2010 Lexus GX 460

Joseph LaMuraglia

The Old Guard in New Garb

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by Ms. Cocoa Efficient
In this time of downsizing, belt-tightening and the ever relentless pursuit of greener transportation, the Lexus GX 460 seems a bit of a relic; the last of the old guard, fuel-thirsty SUVs that so many want to see fade into Olds-blivion. But reality is a cruel mistress, and for all the advantages of a hybrid RX or small BMW X3 the truth is neither can seat seven passengers, tow a horse trailer or forcibly banish left-lane-bandits simply by appearing in their rear view mirrors. No, there are just sometimes in life when you need a big, V8-powered SUV, and the new Lexus GX 460 makes an admirable choice.
My first walk around the new GX left me, well, to be honest a bit under whelmed. Looking 2010_Lexus_GX_460_profile.jpghead on, the design upfront is pure Lexus, clean and modern. But come around to the side and her cuffs and collar don’t match. The enormous distance between the tires and the wheel arches is too pronounced, and the side profile, specifically the rear quarter window, is terribly reminiscent of a hyper exaggerated Mitsubishi Montero Sport. There’s another controversial element around back, where a swing-out rear door occupies the spot usually reserved for a flip-up gate. It’s a bit of love/hate thing, the design being a royal pain in the butt when the vehicle is not on level ground, but also a blessing for the too tall (no more hitting one’s head on the flip-up gate) or the not too tall (not having to jump to reach the pull straps). Lexus has added a locking mechanism to hold the door in place, but its looks and feels like a flimsy vacuum cleaner attachment, and its position outside the door’s protective rubber gasket allows dirt and mud to coat the very place a dainty little lady like myself must grip to operate the lock. Silly.
Salvation from the exterior can be found inside, where the GX 460 lavishes its occupants with 2010_Lexus_GX_460_interior.jpgall manner of technical wizardry, supple leather and really comfy seats. Despite a multitude of switch gear, the GX’s many controls are surprisingly user friendly and intuitive, and the tall, upright seating gives a commanding view of the road ahead. Load up all the options and you get a GX complete with voice-activated hard-drive navigation, a superb 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Intelligent High Beam and a rear seat mini-movie theater complete with two LCD view screens. One of the most useful options is the new Wide-view Front and Side Monitor, which enhances visibility in tight spaces and banishes previously pesky blind spots. If there is a weak spot in the GX’s innards it can be found in the third-row seat. Not only is it horribly lacking in useable leg room, in order to create a level surface when folded, Lexus had to raise the floor about four inches above the rear bumper, adding a rather noticeable rise to the rear deck. From outside the GX, the additional few inches requires an added dose of lifting and grunting to get a day’s worth of Neiman-Marcus bags securely stowed.
Those who know me well know I like my V8 engines like I like my men: strong, smooth and nearly always silent. The new GX 460 meets this requirement and then some. Those with a 2010_Lexus_GX_460_rear.jpgdiscerning eye (I, by the way, have two) will have no doubt noticed a slight numerical reduction in the GX’s name badge. Last year’s GX 470 is this years GX 460, thanks to a new 4.6-liter V8 engine that, although slightly smaller in displacement, produces 38 more bucking broncos and a 13-percent improvement in fuel economy. For those who actually venture off-road, Lexus has armed the GX with a full-time four-wheel-drive system, available Crawl Control and Downhill Assist. Those last two items are to ensure the novice in you doesn’t get in over his head and go careening down Mt. Everest like a Scottish expedition gone horribly wrong. When not bounding through the Band Lands, the GX 460’s adjustable Kinetic Dynamic Suspension smooths out road imperfection and adeptly handles the vehicle’s massive bulk as if were little more than a low-slung sedan.
Overall, the new GX 460 serves a purpose and serves it well. If the high cost of fuel isn’t a detractor, and the styling doesn’t strike you as it does me, then this Lexus could very well be in your garage by week’s end. The GX 460 starts around $52,000 and with all the bells and whistles tops out just over $71,000. The GX 460 is on sale now.