2018 Lexus GX 460 Review

Name: 2018 Lexus GX 460 Review
Brand: Lexus
Price: 26999 USD

Lexus GX 460 Luxury 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byJames Riswick^{Edmunds Contributor
James Riswick is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.}

Pros

Impressive off-road capability in a segment largely without it
High view out
Easy-to-use interior controls

Cons

Compromised cargo space and third-row seat
Seats are uncomfortable
Poor fuel economy and acceleration
Rough ride on broken pavement

What’s new

There are only a few minor changes in available features for the 2018 Lexus GX 460.

Vehicle overview

Evaluated in isolation, the 2018 Lexus GX 460 will probably wow you with its luxury-lined cabin, expansive features and smooth on-road ride. The trouble is that it has a rather dated design with diminishing appeal. In comparison, virtually every one of the GX 460's three-row luxury SUV rivals offers superior driving manners, interior space, power and fuel economy. They have even more features and are even more comfortable.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Lexus GX 460 4dr SUV 4WD (4.6L 8cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$340/mo

$201/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

Of course, there are still some things to like about the GX 460, including its rugged, trucklike construction, commanding driving position, and the latest and greatest off-roading hardware Lexus has to offer. It should be able to take you wherever you want to go. Unfortunately, the aggressive new Lexus styling applied to the GX a few years ago took its toll on its approach angle and ground clearance.

As a result, the GX has less clearance than a Volvo XC90 — a vehicle that otherwise has nowhere near the GX's four-wheel-drive capabilities. At the same time, its trucklike construction significantly reduces its interior space and cargo-carrying versatility. The GX even retains an old-school swing-out tailgate that opens toward the curb.

In the end, there's just not enough to the 2018 Lexus GX 460 to warrant a recommendation. It's compromised no matter how you look at it.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.4 / 10

Compromised. That's the best way to describe the 2018 Lexus GX 460. Its inherent off-road capabilities are compromised by its luxury trappings, while its luxury family SUV credentials are compromised by its dated design.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2017 Lexus GX 460 (4.6L V8 | 6-speed automatic | 4WD).

Scorecard

Overall	7.4 / 10
Driving	7.0
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.5
Utility	7.0
Technology	7.0

Driving

7.0

The GX 460 has much going for it but stumbles in key areas. Its transmission and gas pedal calibration get in the way of the willing V8. The suspension system gives it nimble handling, but the steering is lifeless and numb. And its impressive off-road hardware is foiled by low-slung bodywork.

Acceleration

7.0

The GX 460's 4.6-liter V8 has only 301 horsepower but is energetic enough to propel it from zero to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. In normal use, though, the GX can feel lethargic owing to its heavy curb weight and economy-minded throttle pedal and transmission calibration.

Braking

7.5

Brakes feel reliable and responsive in everyday use. The pedal travel is a bit long, but not in an excessive way — it feels right. Our test sample stopped in a respectable 124 feet in our 60-mph panic stop test.

Steering

6.0

You don't have to turn the wheel much when parking and it'll make a tighter U-turn than you'd guess. The effort is neither too light not too heavy. Good at resisting crosswinds, too. But the response is dull and the feel is nonexistent — it's as if your fingertips have gone to sleep.

Handling

8.5

The GX comes with a clever suspension system that provides flat cornering on mountain roads yet automatically switches off to give excellent articulation when off-road. The result is a very nimble SUV for its size and height. No tippiness or stomach upset on the road to the lake with this one.

Drivability

5.5

The GX's transmission shifts very smoothly, which gives this SUV a refined demeanor. But the throttle pedal and transmission seem to play dumb when you want to accelerate smartly; it requires more pedal force than it should to accelerate and even more to trigger a downshift.

Off-road

7.5

Has a low range transfer case and a lockable center differential, and the suspension system automatically generates impressive wheel articulation. But ground clearance isn't great, and the overhangs are low. Will someday be a good choice for second owners who add expedition bumpers and a lift kit.

Comfort

8.0

It's quiet, the climate control system will please everyone, and the ride isn't liable to get your tummy rumbling. But make sure you test-sit those seats before you sign on the dotted line. Everyone is different in this regard, but we found it hard to get past the plank-like seat bottoms.

Seat comfort

5.5

Seats offer good lateral support and look comfy, but the leather seat bottoms and seatbacks feel flat and unyielding. A staffer who took it on a long road trip was uncomfortable within 10 minutes. The middle-row seats are flat and shapeless, apparently designed to fold rather than provide comfort.

Ride comfort

7.0

The GX 460 is generally smooth and airy without being floaty or buoyant. But ripples and patches in the asphalt often create a mild jostling motion and head toss, as if elements of the suspension are too taut and won't let the system relax.

