Lexus GX 470 SUV Review
SUV Reviewer
If the Lexus GX 470 doesn't catch your attention as a prominent luxury SUV, then perhaps you haven't been properly introduced. Beyond luxury looks and interior quality the ride handling and performance of the Lexus GX 470 makes it stand apart. While there are luxury vehicles on the market that have proudly touted their horns and announced their arrival, this one observed from the far end of the field and moved in for the spotlight at just the right moment.
Three row seating, a powerful V8 engine, and an interior that screams in detail makes the Lexus GX 470 the combination of luxury and functional mid size SUV that you've been waiting for. Despite its classic good looks and old school charm, the adventurer can drive this particular luxury SUV to the far corners of the planet. Most owners will prefer to stay a little closer to home but the overall accounts of off road capabilities will remain the same. It performs.
Unfortunately, the Lexus GX 470 hit the market and stole the sunshine during the wrong year. Like many other unfortunate mid size or full size SUVs the crossover market stole quite a bit of business that was meant for the larger workhorses and powerhouses that lead the SUV market. Many of them never bounced back. With fuel prices continually climbing the crossover often just made more sense from an economical point of view, and often still does. The Lexus GX 470 was a victim of poor timing and consumer awareness of the potential environmental impact that inefficient vehicles posed.
On the roadways the Lexus GX 470 gives off an air of excellence, and this can be seen from miles away. The smooth ride resembles that of a refined car rather than an SUV as you cruise down the open road. The quiet cabin certainly allows sleeping children and puppies to remain fast asleep despite wind gusts and other typical road noise that filters into other SUVs. While the cargo space was relatively lean and the fuel economy was less than stellar for long road trips the Lexus GX 470 was a vehicle built for the rough and tumble but often viewed as too upscale to enter into the world of mud, dust, and trails filled with fallen logs.
Eventually this model was quietly rereleased under the GX 460 as a new model. Once 2009 drew to a close for the model year, the 470 was discontinued. There were some lessons learned from the 470 that were taken to heart for the design of the 460. For starters, the undersized 4.7 V8 engine offered a mere 235 horsepower for the first model year. In 2005 the available horsepower increased to a much more reasonable 270. In 2006 there were some new and improved testing procedures for the engine industry and the new testing showed that the 270 horsepower engine was actually a 263 horsepower engine.
Full time 4 wheel drive, low range gearing, and 5 speed automatic transmission was an attractive package even with the downgraded horsepower rating. Tons of interesting and safety enhancing features were added or offered as options including roll sensing features that would alert the side curtain airbags to deploy, navigation system, and rear back up cameras. The Lexus GX 470 was more than just pretty. It was a rough and tough girl who just never got a chance to really strut her stuff with the big boys.
Three row seating, a powerful V8 engine, and an interior that screams in detail makes the Lexus GX 470 the combination of luxury and functional mid size SUV that you've been waiting for. Despite its classic good looks and old school charm, the adventurer can drive this particular luxury SUV to the far corners of the planet. Most owners will prefer to stay a little closer to home but the overall accounts of off road capabilities will remain the same. It performs.
Unfortunately, the Lexus GX 470 hit the market and stole the sunshine during the wrong year. Like many other unfortunate mid size or full size SUVs the crossover market stole quite a bit of business that was meant for the larger workhorses and powerhouses that lead the SUV market. Many of them never bounced back. With fuel prices continually climbing the crossover often just made more sense from an economical point of view, and often still does. The Lexus GX 470 was a victim of poor timing and consumer awareness of the potential environmental impact that inefficient vehicles posed.
On the roadways the Lexus GX 470 gives off an air of excellence, and this can be seen from miles away. The smooth ride resembles that of a refined car rather than an SUV as you cruise down the open road. The quiet cabin certainly allows sleeping children and puppies to remain fast asleep despite wind gusts and other typical road noise that filters into other SUVs. While the cargo space was relatively lean and the fuel economy was less than stellar for long road trips the Lexus GX 470 was a vehicle built for the rough and tumble but often viewed as too upscale to enter into the world of mud, dust, and trails filled with fallen logs.
Eventually this model was quietly rereleased under the GX 460 as a new model. Once 2009 drew to a close for the model year, the 470 was discontinued. There were some lessons learned from the 470 that were taken to heart for the design of the 460. For starters, the undersized 4.7 V8 engine offered a mere 235 horsepower for the first model year. In 2005 the available horsepower increased to a much more reasonable 270. In 2006 there were some new and improved testing procedures for the engine industry and the new testing showed that the 270 horsepower engine was actually a 263 horsepower engine.
Full time 4 wheel drive, low range gearing, and 5 speed automatic transmission was an attractive package even with the downgraded horsepower rating. Tons of interesting and safety enhancing features were added or offered as options including roll sensing features that would alert the side curtain airbags to deploy, navigation system, and rear back up cameras. The Lexus GX 470 was more than just pretty. It was a rough and tough girl who just never got a chance to really strut her stuff with the big boys.
Very informative and detailed description. Always admired the GX 470 but never test drove, sad that it was replaced. Hope to find a deal on a used GX 470!