Pros: Impressive build quality; off-road and towing capabilities; absorbent ride; luxurious interior
Cons: Fuel economy; handling and on-road driving dynamics don’t match crossover-SUV competitors; high step-in height complicates entry and exit for shorter occupants
CG Says: For 2014, Lexus’s traditional truck-type midsize SUV gets a facelift that incorporates the brand’s bold spindle-style grille design. Other updates include available blind-spot/rear-cross-traffic alert and a new touchscreen infotainment system with updated multimedia features. Car-type crossovers are more popular than traditional body-on-frame SUVs today, so this V8-powered Lexus with serious off-roading hardware really goes against the grain. If you need to tow a trailer or will use the off-road capability of this luxury SUV, the GX 460 deserves consideration. If you’re mainly looking to commute, you’d probably appreciate the more car-like driving experience–and better potential fuel economy–of the Acura MDX, Buick Enclave, or Lexus’s own RX 350.
