Yes, I admit I forgot about the Infiniti QX80, it is also a body-on-frame SUV, but in all fairness, everyone else has forgotten about the QX as well... (Navigator and Escalade are in kind of an odd category to their own, they aren't really GX competitors)
@@Tully3674 It used to be, but since the Dakota was discontinued in 2011, it was built on the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform. It's unibody, but it has towing rating that competes, and is probably better than many of its body on frame competitors.
Damn Alex!!! This review was 100% real life!! Down to running into those downed trees and cutting em up and out of the way!!! Thanks for the dedication and this upload!!!
I picked up a 2008 GX470 with 120,000 miles for $11,000 last year. Absolutely insane value for the money. Drives like its new. Great power and a beast in the snow with snow tires on. Only mechanical update so far has been a new radiator.
Great review. Focuses on the good of the GX not just the fuel mileage, lack of updates and body on frame. Have a 2011 and it's still looks current in most peoples eyes. Whether they look outside or inside. That's a plus. The comments about long term reliability are spot on and the biggest reason I bought this over a BMW X5. I will gladly pay more in fuel for a vehicle that will keep rolling for another 10 years. Keep up the great work Alex.
@@bidenwearsdiapers4026 No air suspension on mine. And to be honest I would have kept looking if mine did have that option. The Lexus air suspension is pretty reliable but costly like the Mercedes and BMW systems to repair when it breaks.
@@philcampeau wait, I’m a bit confused. I thought all GXs came with the ‘air ride’ air bag type suspension? Otherwise I’m back in the market for a 2017-2019 GX. It’s either a 4Runner TRD off-road or the GX.
@@bidenwearsdiapers4026 No sir they do not all come with air suspension. Check whether you are looking at a model with Levinson sound system. That will probably have air suspension. Without the Levinsion sound system most likely to be on springs. Easy to check as they all have a ton of ground clearance :)
Holy crap, when you first pulled up to that tree I was like oh, it's just a couple of bushes, and then you got out and I was like oh, that's a big ass tree.
Well, i just bought this car 5 months ago, and i love my gx460 a lot more than my previous car, gs350! Gx certainly doesn’t feel nimble but it’s soooo comfy.
Quality Landscape and Hauling Co sedeno i mean gs handles better and all but i just love better sight that gx offers and super soft suspensions. Like i said, the car is so comfy. Only thing that i dont like about gx is that how old the interior looks.
Quality Landscape and Hauling Co sedeno gs gave me about 17 mpg and gx gives me about 14 mpg. But i mostly drive around a city. I feel like you would be more comfortable in a gx but if i were you, i would definitely spend some time test driving both cars.
100% love me GX. Couple changes I would like to see: throw away the third row (useless in my opinion); update the infotainment (but keep those hard buttons); shave the nose for a little more approach angle; and, add vertical lumbar support. With these changes, I think the GX would be pretty close to perfect.
Thank us Aussies for the side swing tailgate. It's where the spare is mounted on most versions of the Prado. They are incredibly popular over here for off road/remote touring.
@@gladdy02 yeah but there’s a big difference: the Durango is a fiat Chrysler product. Sorry, Stellantis product The GX despite being a glorified Toyota is a Toyota which is a good thing
I mean, yeah it's a V8 and a great vehicle but it's the most anemic V8 money can buy. The GX is an absolute slug to drive around, but is a cool vehicle all around that looks great inside and out.
@@sly9263 it’s “anemic” because it’s still a port injected engine. It’s self cleaning and not going to need the intake cleaning and maintenance that newer direct injection engines need. Trade off is mpg and performance but it’s a heavy suv not a race car. It has plenty of go for what it supposed to do.
@@butkusrules08 It's anemic because it's a small, port injected v8. The Tundra is the same weight as the GX or a few hundred pounds heavier yet feels significantly better with the 5.7. It's all relative; of course it has plenty of go, but it doesn't change the fact it feels quite weak compared to modern V6 and V8s. It's got 100 horse at 2500 rpms. A Tundra at the same weight using a port injected V8 has 50% more power at that point. PS I own a GX and love it for what it is, I just think it's an extremely underpowered vehicle- I couldn't even imagine driving a 4runner.
My parents have a 2015 GX 460 (Without the headrest screens and the captain's seats) and I was a bit tickled by how little it has changed, with the exception of the grille in the front and the ventilated seats. And your description of how it handles is exactly as how you described it. Still, I like Lexus' "If it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality when it comes to this SUV. It looks modern enough that the average passer by who doesn't review cars for a living would still think its a very current SUV. Rolling strong at 48k miles.
Great thing about these is that you can go all the way back to 2010 models and your buying the same basic vehicle. Plus, the first few years don’t have that giant Alien grill.
We just purchased a 2017 GX460 Premium. Your review is pretty much our experience so far. Saying that, I love this vehicle. I previously had a 2002 RX300 and the transmission gave out at 181,000 miles. I loved that vehicle as well. But they are two completely different vehicles. The RX300 was quite a bit faster and AWD too. Much better gas mileage. But it couldn't haul our 21 ft SeaRay boat. This can comfortably. It rides beautifully. It is sluggish on acceleration and braking, though not terribly. It comes with the trade off of bigger engine and heavier vehicle. That said, we love it.
