Midsize Premium MAV Segment
Highest Ranked: 2005 Lexus GX
It may rank at the top of its segment in dependability after three years, but know that the 2005 Lexus GX 470 is a true off-roader, spiffed up with lots of luxurious leather and real wood trim. Inside, the GX is comfortable and clearly upscale. However, it drives like the boulder-bashing truck that it is, and because it’s equipped with a 270-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 engine and endowed with a significant curb weight penalty, the GX is not particularly fuel efficient. If you’re interested in an agreeable daily driver, try the No. 2-ranked 2005 Lexus RX 330. If you think you need the third-row jump seats available in the GX, perhaps the No. 3-ranked 2005 Volvo XC70 might be a better fit. If you’re planning to beat a new path to the hunting lodge or want to traverse the Sonoran Desert in leather-lined, air-conditioned comfort, the GX 470 is for you.
The 2005 Lexus GX ranks highest among the 13 models in the Midsize Premium MAV segment of the 2008 VDS. The GX achieves an index score of 130 PP100, compared to the segment average of 194 PP100—a difference of 64 PP100, and an improvement of 12 PP100 from last year’s study. Additionally, the 2005 Lexus GX performs at or above the segment average in all nine problem categories in the study, including:
- Ride, handling and braking
- Features and controls
- Seats
- Sound system
- Heating, ventilation and cooling
- Vehicle exterior
- Vehicle interior
- Transmission
- Engine
According to original owners of the 2005 Lexus GX, the top three problem areas are:
- Wind noise
- Brakes that vibrate/shudder
- Molding that is loose or has fallen off
2005 Lexus GX NHTSA Crash Test Scores (1 to 5 Star scale; 5 being safest):
- Frontal Driver Rating: Not Tested
- Frontal Passenger Rating: Not Tested
- Side Driver Rating: Not Tested
- Side Rear Passenger Rating: Not Tested
- Rollover Rating: Not Tested
2005 Lexus GX EPA Fuel Economy (adjusted to 2008 calculation methods):
- 14 mpg city
- 18 mpg highway
- 15 mpg combined
Ranked No. 2: 2005 Lexus RX
Ranked No. 3: 2005 Volvo XC70
Large Premium MAV Segment
Highest Ranked: 2005 Lexus LX
By 2005, Lexus had been building the LX 470 for eight model years with few changes. Essentially a gussied-up Toyota Land Cruiser, the LX 470 was a tough off-roader at its core, decked out in Lexus-grade leather upholstery, rich wood trim, and other luxury features. Powered by a well-isolated 4.7-liter V-8 making 235 hp, the 2005 Lexus LX 470 was neither an acceleration nor a fuel economy champ, but what large MAV was? The LX 470’s forte was isolating occupants from the irritations of the outside world, and providing the hard-core hardware to help them effortlessly cover distance on every surface from snow to sand.
The 2005 Lexus LX ranks highest among the six models in the Large Premium MAV segment of the 2008 VDS. The LX achieves an index score of 124 PP100, compared to the segment average of 202 PP100—a difference of 78 PP100, and an improvement of 11 PP100 from last year’s study. Additionally, the 2005 Lexus LX performs at or above the segment average in eight of the nine problem categories in the study, including:
- Ride, handling and braking
- Features and controls
- Seats
- Heating, ventilation and cooling
- Vehicle exterior
- Vehicle interior
- Transmission
- Engine
According to original owners of the 2005 Lexus LX, the top three problem areas are:
- Wind noise
- Doors that don’t lock properly
- Vehicle pulling to the left or right
2005 Lexus LX NHTSA Crash Test Scores (1 to 5 Star scale; 5 being safest):
- Frontal Driver Rating: Not Tested
- Frontal Passenger Rating: Not Tested
- Side Driver Rating: Not Tested
- Side Rear Passenger Rating: Not Tested
- Rollover Rating: Not Tested
2005 Lexus LX EPA Fuel Economy (adjusted to 2008 calculation methods):
- 12 mpg city
- 16 mpg highway
- 13 mpg combined
Ranked No. 2: 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
Ranked No. 3: 2005 Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV
More Research
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2008 Vehicle Dependability Study
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