The Lexus GX 460 is an enigma. It has trucklike body-on-frame construction and other trappings for serious off-roading, but is considered a luxury midsize SUV, a category typically associated with cars that people don’t want to get dirty.
For 2019 the GX 460 is a carryover from last year but there are some feature additions. They include blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert available as a no-charge option, and complimentary Lexus Enform Safety Connect for the first 10 years of ownership.
The 2019 GX 460 has seating for up to seven passengers and there are three trim levels: base, Premium and Luxury. Pricing starts at $53,180 including a $1,025 destination charge.
All versions have a V8 engine with 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, a six-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive, and a 6,500-pound towing capacity.
My tester was the GX 460 Luxury model, the third arrival in my trifecta of snow-busting SUVs driven during our big winter snowstorms whose remnants still haven’t finished melting. The GX 460 encountered a couple of situations formidable enough to warrant using 4LO gear, which I was glad it had.
The V8 engine and automatic transmission work well together and provide a respectable amount of power for this hefty 6,600-pound vehicle. Fuel economy is cringeworthy: 15 mpg city, 18 mpg highway, 16 mpg combined, and it wants premium fuel.
The interior of the 2019 Lexus GX 460 combines restrained design with luxury amenities. (Manufacturer photo)
The GX 460 interior is a mash-up of luxury features and restrained design. My Luxury trim tester had a mahogany steering wheel and shift knob, heated and ventilated 10-way power front seats, three-zone automatic climate control, and a navigation system with 8-inch touchscreen.
An option package added 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio, a pre-collision system with driver attention monitor, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, a wide-view front and side camera, and crawl control.
Ride height is especially high, with entry and exit assistance provided by running boards that are a big help for shorter people but more like a hindrance for taller people.
The third row is best suited to children and probably not for great lengths of time if they have an average tolerance level. With third row seats upright, cargo space is 11.6 cubic feet. With them folded (they have power folding), cargo space is 46.7 cubic feet and if the second row seats are also down, capacity expands to 64.7 cubic feet.
Unlike most SUVs whose rear door is hinged at the top, the GX 460 has a right-hinged rear door. While I can imagine the disadvantage of a rear door that swings open from the side, I found it to be a boon, as would most other people whose head has been banged on an SUV rear door. Another GX 460 cargo area advantage is its high floor, which makes the unloading of large heavy items much easier.
The 2019 Lexus GX 460 is powered by a V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. (Manufacturer photo)
2019 LEXUS GX 460 LUXURY
Base price, including destination charge: $64,580
Price as driven: $66,920
Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild, and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
Gallery