I really appreciated the clear and thorough explanation of the differences between a body-on-frame SUV and a unibody crossover. I had a 2007 GX and loved a lot about it, but space efficiency and mpg were not very good. I hope that Lexus redesigns and reissues a new GX retaining the vehicle's strengths, but addressing some of the deficiencies. I think there is a place for that kind of SUV.
@@James-il3tq You know I have a 2016 GX 460 Luxury and i just added Android auto and apple carplay by adding Grom Vline VL2 Ugrade module. it uses the Aux input.I now use waze or Google maps, spotify and Pandora as well. whatever you can download from the Gapp you can use. check out gromaudio.com
Do you guys know that the MultiTerrain select switch is available but not activated in GX up to 2019 . The Canadian versions have them. all it is , is a switch on the module behind the glove compartment . The US version only has the Crawl control available. I now have both in my 2016 GX 460. You can search the youtube videos and Lexus forums for it. Just FYI... cheers.. love my GX!!
The GX is an awesome vehicle! I went out with a couple friends from work who have a couple newer F-150’s I think 2016 FX4’s I dunno what they were doing wrong as I’m pretty sure the F150 could be quite capable but they kept getting stuck, it seemed lack of articulation, they almost always had a wheel off the ground and the ride they were complaining about the ride comfort. I switched mine to “comfort”. There was this hill one of them went to go up and he was just spinning his wheels maybe he didn’t lock something? I put my 2003 GX470 in low and locked the center diff. It crawled right up. My GX is 100% stock not even any fancy tires just a set of all season Michelins. It’s not the perfect vehicle but I really like it a lot more than I thought I would.
This is the best GX460 overview video I've seen. I really appreciate the added commentary about how the suspension system works, how the four-wheel drive system works, etc.
Replaced my 2017 640i Gran Coupe with the brand new 2020 GX 460. Being 23 years old, I'm constantly being made a fun of as people wonder I'm stupid to buy a car that they think "old guys" drive. Little do they know what a monster it is. Only car that sort of competes because of the narrower size of the vehicle is Nissan Patrol Super safari which is the Y61 they sell here in Dubai. Full size land cruisers and G wagon are just a bit too thirsty.
Yes, totally agree!! We own a ‘16 GX Prem and waiting for Lexus to address the core missing things so we can move to a newer one. Would love to see way better front seats (ours are very uncomfy), the 8 speed from the LX, a bump in power (don’t want DI), updated infotainment sys (do not add the dumb joystick like the LX), standard trans cooler, off-road mode selection standard, 18” wheel option across board since 19’s less tire choices and not as good off-road, higher approach angle on non-sport pkg model, add optional locking diffs pkg, up the towing to 7500, bring back the higher quality steering wheel and shift knobs and get rid of the older Lexus interior pieces that are too dated, and add more soft touch materials across board. Would be more than willing to pay for those changes! Oh yeah, bump in fuel tank size, she’s thirsty!
Alex values modern tech power handling acceleration, too many gears or cradling the leather dashboard or real wood trim over anything else. I guarantee if his Durango had a fiat or Alfa Romeo logo he’d still buy it
EASY!! It boils down to their demographics. older folks whom buy this kind of Dinosaur(I mean that in a positive way as I too have one, and I'm 50+) aren't into the tech-y stuff as much as the younger than 50 crowd.
To answer Alex’s question: it seems like it would be a simple matter to design more comfy seats, (2) add a couple of gears to the transmission for quicker acceleration and better highway mpg; (3) use the port/direct injection system from the version of this engine in the LS 460 sedan and get 80 more hp and better low rpm torque; (4) add Apple CarPlay and Android auto capability to keep the millennials happy; and lose some of the lower body cladding to improve approach/departure/break over angles. Realize that this now appeals to an off-road oriented crowd. The grille is ridiculous, but it’s no worse than on any other current Lexus vehicle.
My sister's Toyota LC from 2001 was the love of her life for all the long haul trips they used to take. Finally MPG forced them to sell (with 180,000 miles or so) and now there's no love for the 2016 Forester that replaced it ;( ...I do see many similarities from that old thing (MPG) but it was easy to pile on the miles! Thanks Alex!
My wife bought the 2020 Lexus GX 460 despite NOT wanting to be seen in a Luxury brand, because it had more comfortable ride and front seats than Toyota 4 Runner and Sienna which she also considered. We own older cars and don't care for the hard uncomfortable seats in many late model cars. We did like the seats in the Ford Explorer, which we also considered, but preferred Toyota/Lexus reliability over Ford and body on frame construction for towing and perceived safety. We also preferred the V8 and heavier tow capacity over the 4 Runner and Explorer. Fuel economy is a downside, but the V8 with 6 speed should stand up well. This will replace a 2002 Explorer which was totaled when it hit a concrete wall at highway speed (Vehicle stood up well considering and the driver walked away, thus we prefer the body on frame design though aware of crush zones etc on other designs.) Other vehicles we have owned and liked were Toyota Highlander, Previa, Honda Odyssey, and Jeep Grand Wagoneer (older full size).
