Lexus GX 460: Cool comfort comes Lexus style

MONT TREMBLANT, QUE.–Lexus, and its parent company, Toyota, seem bent on producing an SUV or crossover for every possible market niche. Between the two, if you count the Matrix (which is basically a small crossover), they offer no fewer than 10 distinct models.

Filling the gap between Lexus's car-based RX crossover and its top-dog LX SUV, the mid-sized Lexus GX line has been with us for more than six years. Still, you'd be forgiven for not ever having seen one; of the 15,802 vehicles Lexus sold in 2009, just 198 were GX 470s. Admittedly, this was the final year of that model's cycle; after a thorough redesign for 2010, Lexus expects to sell 600 GX 460s.

Those who follow such things may have noticed the slight name change. In Lexus nomenclature, model names for non-hybrids reflect their engines' displacement, and last year's 4.7-litre V8 has been replaced by a 4.6-litre unit.

This is not a loss. Essentially the flagship LS 460's engine, the GX 460's "1UR-FE" V8 provides gains of 38 horsepower and six lb.-ft. of torque (to 301 and 329, respectively), while returning 11 per cent better fuel economy. Lexus claims that at 14.1 L/100 km in the city and 9.8 L/100 km on the highway (20/29 m.p.g.), it's best-in-class, although the GX does still require premium fuel. Unfortunately, there are no official plans to join similar models from Mercedes and Audi in offering a diesel alternative.

With an MSRP starting at $68,500, that costlier fuel requirement may not concern most GX buyers anyhow. They're likely more interested in the model's ability to tow boats and tackle the rutted road to their cottage or hunting camp when not schlepping the kids to their extracurricular activities. They also expect high-quality finish and luxury features.

The GX can deliver on all counts, with certain caveats.

Shunning the industry trend toward unibody designs, the GX remains body-on-frame. Increased towing capability is a claimed benefit of this design, and Lexus rates the GX's capacity at a robust 2,950 kg (6,500 pounds); four- and seven-pin trailer connectors are standard. Surprisingly, the unibody Land Rover LR4, Audi Q7 and Mercedes GL450 can all better the GX 460's tow rating.

Related to not only the Toyota 4Runner and FJ Cruiser, but the global-market Land Cruiser Prado, the GX certainly possesses the genes for serious off-road work. A short wheelbase aids manoeuvrability and reduces breakover angles (handles sharp crests better).

Unlike most of its competitors, the GX has a two-speed transfer case, locking centre differential, and standard skid plates. It complements them with available electronic aids such as "crawl control" (think low-speed cruise control), terrain-adjustable traction and (rear) air suspension systems, and even cameras that can display a 360-degree perimeter view on the navigation system's screen to help you avoid obstacles.

Some of those goodies require stepping up to the $77,500 Ultra Premium, which, I'd frankly be even more reluctant to drag through trees and over rocks if I were making the payments, no matter how capable.

Fortunately, the GX's on-road behaviour isn't completely compromised by its dirt-conquering talents. The standard Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) hydraulically ties the front and rear stabilizer bars together, attaining the seemingly contradictory goals of resisting cornering body lean while allowing considerable off-road axle articulation.

You won't mistake the GX for an IS F, but it's happier on-road than its tall stance, solid rear axle, and large sidewall tires would suggest – more big sedan than SUV – and it's quite content devouring highway miles, with just a hint of steering imprecision. No complaints about underhood motivation, either. On-ramp merging is no problem, and downshifts from the new six-speed automatic are prompt and velvety.

While isolation and durability are other potential benefits of body-on-frame construction, larger road impacts do produce some noticeable (but not objectionable) structural quivers as the frame and rubber-mounted cabin resonate at different frequencies. Not even big potholes were able to elicit so much as a peep out of my GX's interior components, however. Setting the adjustable dampers to Comfort reduces the transmission of smaller surface irregularities.

The GX 460's feature count is nearly that of the company's LS 460 flagship. Bluetooth, navigation, 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio, heated and ventilated front seating (the driver's side with memory), "intelligent key" entry and starting, adaptive HID headlights, and power-operated third-row seats are all standard on the base "Premium" model.

Lights under the body illuminate the running boards and ground, a nice touch.

Opting for the Ultra Premium model heats the second-row (outboard) seats and the wood/leather steering wheel, changes the leather seating surfaces to "Semi-Aniline", and adds radar cruise control, lane departure alert (LDA), a pre-collision/driver monitor system, and a pair of screens to the front-seat backrests. Each screen can display different content, though only one DVD player is provided.

Somewhat annoyingly, all but some secondary displays on the multimedia touch-screen interface default to the nav system's map after several seconds, so outside temperature, climate mode and satellite radio information are only briefly visible after manually selecting their respective functions. There's also no front-seat override for the rear entertainment systems. At least the always-on Eco and Parking Assist indicators can be turned off through the comprehensive personalization menu.

Third-row access is from the passenger side of the second row, and is best left to small kids who are all that will comfortably fit back there anyway. The second row is far better, and it both slides and folds 40/20/40 to increase cargo capacity.

As before, access from the rear is via a tailgate hinged on the passenger side, although the gate's glass can also now be opened upwards for handling smaller items. A lock on the gate's support strut can be used to prevent it from swinging closed when parked on uneven surfaces.

Only this rearmost part of the cabin seems cost-conscious. The remainder lives up to the standards that you'd expect from a Lexus, with varied textures, real wood and soft contact surfaces.

Lexus believes this vehicle will represent the expected improvement over its predecessor.

It remains to be seen whether consumers outside of Lexus's loyal group of buyers will be as in-tune with the GX 460's more traditional approach in a segment filled with sleeker, more road-oriented competitors.

Travel was provided to freelance writer Brian Early by the automaker.bandb.early@sympatico.ca

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