2004 Lexus GX 470 Road Test

Part of the LX 470's off-road capability is owed to Rear Height Control; a system which 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 already impressive LX 470) that best suits

The Rear Height Control lets the driver choose the ground clearance that best suits the conditions. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

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. The same system lowers the GX for easier entry, exit or loading and unloading, plus it will level itself off with the front suspension when hauling heavy cargo.

Speaking of loading and unloading I'm not a big fan of side-swinging doors, especially when they open towards the road instead of the sidewalk. This is a common problem with vehicles designed in a country that drives on the opposite side of the road, where a door hinged on the right opens up to the sidewalk. The way the GX is configured, it's impossible or ruddy dangerous to maneuver a long

The GX 470 offers everything you could need in a 4x4 SUV, wrapped in a stunning package, and priced considerably lower than its competition. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

or large piece of cargo out of the rear on a busy street. A more traditional liftgate would solve this problem, satisfying both Japanese (or British, Indian, Chinese, etc.) and North American (European, South American, etc.) jurisdictions.

But in the end I could probably live with the inconvenient rear door, as the rest of the GX 470 is about as good as it gets. OK, it's not quite as upmarket as a Range Rover or LX 470, but both are about $30,000 more expensive. For me the GX offers all the amenities I would ever need in a wonderfully refined, yet impressively rugged package. It's a real SUV, in a world of pretenders.