This was a very good unbiased review. I was going to question your scoring but since you fairly pointed out that you were specifically comparing it to other competitors. In that case, I suppose it makes sense. Still, in the general sense, it's hard to give it an A for fuel economy (it's poor), A- in noise and ride quality is being very generous. Good point about the tires. I agree with the C for handling and I would add general overall performance like braking/stopping and acceleration. If Safety is an important consideration, you might want to mention that as far as I know, this has never been crash rated (wonder why?) Body on frames usually don't do too well in that area vs. uni-body. They are too rigid- it's great for off-road and towing, but they don't give much which can lead to whiplash and more injuries in some cases. In fairness, against a smaller, lighter vehicle they can fare well. This is mostly due simply to their high weight, mass and momentum. For most people, who don't need strong off-road capability, the RX is hands down better in nearly every category (inferior AWD system though vs. capable true 4x4 in the GX.) If off-roading is a primary focus, a 3-5 year old Land Cruiser is a tremendous value and rock solid.
Despite the GX being so old (and most of Toyota's trucks), it really is a great SUV. I think Toyota has found a niche with their current lineup of trucks. They're outdated, but so charming. When I was in the market for an SUV, I wanted something that was body-on-frame, and reliable and the GX just fit that bill so perfectly. A lot of people/reviewers complain that the GX and even the 4Runner are outdated but what everyone doesn't realize is if you want something more technologically advanced, Toyota offers that with the RX and Highlander. I can't wait to see what Toyota has in store for their lineup of trucks though.
I've had a rx 350 and gx470. Lexus uses the loudest tires they can find. Loved both of them, the GX wasn't particularly fast, fuel efficient or updated, but it was our favorite. When I'm done paying for car and college for the kids we're going back to a GX. They can be found with low miles, and maintenance records as lease returns. Lexus and toyota owners are some of the best about maintenance records.at the dealership
I wonder how often Lexus loses a sale , simply for having outdated tech in their vehicles. I for one was put off for buying one at least once where I went to the dealer to actually purchase a vehicle and look at the infotainment system and literally just walked away completely from the deal simply because it had an outdated system. I think you can sometimes live without the latest transmission or engine choices if it's a really solid and reliable choice. But for premium cars , you should expect for the vehicle to come with the latest cutting edge technology package.
The Prado, 4Runner, and GX are all built on the same production line, on the very same J150 platform. So to say it isn’t related to the 4Runner is not correct.
@@BigMac7091I’m well aware that they have different drivetrains. That doesn’t change the fact that they are built on the same frame, with the same hard points, on the same production line in Japan.
I'm stuck. Our 2007 has been exceptional for 13+ years and 155k miles. It's still tight, strong, comfortable and hands-down the most-reliable vehicle we've ever owned. But it's also going to become our soon-to-be-teenage-driver's SUV. So we're looking for the new family SUV. We don't wheel or tow anymore, and I want a Cayenne. Badly. But am terrified of the running costs. BMW would be great, but likely 3x the repair/ownership cost of a Cayenne (have had both brands so have the experience of enthusiasm-crushing pain from truly baffling repair bills). Audi/VW? Hah. Thanks for making the Lexus reliability point at 28:29, Alex. The Lexus RX rides too poorly around town and on the highway (stiff and loud). About the closest unit-body solution I can think of that checks the handling, ride, comfort, design and reliability/cost-to-own boxes I'd *like* to see is - surprisingly enough - the Mazda CX-9. Thoughts?
BTW KDSS isn't passive, the accumulators are blocked above 12MPH, and open below 12mph, if you unplug the accumulators then they are completely passive and "open" to allow for a smoother ride at higher speeds.
Entire industry lost it soul by moving away from body on frame and into unibody. SUV title should be reserved for body on frame... Call a unibody a crossover...Good to see Ford doing something about it in 2021 with its new products.
The answer is its both. The problem is the 2005-2008 model was better than this The upside is this is very reasonably priced compared to the competition
I test rode a used 2016 GX460 last year and absolutely loved the ride, the interior and the rear hatch. Models back then didn't have the stupid ground spoilers or even worse looking grill like they do now. I really do hate the newer grill design and I was almost going to accept it for the other features and reliability. The GX460 has been voted the most reliable vehicle for a few years now. Fortunately we found a used Toyota Land Cruiser for the same price as a new 4Runner TRD Pro and purchased that instead. No funky grill, more interior space, uses regular gasoline and we don't have to worry about the front bumper scratching when we take it offroad. For a 2nd vehicle, I wouldn't hesitate on buying an older gx460 that has the older Lexus grill.
Alex - you said you were surprised at the elevated noise level, particularly the tire noise. Note that the 2021 GX now has standard front side acoustic laminated glass. I wonder if that helps?
My brother has a GX. I told him to sell it to me if he ever sells it. I am still waiting while I drive my Mercedes ML 400 and Audi SQ5. These German cars are a tank with no problems but I still want his GX.
I think with a body redesign, without changing the frame, they could continue to produce this thing for years to come. I mean full blown interior redesign, ground up. While this gets the job done, its very dated for its price point, and lexus has a history of that.