Noise & vibration

9.0

Extremely quiet on all fronts — there's little wind, road or engine noise. It's a nice quiet backdrop whether you're having a conversation or listening to the high-end stereo.

Climate control

9.0

Controls are simple and easy to figure out at a glance. The vents are good-sized, and the fan doesn't make much racket. And all three rows have their own vents, with separate controls located in the middle row. Front heated and ventilated seats and heated rear seats offer multiple settings.

Interior

8.5

The Lexus GX looks good inside, and the layout is pleasing and easy to operate. There's generally a good deal of space, and the driving position is easy to set to your liking. The high seating position gives a commanding view of the road, but makes the step up higher than in newer crossover SUVs.

Ease of use

8.5

This Lexus lacks the brand's Remote Touch infotainment interface, and the GX is the better for it. All the control knobs, buttons and stalks are easy to identify, learn and use, and that even goes for the entertainment and navigation interface.

Getting in/getting out

8.0

The GX is a bit tall because it's a body-on-frame SUV, but it's not too bad. It comes with features that offset its height: integrated side steps and TWO interior grab handles at each door. The doors open wide, too. Third-row access is tight but in line with the segment; the captain's chairs help.

Driving position

8.0

The seats have numerous adjustments and, unlike in many Toyota/Lexus products, the wheel has a decent telescoping range. But the left footrest platform feels a bit close. Our test drivers changed their position more than usual to relieve discomfort from the seat bottoms (see Comfort section).

Roominess

8.0

Plenty of leg- and headroom up front. Middle-row headroom is generous, and legroom is fine if the driver is shorter than 6-foot-3, but the rear doors crowd your elbows. The third row is tight, but it's larger than expected. The back is best for kids and short trips only.

Visibility

8.5

Surprisingly good visibility all around because of the generous glass area, low doorsills, good-sized mirrors and a large camera screen. The headlights offer impressive clarity and coverage whether you're on low beams or high. Optional front and rear proximity sonar aids parking in tight quarters.

Quality

8.5

The interior of the GX is pleasing to look at, with an impressive combination of rich materials and textures. It looks well-built and durable, too.

Utility

7.0

The second and third rows of seats fold flat into the floor, but carrying capacity isn't class-leading. That's probably because the load deck of this traditional body-on-frame SUV is a bit high. It has a decent tow rating, but the tow hitch and wiring are dealer accessories, not factory-integrated.

Small-item storage

7.0

Front seat occupants enjoy good-sized door pockets, four places for beverages and a couple of handy nooks. The center console and glovebox aren't spectacular, but they get the job done. Middle-row door pockets are on the small side, and the flip-up cupholders are nothing to write home about.

Cargo space

6.5

The tall roof and fold-flat seats make a decent-sized cargo hold whether the middle row is up or down. But there's minimal space behind the third row, and the way it all folds into the floor makes for a high load deck. The side-hinged rear door is hinged on the wrong side, blocking curbside access.

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

This truck stands a bit high, which means you'll have to lift the kids up into place. The middle row has LATCH anchors hidden behind a Velcro flap and top tethers for two seats, but the third row only has the top tethers and requires the use of the seat belt's locking retractor mechanism.

Towing

7.0

Tow hitch and trailer wiring harness socket are not standard or fully integrated; they're a dealer-installed accessory. When installed, the hitch receiver will always be visible because there's insufficient space for a hidden installation. The tow rating of 6,500 pounds is respectable for the class.

Technology

7.0

The sound system is strong, with numerous audio sources to choose from. But the GX feels like a time capsule, with clunky voice controls, dated graphics, and no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support. Desirable active safety aids are only offered on the highest grade in an option package.

Audio & navigation

7.5

Superb sound quality from the premium audio system, which also has HD radio and a CD player. But the navigation graphics feel dated — they're quite low-resolution, and the traffic density lines are comically thick.

Smartphone integration

7.5

Bluetooth pairing is easy because it doesn't always require a second confirmation step. USB jacks connect an iPhone smoothly, and the stereo remembers where your podcast left off the next time you start up. But this SUV does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which seems out of touch.

Driver aids

6.0

The GX feels old because many active safety aids are only available in an $4,340 option package that's exclusive to the top-level Luxury grade, a minimum spend of $68,715. Our well-equipped, $60,300 test vehicle had blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert as an $800 option, but that's it.

Voice control

5.0

The system recognizes speech well but requires the use of fairly structured commands. For instance, you can't say "Call Mark" when the navigation screen is displayed; you must first say "phone" and let the system switch over. No press-and-hold Siri access either.

