Lexus GX460 Takes on Land Rover LR3 in Battle of Budget Off-Road SUVs
In a world where off-road-focused luxury SUVs are incredibly expensive, the Lexus GX460 and Land Rover LR3 are two exceptions.
These days, older and even newer off-road-capable SUVs have become incredibly popular, driving prices into an entirely new stratosphere. This is unfortunate for those of us that have always known that vehicles like the Lexus GX and LX provide us with tremendous value, as well as the perfect platform on which to build a competent off-roader. However, there are still a few good deals out there – such as the Lexus GX460 and Land Rover LR3 – both of which YouTuber FJMatt put to the test off the pavement in this entertaining video.
Both of these modern-classic SUVs are mostly stock, though the Lexus GX460 is equipped with a leveling kit and some aftermarket wheels – nothing major, anyway. Both of these vehicles share quite a bit in common otherwise, including their ground clearance, as well as the fact that both are luxurious SUVs with body-on-frame construction, seating for seven, and naturally-aspirated V8 power. Heck, both even generate right around 300 horsepower, interestingly enough.
The question we’re answering here today, however, is how do these modern luxury SUVs compare in various types of rugged off-road conditions? First up, the Land Rover works its way up a hill with a bit of lift, while the Lexus shows off its superior articulation by keeping the tires on the ground. The next hill is covered with loose rock, which proves to be a small challenge for the winter tire-equipped GX. The LR3, on the other hand, struggles mightily.
The final test for these SUVs is a muddy hill, which the Land Rover once again struggles with, but giving it the beans finally gets it over the crest. As for the GX, conquering this obstacle takes a couple of tries as well. Ultimately, our host points out that both are competent off-roaders, but his personal pick is the Lexus. He notes that it feels a bit more “heavy duty,” and it’s more spacious inside, to boot. Personally, we’d throw in the fact that these Land Rovers are notoriously unreliable, while the GX is known for being the opposite, which pretty much makes this an easy decision.
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