The Carplay/Android Auto issue is easily solved by adding the Grom VLine 2 for under $700. I just ordered mine today. GX also doesn't come with digital Covid testing, facial recognition, location tracing, butt massage or gender swap software. But that's okay. I think I can live without those modern conveniences.
The weird thing is that the Prado was refreshed a few years ago and now has a significantly more modern interior than the GX. No idea why they didn't update the GX at the same time.
Volume. Prado is a worldwide model, manufactured in a few different places. It is considered a "king of the road" and a brand ambassador in many countries.
I opted for the LX 570 simply for the leg room, other than that for me this SUV is 5 star all the way. I am getting 14 MPG combined which is not bad compared to my Honda Pilot which gets 15 to 16 MPG on most days.
Alex, Dinosaur? Unlike the dubious Daewoo you reviewed in your last video, the unrivaled QDR this GX offers will never go out of style. With a 2 door Wrangler, a 2 door Bronco and a 2 door Defender coming soon, how much longer will Toyota/Lexus wait to bring a 2 door 4X4 to this market?
@@zmhd1987A 2 Door 4Runner would need to be put into production but the 2 door Prado already rolls down the same line that produces the 4Runner and GX.
Yes, I admit I forgot about the Infiniti QX80, it is also a body-on-frame SUV, but in all fairness, everyone else has forgotten about the QX as well... (Navigator and Escalade are in kind of an odd category to their own, they aren't really GX competitors)
Isn't the Durango body on frame?
@@Tully3674 It used to be, but since the Dakota was discontinued in 2011, it was built on the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform. It's unibody, but it has towing rating that competes, and is probably better than many of its body on frame competitors.
QX80 still sells a lot well atleast compared to LX570
Tully3674 he’ is only talking about luxury brands. Dodge isn’t a luxury brand.
Zing!
This is a timeless piece. It’s almost like a nice old watch. Just keeps working without any gimmicks
That is a very apt comparison.
a guy with shirt tucked in will always provide a good reliable information. 😀
Absolutely - I much prefer the Seinfeld look. 🤣
Damn Alex!!! This review was 100% real life!! Down to running into those downed trees and cutting em up and out of the way!!! Thanks for the dedication and this upload!!!
I picked up a 2008 GX470 with 120,000 miles for $11,000 last year. Absolutely insane value for the money. Drives like its new. Great power and a beast in the snow with snow tires on. Only mechanical update so far has been a new radiator.
Probably not in California where I am for that price.
Even better deal 2 years later.
Nothing stops Alex. He just cuts and rips through everything!!!
Nothing stops a Toyota. Maybe tariffs.
Lol
Great review. Focuses on the good of the GX not just the fuel mileage, lack of updates and body on frame. Have a 2011 and it's still looks current in most peoples eyes. Whether they look outside or inside. That's a plus. The comments about long term reliability are spot on and the biggest reason I bought this over a BMW X5. I will gladly pay more in fuel for a vehicle that will keep rolling for another 10 years. Keep up the great work Alex.
I would too lol. Modern efficient technology is often complex and it could fail and cost you in repairs. Then
Phil, did you experience issues with the air suspension?
@@bidenwearsdiapers4026 No air suspension on mine. And to be honest I would have kept looking if mine did have that option. The Lexus air suspension is pretty reliable but costly like the Mercedes and BMW systems to repair when it breaks.
@@philcampeau wait, I’m a bit confused. I thought all GXs came with the ‘air ride’ air bag type suspension? Otherwise I’m back in the market for a 2017-2019 GX. It’s either a 4Runner TRD off-road or the GX.
@@bidenwearsdiapers4026 No sir they do not all come with air suspension. Check whether you are looking at a model with Levinson sound system. That will probably have air suspension. Without the Levinsion sound system most likely to be on springs. Easy to check as they all have a ton of ground clearance :)
I love the hell outta this truck. Only thing that can take it out is a meteor, but even then...
Truly a zombie apocalypse rig!
I absolutely LOVE my 13 GX. Its just perfect in ever regard. Infotainment means nothing to me, I just enjoy driving it that much.
It’s NOT a truck...
@@beastbee0118 yes it is. Body on frame. Read a book
Holy crap, when you first pulled up to that tree I was like oh, it's just a couple of bushes, and then you got out and I was like oh, that's a big ass tree.
damn camera angle.
Indeed Alex looked mighty tiny compared to that tree 😁
My favorite rolling dinosaur. I have a 16' GX with 40k worry free miles.
Almost through the break-in period eh? ;)
@@djw1091994 nope, break -in period is at 200k, Mine is 08 with 248k, still runs like brand new
...well, I have a 2011 with (approximately) 48k miles, and I'm loving/enjoying it!👍
@@mensajecargo-bezaleel still new.
@@VARITHMS... I guess! It's an old new car!🤔
This is not the first time see Alex cutting down trees blocking the road. :) real life experience for people who need gx460.
I have a 2004 GX and it is a solid, reliable, comfortable, tank of a vehicle. Smooth.
Well, i just bought this car 5 months ago, and i love my gx460 a lot more than my previous car, gs350! Gx certainly doesn’t feel nimble but it’s soooo comfy.
You really love this truck more than the gs350 ?? I'm undecided between the gs and the gx. What do you like more about the GX than the GS ?