2018 Lexus GX 460 models

The 2018 Lexus GX 460 is a large three-row SUV using traditional body-on-frame construction. It seats seven people standard. Available second-row captain's chairs reduce capacity to six. There are base and Luxury trim levels available. Both come with a 4.6-liter V8 engine (301 horsepower, 329 pound-feet of torque), a six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.

Standard equipment on the base trim includes 18-inch wheels, a full-size spare tire, LED headlights, running boards, a flip-up rear window within the swing-out tailgate, roof rails, Lexus' Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (improves off-road traction), a sunroof, a rearview camera, and keyless ignition and entry.

Inside, you'll find dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory settings, a power-adjustable steering column, a 40/20/40-split second-row seat (sliding, reclining, folding) and a 50/50-split folding third-row seat. Infotainment features include Lexus Enform emergency and remote vehicle services, an 8-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, Bluetooth, and a nine-speaker sound system with a CD player and satellite and HD radio.

Stand-alone options include a blind-spot monitoring system (with rear cross-traffic alert), LED foglights, automatic wipers, a windshield de-icer, heated and ventilated front seats and a navigation system. The Premium package bundles most of those stand-alone options (minus blind-spot monitoring) and further adds parking sensors, heated second-row seats, leather upholstery and three-zone climate control. You can also add second-row captain's chairs.

The GX 460 Luxury comes with all of the above as standard plus an adaptive and auto-leveling suspension, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, headlight washers, a heated wood-trimmed steering wheel, a rear cargo cover, the second-row captain's chairs and upgraded leather upholstery.

Only the Luxury model can be enhanced with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, a two-screen rear seat entertainment system, and the Driver Support package, which adds adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and automatic braking, front- and side-view cameras, a driver inattention monitoring system, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, crawl control (an off-road, low-speed cruise control system) and the Mark Levinson sound system.

The Sport Design package adds special styling elements to the Premium or Luxury models.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Excellent

#5 out of 29 among Luxury Midsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Lexus GX 460 from 2008-2022.}

$499/yr

vs. $602/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.98x/yr

vs. 1.09x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

6.8%

vs. 9.4%
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 Lexus GX 460.

5 (47%)

4 (21%)

3 (10%)

2 (10%)

1 (12%)

3.8

49 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Best old school SUV

Dhananjay, 07/30/2018

2018 Lexus GX 460 4dr SUV 4WD (4.6L 8cyl 6A)

I have this car for the past 4 months and I love it every time I step in. Now, this car is old school and it lacks some of the latest gadgetry but other than that this car is best the SUV ever. For starters, I like the driving position a lot. It gives you the nice commanding view of the road for which old school SUVs are famous for. The overall visibility from the driver seat is amongst …

Great overall SUV, if you want an SUV

Jim, 10/11/2017

2017 Lexus GX 460 Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (4.6L 8cyl 6A)

I wanted a true SUV and not a crossover, so that pretty much limited my choices to Jeep, Lexus, and Land Rover (I know there are others like the G waggen, but these are the ones I considered). Although I had and loved a Grand Cherokee ZJ limited, I don't really like the size, comfort or look of the modern Grand Cherokee, so that was not an option. I own a land rover Discovery 2, and …

GX 460 Premium - Enjoying the Upgrade

MS, 04/30/2020

2018 Lexus GX 460 4dr SUV 4WD (4.6L 8cyl 6A)

I owned Toyota 4Runners for the past 8 years. Averaged 18-19 MPG on them. My most recent was a 2016 SR5 Premium. Although I liked my 4Runner, I felt the ride and features were pretty outdated. No LED headlights, no climate control, no BSM, so-so seats, and a pretty tippy ride. I actually liked my 2007 4Runner better. After looking at a new 2020 4Runner and realizing the equipment and …

* LUXURIOUS BEAST

Kevin Smith, 06/04/2018

2018 Lexus GX 460 Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (4.6L 8cyl 6A)

* THIS SUV does "almost" everything well. Smooth and quiet ride, great acceleration and passing capability, looks and comfort make for a great vehicle. The one glaring flaw that I hesitate to bring light to is the cargo space when using the third row seating. You literally cannot put ANYTHING behind the third row seats. Okay, maybe a newspaper but that's even pushing it.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 Lexus GX 460, so we've included reviews for other years of the GX 460 since its last redesign.

See all 49 reviews of the Lexus GX 460

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2018 GX 460 Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$52,155
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	16 MPG
Cost to Drive	$340/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	11.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	four wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the GX 460 models:

Lane Departure Alert: Warns you when you begin drifting out of your lane.
Pre-Collision System: Warns you about stopped or suddenly slowing vehicles ahead, then helps you apply full braking force or applies the brakes for you.
Driver Attention Monitor: Studies your actions behind the wheel to determine whether you're acting drowsy or distracted, then warns you accordingly.

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