rd row, making it an ideal minivan replacement for an upwardly mobile family. Seating for five is standard, as are traditional Lexus niceties such as leather seats and trim, a premium 14-speaker Mark Levinson audio system with in-dash 6-CD changer and steering wheel controls, automatic dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, an integrated garage door opener, etc, etc.
 |
| The GX seats up to eight with the optional 3rd row, making it an ideal minivan replacement for an upwardly mobile family. (Photo: Lexus) |
For those wanting a little more Lexus will offer its optional Ultra Premium Package consisting of a rear seat DVD entertainment system for keeping the kids engrossed in something other than when they're going to get to the ski hill, a DVD-based navigation system for finding your way to the chalet after you've dropped them off, and a rear backup camera so that you don't back over any wayward snowboarders in the parking lot.
 |
| Lexus made sure its GX could handle most any obstacle thrown in its way via its Rear Height Control. (Photo: Lexus) |
GX owners shouldn't have any trouble negotiating the white stuff either, as the new SUV features Torsen torque-sensing centre differential equipped full-time four-wheel drive system, which under normal driving conditions splits power between the front and rear by 40 and 60 percent respectively, while increasing the rear-wheel bias as necessary when taking on tighter curves. That, and its fully independent adaptive variable suspension, delivers excellent control whether on or off pavement, the latter also due to its extremely rigid body-on-frame construction that makes it one of the most luxurious all-terrain vehicles in the nation.
All-terrain vehicle? Lexus made sure its GX could handle most anything thrown in its way via its Rear Height Control, a system that lets the driver choose the ground clearance (up to 249 mm or 9.8 inches maximum which is 28 mm or 1.1 inches more clearance than the LX) that best suits the conditions. What this means in real world off-road figures is slight one degree disadvantage in approach angle (from 31 to 30) in the high setting but a major benefit of four degrees (25 to 29) for the departure angle.