Quality Landscape and Hauling Co sedeno i mean gs handles better and all but i just love better sight that gx offers and super soft suspensions. Like i said, the car is so comfy. Only thing that i dont like about gx is that how old the interior looks.
@@horoganna I'm a 6ft , 260 lbs guy. So I need a vehicle that I can fit in comfortably and a vehicle that rides smooth.
@@horoganna How is the mpg ?
Quality Landscape and Hauling Co sedeno gs gave me about 17 mpg and gx gives me about 14 mpg. But i mostly drive around a city. I feel like you would be more comfortable in a gx but if i were you, i would definitely spend some time test driving both cars.
"BMW's are endless money pits when the warranty runs out". Scotty Kilmer :)
For people that lease or buy for 4-7 years scotty is irrelevent.
100% love me GX. Couple changes I would like to see: throw away the third row (useless in my opinion); update the infotainment (but keep those hard buttons); shave the nose for a little more approach angle; and, add vertical lumbar support. With these changes, I think the GX would be pretty close to perfect.
Thank us Aussies for the side swing tailgate. It's where the spare is mounted on most versions of the Prado. They are incredibly popular over here for off road/remote touring.
Thankyou!!
In Japan the prado is a utility vehicle that can be loaded with a forklift lol
Its great for tall (6’4”) drivers like me
Love this suv. A proper suv just like it’s siblings.
Old school with a V8 thats why it sells!!!
Could that logic go for the durango?
@@gladdy02 yeah but there’s a big difference:
the Durango is a fiat Chrysler product. Sorry, Stellantis product
The GX despite being a glorified Toyota is a Toyota which is a good thing
I mean, yeah it's a V8 and a great vehicle but it's the most anemic V8 money can buy. The GX is an absolute slug to drive around, but is a cool vehicle all around that looks great inside and out.
@@sly9263 it’s “anemic” because it’s still a port injected engine. It’s self cleaning and not going to need the intake cleaning and maintenance that newer direct injection engines need. Trade off is mpg and performance but it’s a heavy suv not a race car. It has plenty of go for what it supposed to do.
@@butkusrules08 It's anemic because it's a small, port injected v8. The Tundra is the same weight as the GX or a few hundred pounds heavier yet feels significantly better with the 5.7. It's all relative; of course it has plenty of go, but it doesn't change the fact it feels quite weak compared to modern V6 and V8s. It's got 100 horse at 2500 rpms. A Tundra at the same weight using a port injected V8 has 50% more power at that point. PS I own a GX and love it for what it is, I just think it's an extremely underpowered vehicle- I couldn't even imagine driving a 4runner.
If it's not broken, don't fix it.
- Lexus.
Exactly
I love every time you wear that "born without a personality" shirt! Way to respond to the internet denizens!
Longtime subscriber, first time poster. The section with the downed tree was HILARIOUS!!
Love your vids.
My parents have a 2015 GX 460 (Without the headrest screens and the captain's seats) and I was a bit tickled by how little it has changed, with the exception of the grille in the front and the ventilated seats. And your description of how it handles is exactly as how you described it. Still, I like Lexus' "If it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality when it comes to this SUV. It looks modern enough that the average passer by who doesn't review cars for a living would still think its a very current SUV. Rolling strong at 48k miles.
I love this man's review and lack of outright bias. His review goes over almost all of the things I want to know about the car.
Great thing about these is that you can go all the way back to 2010 models and your buying the same basic vehicle. Plus, the first few years don’t have that giant Alien grill.
We just purchased a 2017 GX460 Premium. Your review is pretty much our experience so far. Saying that, I love this vehicle. I previously had a 2002 RX300 and the transmission gave out at 181,000 miles. I loved that vehicle as well. But they are two completely different vehicles. The RX300 was quite a bit faster and AWD too. Much better gas mileage. But it couldn't haul our 21 ft SeaRay boat. This can comfortably. It rides beautifully. It is sluggish on acceleration and braking, though not terribly. It comes with the trade off of bigger engine and heavier vehicle. That said, we love it.
I really appreciated the clear and thorough explanation of the differences between a body-on-frame SUV and a unibody crossover. I had a 2007 GX and loved a lot about it, but space efficiency and mpg were not very good. I hope that Lexus redesigns and reissues a new GX retaining the vehicle's strengths, but addressing some of the deficiencies. I think there is a place for that kind of SUV.
It's coming 2031.
What do you think of the new GX now that it’s been released?
I am straight but still love Alex. no one explains it better than Alex. Good job man.
Keep it as-is and Just put CarPlay in it already ...!
And android auto, wireless preferred 🙏
Yup. That's all I've been waiting for
Yah that’s about it!!! Thing is solid 💪🏻
@@James-il3tq You know I have a 2016 GX 460 Luxury and i just added Android auto and apple carplay by adding Grom Vline VL2 Ugrade module. it uses the Aux input.I now use waze or Google maps, spotify and Pandora as well. whatever you can download from the Gapp you can use. check out gromaudio.com
Do you guys know that the MultiTerrain select switch is available but not activated in GX up to 2019 . The Canadian versions have them. all it is , is a switch on the module behind the glove compartment . The US version only has the Crawl control available. I now have both in my 2016 GX 460. You can search the youtube videos and Lexus forums for it.
