It sure seems like the folks at Lexus had a strange epiphany. While most premium car makers offer mastodons that can barely withstand a little country dirt, Toyota’s luxury division has endowed the redesigned GX with some of the best off-road capabilities in the business.
Ironically, though, because it was a Lexus — a serene, beige-on-beige Lexus — the mere thought of throwing my tester into sketchy and muddy trails never even crossed my mind. I knew it could handle it, but I didn’t dare try. That’s the feeling you get behind the wheel of this big Japanese rig.
The body of an athlete
The Lexus GX 460, an athlete? Well, it depends on what sport. Obviously, we’re talking more about a sumo wrestler than a figure skater. Yet, the silhouette looks pleasant and nicely camouflages the massive size. You really have to stand next to the GX to realize just how big it is.
The interior definitely lives up to the Lexus reputation. Beyond the overabundance of beige, the design proves clean and understated. The gauges are easy to read and most of the switchgear happens to be in the right place and within easy reach.
Even with shooting pains in the back and more than 600 kilometres on the clock, I was still able to manipulate the various controls without taking my eyes off the road and compromising my excellent driving position — a testament to the designers’ attention to detail and ergonomics. Bad news is there are so many buttons (including those you don’t normally see because they’re hidden behind a sliding panel) that sorting them out requires a good deal of practice.
The seats offer easy adjustments and provide adequate comfort for long trips, although they lack a bit of side support, which may unsettle the driver in more extreme conditions like rocky terrain. And while the GX can theoretically sit up to seven, all passengers aren’t treated equally. The sliding second-row bench does allow legroom adjustments, but the one in the third row makes access quite challenging (despite the power-folding seatback mechanism). Comfort is just as precarious there as in most rivals.
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| The GX 460 represents a fair compromise between massively-sized SUVs and less family-friendly compact. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Ironically, though, because it was a Lexus — a serene, beige-on-beige Lexus — the mere thought of throwing my tester into sketchy and muddy trails never even crossed my mind. I knew it could handle it, but I didn’t dare try. That’s the feeling you get behind the wheel of this big Japanese rig.
The body of an athlete
The Lexus GX 460, an athlete? Well, it depends on what sport. Obviously, we’re talking more about a sumo wrestler than a figure skater. Yet, the silhouette looks pleasant and nicely camouflages the massive size. You really have to stand next to the GX to realize just how big it is.
The interior definitely lives up to the Lexus reputation. Beyond the overabundance of beige, the design proves clean and understated. The gauges are easy to read and most of the switchgear happens to be in the right place and within easy reach.
Even with shooting pains in the back and more than 600 kilometres on the clock, I was still able to manipulate the various controls without taking my eyes off the road and compromising my excellent driving position — a testament to the designers’ attention to detail and ergonomics. Bad news is there are so many buttons (including those you don’t normally see because they’re hidden behind a sliding panel) that sorting them out requires a good deal of practice.
The seats offer easy adjustments and provide adequate comfort for long trips, although they lack a bit of side support, which may unsettle the driver in more extreme conditions like rocky terrain. And while the GX can theoretically sit up to seven, all passengers aren’t treated equally. The sliding second-row bench does allow legroom adjustments, but the one in the third row makes access quite challenging (despite the power-folding seatback mechanism). Comfort is just as precarious there as in most rivals.
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| The seats offer easy adjustments and provide adequate comfort for long trips, although they lack a bit of side support. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |