Quick Spin: 2014 Lexus GX 460
12-24-13, 10:03 AM
#16
I have struggled with the 2nd generation GX since it's debut. The 1GX was a handsome truck that seemed to do everything right at the time...perfect size, decent V8, great interior, nice luxury features and it drove nicely as well.
The 2nd generation debuted with awkward styling, an anemic engine in comparison to the competition and very little that truly moved the needle forward over the first generation. Lexus also softened it up a good bit over the first generation, which I personally don't like.
The 4.6L V8 in this truck leaves me scratching my head. Really, Lexus? 301hp to propel 5,150lbs? We have a GX 460 in the family and I've driven it plenty. It never feels slow or sluggish and the engine is fine, but it's not enough when competitors from Mercedes, BMW and Land Rover are packing closer to 350hp or more. Lexus has the 5.7L V8 on the shelf and chose not to drop it into the GX chassis for whatever reason. Similarly, I just can't justify the decision to offer one engine with 301hp and 329 lb-ft of torque, in a vehicle that weighs two and a half tons, this day in age.
The 2GX always looked awkward to me - oversize fender flares, small wheels and crab-eye headlights. The refresh should look better, but it just doesn't. Using the same 18" wheels on an SUV this large, and with such bulbous wheel wells looks out of place. 19s or 20s are a must. The new tail lights actually look good to me, but the front end...I just can't. I love the spindle on every other Lexus, but this is one instance where it just doesn't work. From the massive front overhang to the sheer size of it, this front end looks like the work of a mad scientist. The headlights look disjointed and the way that they integrate into the bumper and grille...it just doesn't work.
I don't know how Lexus got the LX refresh so right, and the GX refresh so wrong:
One area where the 2GX has always been great, and in many ways better than the competition, is inside. The 1GX's interior was nice but the awkward shifter and some other elements were never quite right to me. I absolutely love the interior of the latest model, and while it probably should have remote touch and some other small upgrades for a $60K SUV, I am not bothered by their absence.
As others have said, I look forward to the next generation and have no idea what Lexus will do. With unibody CUVs becoming more off road capable and Lexus not having a true competitor to the MDX, Q7, X5 and Cayenne, I can't see the GX continuing on as a BOF SUV, though it has successfully carved out a niche for itself thus far. I'd like to see Lexus base it on the GS platform since that's lighter, versatile, and can host V6, hybrid and V8 engines. It would take some amount of wizardry to implement a state of the art AWD system, but using Toyota's Dynamic Torque Control as a blueprint would be a good start. I envision the next GX as being a more versatile, performance oriented, midsize CUV with strong off road capability. I guess we'll see in two or so years.
The 2nd generation debuted with awkward styling, an anemic engine in comparison to the competition and very little that truly moved the needle forward over the first generation. Lexus also softened it up a good bit over the first generation, which I personally don't like.
The 4.6L V8 in this truck leaves me scratching my head. Really, Lexus? 301hp to propel 5,150lbs? We have a GX 460 in the family and I've driven it plenty. It never feels slow or sluggish and the engine is fine, but it's not enough when competitors from Mercedes, BMW and Land Rover are packing closer to 350hp or more. Lexus has the 5.7L V8 on the shelf and chose not to drop it into the GX chassis for whatever reason. Similarly, I just can't justify the decision to offer one engine with 301hp and 329 lb-ft of torque, in a vehicle that weighs two and a half tons, this day in age.
The 2GX always looked awkward to me - oversize fender flares, small wheels and crab-eye headlights. The refresh should look better, but it just doesn't. Using the same 18" wheels on an SUV this large, and with such bulbous wheel wells looks out of place. 19s or 20s are a must. The new tail lights actually look good to me, but the front end...I just can't. I love the spindle on every other Lexus, but this is one instance where it just doesn't work. From the massive front overhang to the sheer size of it, this front end looks like the work of a mad scientist. The headlights look disjointed and the way that they integrate into the bumper and grille...it just doesn't work.
I don't know how Lexus got the LX refresh so right, and the GX refresh so wrong:
One area where the 2GX has always been great, and in many ways better than the competition, is inside. The 1GX's interior was nice but the awkward shifter and some other elements were never quite right to me. I absolutely love the interior of the latest model, and while it probably should have remote touch and some other small upgrades for a $60K SUV, I am not bothered by their absence.
As others have said, I look forward to the next generation and have no idea what Lexus will do. With unibody CUVs becoming more off road capable and Lexus not having a true competitor to the MDX, Q7, X5 and Cayenne, I can't see the GX continuing on as a BOF SUV, though it has successfully carved out a niche for itself thus far. I'd like to see Lexus base it on the GS platform since that's lighter, versatile, and can host V6, hybrid and V8 engines. It would take some amount of wizardry to implement a state of the art AWD system, but using Toyota's Dynamic Torque Control as a blueprint would be a good start. I envision the next GX as being a more versatile, performance oriented, midsize CUV with strong off road capability. I guess we'll see in two or so years.
12-24-13, 01:19 PM
#17
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Maximum power: Single turbo: 151 kW (202 hp) @ 3400 rpm;[1] Twin turbo: 195 kW (261 hp) at 3400 rpm[2]
Maximum torque: Single turbo: 430 N·m (317 lb·ft) @ 1200-3200 rpm;[1] Twin turbo: 650 N·m (479 lb·ft) @ 1600-2600 rpm[2]
If you drove the single turbo then yes I wouldn't be surprised, but the twin-turbo with nearly as much power at 260hp but way more torque at 479 ft-lbs ought to move it along nicely. Our X5 would definitely be a dog with only 200hp, but at least it'd still be a fairly economical dog. As it stands now, the GX not being very quick and still drinking fuel isn't a good combination (see also IS250)
12-24-13, 03:37 PM
#18
Per wikipedia there's two variants of the engine, single and twin turbo.