Just FYI... cheers.. love my GX!!
The GX is an awesome vehicle! I went out with a couple friends from work who have a couple newer F-150’s I think 2016 FX4’s I dunno what they were doing wrong as I’m pretty sure the F150 could be quite capable but they kept getting stuck, it seemed lack of articulation, they almost always had a wheel off the ground and the ride they were complaining about the ride comfort. I switched mine to “comfort”. There was this hill one of them went to go up and he was just spinning his wheels maybe he didn’t lock something? I put my 2003 GX470 in low and locked the center diff. It crawled right up. My GX is 100% stock not even any fancy tires just a set of all season Michelins. It’s not the perfect vehicle but I really like it a lot more than I thought I would.
This is the best GX460 overview video I've seen. I really appreciate the added commentary about how the suspension system works, how the four-wheel drive system works, etc.
Replaced my 2017 640i Gran Coupe with the brand new 2020 GX 460. Being 23 years old, I'm constantly being made a fun of as people wonder I'm stupid to buy a car that they think "old guys" drive. Little do they know what a monster it is. Only car that sort of competes because of the narrower size of the vehicle is Nissan Patrol Super safari which is the Y61 they sell here in Dubai. Full size land cruisers and G wagon are just a bit too thirsty.
One of the better comprehensive reviews of Gx I’ve seen- great job. When I saw fallen tree, I thought it was a set up by some local bandits. 😆
Thanks Alex! Excellent review as always.
I have a 13 GX w/luxury package. Easily my most favorite vehicle.
Yes, totally agree!! We own a ‘16 GX Prem and waiting for Lexus to address the core missing things so we can move to a newer one. Would love to see way better front seats (ours are very uncomfy), the 8 speed from the LX, a bump in power (don’t want DI), updated infotainment sys (do not add the dumb joystick like the LX), standard trans cooler, off-road mode selection standard, 18” wheel option across board since 19’s less tire choices and not as good off-road, higher approach angle on non-sport pkg model, add optional locking diffs pkg, up the towing to 7500, bring back the higher quality steering wheel and shift knobs and get rid of the older Lexus interior pieces that are too dated, and add more soft touch materials across board. Would be more than willing to pay for those changes! Oh yeah, bump in fuel tank size, she’s thirsty!
My wife and i have a 2015 and we love it.
We need a new segment - Alex on Woodworking or Alex on Wilderness
We just traded in our 2016 on a 2020 yesterday. Bulletproof and simple. We love it.
This guy lost me at “went with Durango over a GX”
Alex values modern tech power handling acceleration, too many gears or cradling the leather dashboard or real wood trim over anything else. I guarantee if his Durango had a fiat or Alfa Romeo logo he’d still buy it
Thanks Alex! GX won't have carplay or Android auto like it's land cruiser prado cousin...I just don't understand Lexus 🤷♂️
But it does have Amazon Alexa for 2021 🤣
It was a privacy concern from Toyota I believe
@@dygardion9130 the rest of their cars have it now though lol
EASY!! It boils down to their demographics. older folks whom buy this kind of Dinosaur(I mean that in a positive way as I too have one, and I'm 50+) aren't into the tech-y stuff as much as the younger than 50 crowd.
yoink they worked something out I suppose I’m glad because I bought the 2020 Camry hybrid and it has it and it’s amazing lol thank god
To answer Alex’s question: it seems like it would be a simple matter to design more comfy seats, (2) add a couple of gears to the transmission for quicker acceleration and better highway mpg; (3) use the port/direct injection system from the version of this engine in the LS 460 sedan and get 80 more hp and better low rpm torque; (4) add Apple CarPlay and Android auto capability to keep the millennials happy; and lose some of the lower body cladding to improve approach/departure/break over angles. Realize that this now appeals to an off-road oriented crowd. The grille is ridiculous, but it’s no worse than on any other current Lexus vehicle.
All the things you said are what make it amazing, not negatives
My sister's Toyota LC from 2001 was the love of her life for all the long haul trips they used to take. Finally MPG forced them to sell (with 180,000 miles or so) and now there's no love for the 2016 Forester that replaced it ;( ...I do see many similarities from that old thing (MPG) but it was easy to pile on the miles! Thanks Alex!
My wife bought the 2020 Lexus GX 460 despite NOT wanting to be seen in a Luxury brand, because it had more comfortable ride and front seats than Toyota 4 Runner and Sienna which she also considered. We own older cars and don't care for the hard uncomfortable seats in many late model cars. We did like the seats in the Ford Explorer, which we also considered, but preferred Toyota/Lexus reliability over Ford and body on frame construction for towing and perceived safety. We also preferred the V8 and heavier tow capacity over the 4 Runner and Explorer. Fuel economy is a downside, but the V8 with 6 speed should stand up well. This will replace a 2002 Explorer which was totaled when it hit a concrete wall at highway speed (Vehicle stood up well considering and the driver walked away, thus we prefer the body on frame design though aware of crush zones etc on other designs.) Other vehicles we have owned and liked were Toyota Highlander, Previa, Honda Odyssey, and Jeep Grand Wagoneer (older full size).
