2021 Lexus GX

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: The 2021 Lexus GX shuffles some available equipment and drops its optional rear-seat entertainment system, but is otherwise unchanged. The Lexus GX is a premium midsize SUV with seating for up to seven passengers that shares its roots with the Toyota 4Runner. A 301-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 paired with a 6-speed automatic and all-wheel drive is the sole powertrain. Available features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-sport alert, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, driver-attention monitor, heated/ventilated front seats, power-folding third-row seats, and downhill assist control. 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 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.