SUVs just got sexier with the 2016 Lexus GX 460 Luxury! Loaded with style and sophistication, the Lexus GX is also a mid-size SUV that is rugged and sure-footed. It seats up to 7 and offers a fantastic truck-like body-on-frame construction. It offers an incredibly smooth and comfortable ride, both on and off the road. Powerfully built with a great engine and special features for improved performance, the 2016 GX 460 is definitely one of the best SUVs you will find in the market today.
EXTERIOR
There is no doubt that the 2016 GX 460 Luxury has incredible looks, with the standard 18-inch alloy wheels and rear spoiler, reverse-tilt outside mirrors, a power sunroof, skid plates, a trailer hitch and wiring as well as step running boards and a roof rack. This super SUV has been designed to check all the boxes, from appearance to performance. Inside and out, the GX 460 comes with a sensational design and features.
With its 4WD capability, this mid-size marvel can give you some serious off-road rambling. It comes packed with many great features including adaptive suspension with rear auto-leveling air springs, auto-dimming side mirrors, headlight washers, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a heated steering wheel and shift knob with a beautiful mahogany wood trim, power-folding third row seats, and a cargo cover.
Everything that the 2016 Lexus GX 460 Luxury is packed with is there to give you unmatched performance and the best driving experience you could have.
INTERIOR
The 2016 GX 460 Luxury has an incredibly well-built interior. You get plush, premium leather upholstery with front seats that are heated to give you comfort. It has a lavish cabin with three rows that can seat seven occupants comfortably. But we have to say that the third-row seats were disappointing since they did not provide the comfort we were looking for, given the premium materials that it was made with. It is only spacious enough for children, so the engineering was a little off here.
The Luxury also gives you fantastic extras like Siri Eyes Free mode, Enform navigation with Destination Assist and 3-zone automatic climate control with smog sensor, interior air filter and automatic recirculation mode to make sure that you and your passengers are always comfortable in any type of weather – even dusty and smoggy ones.
The fantastic 2016 GX also boasts other salient features inside, including a rearview camera, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and satellite radio.
The features that are available include a 17-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, a wide-view front and side camera, a rear-seat entertainment system, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and an upgraded infotainment system that comes with navigation and Lexus Enform Remote, which allows you to control some of the functions in this SUV with your smartphone, including locking the doors remotely, setting your climate control, finding your vehicle in a packed parking area and of course, starting your engine.
As mentioned earlier, the steering wheel has a heating element to give it that extra touch of indulgence. This feature allows the heating levels to be continually monitored and adjusted so that a set temperature is maintained. We found that this is a nice feature to have when there is some nip in the air.
The interior also features a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and shift knob trimmed with hand-picked mahogany and leather, giving you comfort and exquisite craftsmanship. The GX 460 also comes with a tailgate that is hinged on the passenger side. However, we felt that the side-hinged cargo door is a little inconvenient as it makes it difficult to load items when it is parked alongside a curb.
You could get lucky or unlucky depending on how you parked. You may have to load something in the backseat that you do not want to and then pull over down the road and reload the item. Or, if you have two drivers, then someone could position the car so you can load the product better while the other person stands near the product you just bought on the sidewalk.
It comes with a convenient lift-up rear glass window, making it exceptionally easier to carry long items like lumber, surf boards, etc. This is a marvelous feature to have when you go on a road trip!
With so many fantastic features in the Lexus GX 460 Luxury, there is no doubt that the interior of this SUV has great craftsmanship with materials of the finest quality. With the GX 460, you get an upscale ambiance in the cabin with premium luxury features that guarantee your comfort and high quality entertainment, whether you are driving in the city or on rough terrain. You get both convenience and luxury, which is something that not many SUVs offer.
Although the interior quality is up to Lexus luxury standards, there are a couple of noticeable drawbacks which includes a tech interface that is slightly aging and a backseat that does not have enough comfort or space compared to newer crossovers.
SAFETY
The Lexus GX 460 Luxury comes with standard safety features including Enform-interfaced Safety Connect emergency telematics, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, front and rear side-mounted airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, 3-row head airbags, stability and traction control, a post-collision safety system, a remote anti-theft alarm, standard front fog/driving lights and day-time running lights. It also comes with Lexus Safety Connect emergency communications, with stolen vehicle locator, automatic collision notification, and emergency assist.