Same here. I don't want to be seen in luxury brand too. Wish Toyota Land Cruiser Prado sells in US.
Best review of any vehicle I've ever seen.... Guy knows his stuff .
The GX and LX are Bullet proof! I have owned several and never had any problems!
Excellent job explaining every detail, just purchased one and I now know even more on this vehicle. Thanks
This was a very good unbiased review. I was going to question your scoring but since you fairly pointed out that you were specifically comparing it to other competitors. In that case, I suppose it makes sense. Still, in the general sense, it's hard to give it an A for fuel economy (it's poor), A- in noise and ride quality is being very generous. Good point about the tires. I agree with the C for handling and I would add general overall performance like braking/stopping and acceleration. If Safety is an important consideration, you might want to mention that as far as I know, this has never been crash rated (wonder why?) Body on frames usually don't do too well in that area vs. uni-body. They are too rigid- it's great for off-road and towing, but they don't give much which can lead to whiplash and more injuries in some cases. In fairness, against a smaller, lighter vehicle they can fare well. This is mostly due simply to their high weight, mass and momentum. For most people, who don't need strong off-road capability, the RX is hands down better in nearly every category (inferior AWD system though vs. capable true 4x4 in the GX.) If off-roading is a primary focus, a 3-5 year old Land Cruiser is a tremendous value and rock solid.
Great review as always Alex! One thing to note: all current non M X5’s with the optioned factory hitch get a towing bump to 7200lbs
cutting down trees and everything and you are still so calm, love it!!
This SUV is like my sushi knife forged by hands in the most traditional way, its sharpness can outlast modern knife and last a lifetime.
This is THEE truck.
Despite the GX being so old (and most of Toyota's trucks), it really is a great SUV. I think Toyota has found a niche with their current lineup of trucks. They're outdated, but so charming. When I was in the market for an SUV, I wanted something that was body-on-frame, and reliable and the GX just fit that bill so perfectly. A lot of people/reviewers complain that the GX and even the 4Runner are outdated but what everyone doesn't realize is if you want something more technologically advanced, Toyota offers that with the RX and Highlander. I can't wait to see what Toyota has in store for their lineup of trucks though.
I like how you're fast with the information and not too opinionated.
I already loved Alex, but now it’s just a whole new level 😂😂😂🙌🏾
I've had a rx 350 and gx470. Lexus uses the loudest tires they can find. Loved both of them, the GX wasn't particularly fast, fuel efficient or updated, but it was our favorite. When I'm done paying for car and college for the kids we're going back to a GX. They can be found with low miles, and maintenance records as lease returns. Lexus and toyota owners are some of the best about maintenance records.at the dealership
Sounds like a plan.
best review...this guy knows what he is reviewing ...
I wonder how often Lexus loses a sale , simply for having outdated tech in their vehicles. I for one was put off for buying one at least once where I went to the dealer to actually purchase a vehicle and look at the infotainment system and literally just walked away completely from the deal simply because it had an outdated system. I think you can sometimes live without the latest transmission or engine choices if it's a really solid and reliable choice. But for premium cars , you should expect for the vehicle to come with the latest cutting edge technology package.
Glad your channel is growing! I bought the lexus ct200h for our family a lot based on your car seat review! Very informative :)
The Prado, 4Runner, and GX are all built on the same production line, on the very same J150 platform. So to say it isn’t related to the 4Runner is not correct.
I am waiting for someone to post a comprehensive video where they we can compare the undercarriages of the GX/Prado and the 4Runner.
If you look at the specs, the 4 runner has a 4.0l v6 and a 5 speed auto, also only 5000 lbs of towing
@@BigMac7091I’m well aware that they have different drivetrains. That doesn’t change the fact that they are built on the same frame, with the same hard points, on the same production line in Japan.
It's time we get Alex to that 500K milestone.
one of the best and through reviews ever, thank you
Def this would top my list when I get older.
The best deal on the GX is a used one. You can buy them used for less than a 4runner.
I'm stuck. Our 2007 has been exceptional for 13+ years and 155k miles. It's still tight, strong, comfortable and hands-down the most-reliable vehicle we've ever owned. But it's also going to become our soon-to-be-teenage-driver's SUV. So we're looking for the new family SUV. We don't wheel or tow anymore, and I want a Cayenne. Badly. But am terrified of the running costs. BMW would be great, but likely 3x the repair/ownership cost of a Cayenne (have had both brands so have the experience of enthusiasm-crushing pain from truly baffling repair bills). Audi/VW? Hah. Thanks for making the Lexus reliability point at 28:29, Alex. The Lexus RX rides too poorly around town and on the highway (stiff and loud). About the closest unit-body solution I can think of that checks the handling, ride, comfort, design and reliability/cost-to-own boxes I'd *like* to see is - surprisingly enough - the Mazda CX-9. Thoughts?
I drive a CX-5 and I luv it. Try out a Signature trim and you be Sold on. Mazda. Plus Mazda are Reliable.
BTW KDSS isn't passive, the accumulators are blocked above 12MPH, and open below 12mph, if you unplug the accumulators then they are completely passive and "open" to allow for a smoother ride at higher speeds.
