2019 Lexus GX 460 SUV

Which GX 460 does Edmunds recommend?

Overall rating

The 2019 Lexus GX 460 is a vehicle with two purposes. The first is to get you where you want to go when the pavement ends. Underneath, it's a serious off-roader with a body-on-frame chassis and all the hardware it needs to travel rocky trails. However, according to the badges on the outside and the interior trimmings, it's a luxury three-row family hauler. Unfortunately for the GX 460, Lexus had to make a lot of compromises along the way to join these two purposes into one vehicle.

Because it's built on an old-school body-on-frame design, the GX 460 rides more like a truck than it does a modern crossover SUV. It's bumpy over broken pavement, and the flat, uncomfortable seats don't do much to help out. The GX 460's also relies on a rather dated powertrain. The 4.6-liter V8 is powerful enough to warrant a 6,500-pound tow rating, but it returns a rather disappointing EPA fuel economy rating of 16 mpg combined (15 city/18 highway).

It's not all bad news. The GX's off-road capabilities are undeniable, especially if you opt for the available adaptive suspension. That same adaptive suspension gives the GX impressive handling around curvy mountain roads. And while it looks a bit dated on the inside, the Lexus' interior is easy to get used to, with a simple layout and controls.

Given the available plethora of excellent, well-rounded luxury SUVs, it's hard to recommend such a single-minded rig. The Land Rover Discovery does a better job of mixing luxury and off-road capability, while crossovers such as the Acura MDX and the Volvo XC90 are more appealing overall.

2019 Lexus GX 460 models

The 2019 Lexus GX 460 is a large three-row SUV using traditional body-on-frame construction, and it has seating for seven people. Available second-row captain's chairs reduce seating 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, LED headlights, running boards, a flip-up rear window in 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, a unique front grille, 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 sideview cameras, a driver inattention monitoring system, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and an off-road, low-speed cruise control system (Crawl Control).

Trim tested

Driving

The Lexus GX 460 has much going for it but stumbles in key areas. Braking from 60 mph is last-in-class with a disappointing 139-foot stop. The transmission and throttle calibration get in the way of a strong V8 — especially during hard acceleration when the Lexus seems reluctant to respond to the driver's commands. Thankfully, low-speed handling maneuvers are easy thanks to its tight turning circle and light steering effort.

The KDSS suspension system gives it decent on- and off-road handling, but the steering is lifeless and numb. And its impressive off-road capabilities and hardware are foiled by the low-slung bodywork.

Comfort

The 2019 Lexus GX 460 is about as comfortable as you'd expect. It's supremely quiet, and the ride won't initiate motion sickness thanks to its well-calibrated suspension. But make sure you test out those seats before you sign on the dotted line. Everyone is different, but our staff was unanimous in our dislike for the seats due to the plank-like seat bottoms in all seating positions.

The climate control is really dated but, to its credit, it works exceptionally well. The front seats are heated and ventilated and the second-row seats are heated. All three rows have their own air vents, and those in the second row have their own climate controls.

Interior

The Lexus GX has a familiar, if dated, layout but it is easy to operate. There's generally a good deal of space, and a good driving position is easy to find. The high seating position gives a commanding view of the road, but it makes the step up a bit higher than in newer SUVs.

The standard parking assist makes maneuvering this vehicle in tight parking areas a breeze, as does the vehicle's excellent sight lines. The exterior mirrors are appropriately sized and welcome in both on- and off-road situations.

Utility

The second and third rows of seats may fold flat into the floor, but cargo capacity isn't class-leading. The load deck of this traditional body-on-frame SUV is somewhat high, so anyone of smaller stature will struggle to load in heavier objects. The swing-out rear door is also hinged on the wrong side, which blocks curbside access.

It has a decent tow rating of 6,500 pounds, but the tow hitch and wiring are dealer-installed accessories, not factory-integrated.

Technology

The GX's infotainment is a mix of capable and infuriating. While the sound system is strong, the audio screen won't stay put and constantly defaults to a summary screen. The GX also feels like a time capsule, with clunky voice controls, old navigation graphics, and no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support. For this price, and in this year, that's difficult to accept.

While Intuitive Parking Assist comes with the Premium package, active safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert only come standard in the top-level Luxury trim. Desirable active safety and driver aids such as dynamic cruise, a pre-collision system, and lane departure warning are only offered in an optional package with the highest trim.