Maximum power: Single turbo: 151 kW (202 hp) @ 3400 rpm;[1] Twin turbo: 195 kW (261 hp) at 3400 rpm[2]
Maximum torque: Single turbo: 430 N·m (317 lb·ft) @ 1200-3200 rpm;[1] Twin turbo: 650 N·m (479 lb·ft) @ 1600-2600 rpm[2]
If you drove the single turbo then yes I wouldn't be surprised, but the twin-turbo with nearly as much power at 260hp but way more torque at 479 ft-lbs ought to move it along nicely. Our X5 would definitely be a dog with only 200hp, but at least it'd still be a fairly economical dog. As it stands now, the GX not being very quick and still drinking fuel isn't a good combination (see also IS250)
Maximum power: Single turbo: 151 kW (202 hp) @ 3400 rpm;[1] Twin turbo: 195 kW (261 hp) at 3400 rpm[2]
Maximum torque: Single turbo: 430 N·m (317 lb·ft) @ 1200-3200 rpm;[1] Twin turbo: 650 N·m (479 lb·ft) @ 1600-2600 rpm[2]
If you drove the single turbo then yes I wouldn't be surprised, but the twin-turbo with nearly as much power at 260hp but way more torque at 479 ft-lbs ought to move it along nicely. Our X5 would definitely be a dog with only 200hp, but at least it'd still be a fairly economical dog. As it stands now, the GX not being very quick and still drinking fuel isn't a good combination (see also IS250)
Specs are not all that matter in cars, in fact paper specs matter little. We had both petrol and diesel v8 and petrol was superior in everything but fuel consumption, vastly superior.
12-24-13, 07:46 PM
#19
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Then Toyota must not have even the slightest clue of how to design a proper diesel powertrain. What's so bad with their diesel? Lots of lag? Improper gearing and/or shift-mapping? Powerband is too narrow? What? The BMW diesels are brilliant. Same weight, similar power specs, both 6-speed automatics, both full-time AWD systems. Our X5 flies and gets 28-30 mpg on highway trips if you drive properly.
12-24-13, 08:35 PM
#20
GX is an ok vehicle, but for the price it's not the exactly plush. The plastic around the memory seats and power mirrors is poor and somewhat waxy, the door handles feel like cheap plastic and where the black meets the silver is evident to the touch. The large silver bezel around the navigation and center console while nice in finish does feel cheap to the touch. Glove is very flimsy. The wood is rich and genuine and the bezels around the steering wheel buttons are some of the best Lexus uses.
12-24-13, 11:28 PM
#21
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Have to say I'm happy with the 2014 GX for the most part. I wouldn't put 20 in. wheels as stock. If others want to customize their own GX then that's fine but the 18 in. wheels work great. It's smooth and the 20 in. wheels will add weight to the GX.
Just took a trip to Vegas and the GX handled very well and was very comfortable. As for the gas mileage it's a big jump from the CT. I understand what the GX is all about and happy with what it offers...
I wouldn't say the GX is all alone in it's class. The Cadillac Escalade is a competitor to the GX. The Escalade has a 6.2L V8 engine with 403hp and 6 speed transmission.
http://autos.yahoo.com/cadillac/esca.../platinum-awd/
The Escalade is nice but I'd rather keep my GX 460...
Just took a trip to Vegas and the GX handled very well and was very comfortable. As for the gas mileage it's a big jump from the CT. I understand what the GX is all about and happy with what it offers...
I wouldn't say the GX is all alone in it's class. The Cadillac Escalade is a competitor to the GX. The Escalade has a 6.2L V8 engine with 403hp and 6 speed transmission.
http://autos.yahoo.com/cadillac/esca.../platinum-awd/
The Escalade is nice but I'd rather keep my GX 460...
Last edited by Trexus; 12-26-13 at 01:51 AM.
12-25-13, 02:51 PM
#22
The GX isn't well suited for US, but its derivatives are great for many other countries, especially where it will see some offroad duty. You don't want a modern high tech engine for such application.
For US market they should just discontinue the GX and release something more exciting.
For US market they should just discontinue the GX and release something more exciting.
12-26-13, 01:43 PM
#23
Lexus Fanatic
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12-26-13, 01:53 PM
#25
Lexus Fanatic
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just looked at gx options, and seems if i want radar cruise i have to get the 'everything' option package, bringing the car to $70k.
i just looked at a range rover sport supercharged v8 with similar options (a spectacular vehicle by the way), and yeah it comes out to $87k, but it's on a different planet in terms of luxury and customization options.
the gx is offered with EXTREMELY limited option configurations and starts at 61k. just not a serious effort. a jeep grand cherokee is probably a better choice (and way better looking).
i just looked at a range rover sport supercharged v8 with similar options (a spectacular vehicle by the way), and yeah it comes out to $87k, but it's on a different planet in terms of luxury and customization options.
the gx is offered with EXTREMELY limited option configurations and starts at 61k. just not a serious effort. a jeep grand cherokee is probably a better choice (and way better looking).
12-26-13, 02:50 PM
#26
Lexus Test Driver
A pleasant enough vehicle, but Lexus is off the rocker with the front-end styling.
12-26-13, 03:31 PM
#27
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
^^^^^^ lol 
12-27-13, 01:14 PM
#28
Lexus Fanatic
I have always loved the GX but have found the price similar to the Infiniti QX56 that is bigger and ,imho a bit better looking. I would lease the Infiniti but buy the Lexus