Alex, GX sales were up by approximately 10% in the down market of 2020.
GX 460 is a beast reliability is a 10!
Your encounter with that tree is gorgeous
Entire industry lost it soul by moving away from body on frame and into unibody. SUV title should be reserved for body on frame... Call a unibody a crossover...Good to see Ford doing something about it in 2021 with its new products.
The answer is its both.
The problem is the 2005-2008 model was better than this
The upside is this is very reasonably priced compared to the competition
You gotta drive this thing to appreciate how true SUV should drive. It is not a soccer mom SUV! Love the tree cutting scene!!
Great job on this review very informative thank you
Alex…I have my GX & oh Man U can’t ask for a more nicer ride…hands down its one of the best SUV u can find…luv the Marklevinson sound system 👍🏾👍🏾
I test rode a used 2016 GX460 last year and absolutely loved the ride, the interior and the rear hatch. Models back then didn't have the stupid ground spoilers or even worse looking grill like they do now. I really do hate the newer grill design and I was almost going to accept it for the other features and reliability. The GX460 has been voted the most reliable vehicle for a few years now. Fortunately we found a used Toyota Land Cruiser for the same price as a new 4Runner TRD Pro and purchased that instead. No funky grill, more interior space, uses regular gasoline and we don't have to worry about the front bumper scratching when we take it offroad. For a 2nd vehicle, I wouldn't hesitate on buying an older gx460 that has the older Lexus grill.
Amen.
Alex - you said you were surprised at the elevated noise level, particularly the tire noise. Note that the 2021 GX now has standard front side acoustic laminated glass. I wonder if that helps?
Nope.. tire noise goes through the underbody and frame structure. The laminated glass is mainly for passing car and wind noise.
My brother has a GX. I told him to sell it to me if he ever sells it. I am still waiting while I drive my Mercedes ML 400 and Audi SQ5. These German cars are a tank with no problems but I still want his GX.
That front grill is kinda small
This is a SUV forever, GXsaurus
I love my 2023 GX469. Wouldn’t trade it for anything
Lexus has some cajones to charge 2020 prices for 2010 tech and a front end that looks like a cross between Darth Vader and the Predator.
New intro is much better!
Getting used to the new intro, starting to like it. Hard to accept change!
I think with a body redesign, without changing the frame, they could continue to produce this thing for years to come. I mean full blown interior redesign, ground up. While this gets the job done, its very dated for its price point, and lexus has a history of that.
Alex is offroad car dad goals
GX’s are great to buy....USED. It’s criminal how long it’s taking Lexus to refresh this.
Its because its a Toyota . They do not update models often enough. Just like the Tundra
Love the shirt, exactly what I was thinking when I found your channel
I am to meet low expectations
The Carplay/Android Auto issue is easily solved by adding the Grom VLine 2 for under $700. I just ordered mine today. GX also doesn't come with digital Covid testing, facial recognition, location tracing, butt massage or gender swap software. But that's okay. I think I can live without those modern conveniences.
The weird thing is that the Prado was refreshed a few years ago and now has a significantly more modern interior than the GX. No idea why they didn't update the GX at the same time.
Volume. Prado is a worldwide model, manufactured in a few different places. It is considered a "king of the road" and a brand ambassador in many countries.
I opted for the LX 570 simply for the leg room, other than that for me this SUV is 5 star all the way. I am getting 14 MPG combined which is not bad compared to my Honda Pilot which gets 15 to 16 MPG on most days.
I understand constantly 4x4 is bad for mileage, but I don’t understand how 16 mpg renders an A rating. X5 petrol is rated 23 and hybrid RX 28!
It’s based on what the sticker claims. Based on his driving it was within the 15-19 range with gets a A. Most cars don’t get what they claim.
That electric saw works great! Link to where we can buy one??? :D
Alex, Dinosaur? Unlike the dubious Daewoo you reviewed in your last video, the unrivaled QDR this GX offers will never go out of style. With a 2 door Wrangler, a 2 door Bronco and a 2 door Defender coming soon, how much longer will Toyota/Lexus wait to bring a 2 door 4X4 to this market?
Unlikely. If they did, they’d probably revive the FJ Cruiser name plate
Yeah, we got 4Runner, so it is unlikely getting Prado
@@zmhd1987A 2 Door 4Runner would need to be put into production but the 2 door Prado already rolls down the same line that produces the 4Runner and GX.
You can't see the grill from the driver seat, thankfully.
This one is just pure love
You bought a DARANGO ??? instead of a Lexas GX460 ??? What were you smoking ?
Ac is very important. I’m serious. Needs more mention in reviews
Don't really see a point in buying this other than enjoying these 3 things:
1) Unique
2) Bad MPG
3) Buying antiques
@UCpYwSgZn8nE6Ufx3Wjp1HLA Nowhere near the off-road capability or durability. I am not sure if the GX even is competing with the same buyers.
Alex what are your thoughts on the upcoming 2022 model with CarPlay/AA and increased, upgraded infotainment 10.3 inch screen, etc.?
Awesome review 👍 awesome SUV... but which is best in class for good on road but capable off road?
Aggressive specs, the front grille looks sharp. Great auto.