There are also other safety features that either come in a bundle with higher trim levels or are optional. These include blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts that have been mentioned earlier, as well as a frontal collision warning preparation system and lane departure warning system. The frontal collision warning preparation system is a prolific safety feature as it has the ability to determine the imminence of a crash and it automatically tightens the seatbelts and primes the brakes so that you get a quicker response. This intelligent safety feature definitely makes this one of the safest vehicles to be on the road.
This luxury SUV is fantastic when it comes to safe driving. The Lexus has been awarded the highest marks in all crash-test criteria by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. There is no doubt that if you are looking for an SUV that is packed with superb safety features, this is the one! This is a car you will simply fall in love with!
PERFORMANCE
This super SUV comes with a 4.6-liter, 301-horsepower V-8 engine that is combined with a 6-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission, and has the capability of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds. That is one awesome engine! While the GX 460 produces enough power for everyday driving, we felt it would be a little outmatched when it is called on to move its bulk in situations such as highway passing.
With its 6-speed automatic transmission, you get smooth and quick shifting. However, we did notice that at times, it downshifts a little too slowly. You get improved low-speed torque and high-speed horsepower with the Variable Valve Timing with intelligence. You know you are driving a marvelous SUV with its long-ratio steering and soft brake pedal. This mid-size gives you great performance on all types of roads.
With Lexus’ Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), the GX 460 has some impressive capabilities for terrain-taming, especially when it is equipped with optional Crawl Control. It has remarkable power for all driving situations and it has incredible off-road capabilities as well. You get a smooth ride when you drive this mid-size machine. We recommend the optional adjustable suspension, you can make your ride even better by improving cornering ability and comfort.
Another superb thing about this mid-size SUV is that it offers 329 lb.-ft. of torque at low rpm, which gives it a towing capacity of 6,500 lbs. The Trailer Sway Control, part of the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, gives you peace of mind while towing. To make sure that sway is reduced, each wheel gets independent braking and you can also moderate the throttle. When the system is taking corrective measure, there is a flashing indicator that will immediately alert you. All this is for your convenience and safety!
FUEL ECONOMY
Now let’s talk fuel. You really cannot call the GX 460 frugal because of its EPA-combined fuel economy rating of 17 mpg on premium gasoline. But that is one of the compromises you have to make when you drive a V-8-powered SUV that is off-road-ready. However, as long as you are not planning to go boulder-hopping and looking to save fuel, there are many alternatives for you, including the Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTEC, Audi Q7 TDI, and Infiniti QX60 Hybrid to name a couple. In short, if you are not one of the ones who will grumble on mileage, we certainly find the Lexus GX 460 a worthy car for you.
CONCLUSION
Although this mid-size luxury SUV is a bit of a rarity in today’s market, Lexus GX 460 has quite a few competitors.
The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class and Audi Q7 are both more comfortable when it comes to on-road driving. The Audi is especially impressive with its interior design. We found it much better looking than the GX.
You derive turbo diesel options with both the GL and the Audi, as well as the VW Tourareg. This makes them far better for towing.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is another great option, if you do not mind the third row of seats missing. It is more affordable but it is as refined as the GX.
No matter how you look at it, you receive more cargo space and easier loading with each of these alternatives. If you are looking for a luxury SUV that is affordable and provides better fuel economy and performance with similar or better luxury features, you have many options to look at.
With the Lexus GX 460, you get all the roots of a truck and all the bonus features and luxury that you need for smooth driving. Still, there are other luxury crossover SUVs that offer better passenger comfort and on-road performance. But, it should be noted that it has fantastic off-road prowess and it is also one of the safest SUVs out there, making it a sagacious choice for families. Whether you are on rough terrain or smooth road in the city, with its lavish features and quality materials, there is no doubt that you can have 5-star truckin’ with this awesome SUV!
Like it: We particularly like that fact that it provides capable off-road performance. Another point that makes it a golden mid-size SUV is that it comes with many fantastic luxury features.
Leave it: Despite its terrific looks and marvelous features, there are some things that make the GX 460 a little lackluster. The first two cons are definitely the uncomfortable third row seats and the inconvenience of the side-swinging cargo door. Its not-so-great acceleration and poor fuel economy also make this SUV a little disappointing.
This is a car that many will love with a few shortcomings that are compensated by a powerful engine and striking looks!
Photo Credit: Copyright 2016 Victor Mosqueda / Car Fanatics Blog
