While the Lexus RX crossover utility has become the franchise player in the brand's lineup, the Lexus GX—the subject of this review update—has served a different role. Like all its predecessors, the 2022 Lexus GX is far more off-road-capable than the RX, and, with a higher price tag, it is higher on the Lexus food chain than the ubiquitous RX. Shoppers expecting the GX to be more luxurious and cushier than the RX might well be surprised by what the GX is. And what it isn't.
The GX is a 7-passenger, 3-row body-on-frame SUV that dates back more than a decade. Powered by a smooth-as-whipped-cream V8 engine, the GX has an old-school 4-wheel-drive (4WD) system with a 2-speed transfer case like its rugged cousin, the Toyota 4Runner. And its ride and handling are reminiscent of a Toyota Land Cruiser more than a Lexus LS.
This is great for buyers seeking a large dollop of off-road prowess to go with their luxury SUV. It's probably not the best thing in the world for buyers who want a luxury SUV that is bigger, more powerful, and more luxurious than the much-loved Lexus RX in all its iterations. Lexus executives are aware of all this, and in concert with Lexus engineers, they have continually improved the GX to bring it more in line with consumer expectations, U.S. style.
One such improvement for the 2022 model year is the availability of a new Black Line Special Edition trim level. Jumping on the "blackout" trend sweeping the American market (the new mouse I bought for my computer yesterday is black instead of white), the new Black Line variant enabled Lexus to give the GX a new look and added appeal. It also helped Lexus to re-emphasize the GX's serious off-highway capabilities in an era when SUVs are trending in that direction. The new trim on a veteran model prompted this review update. It concentrates on the Lexus GX 460 Black Line while also addressing other GX 460 trims.
While the most substantive change to the 2022 Lexus GX lineup is the addition of the Black Line model, the changes to the GX beyond that are minimal. The 2021, 2022, and 2023 model-year GX 460s are virtually identical mechanically and in terms of features. The Lexus GX 460 Black Line includes the following:
For 2022, the Lexus GX is available in four trim levels: Base, Premium, Luxury, and Black Line Special Edition. All offer three rows of seating with a carrying capacity of up to seven. All have 4WD with a transfer case and low-range gearing. Pricing for the base GX 460 starts at about $57,000. The most expensive trim—Luxury—has a starting price of about $67,000, including the $1,150 destination charge. The Black Line Special Edition slots between the Premium and Luxury trims with a suggested retail price of about $62,000.
Previously, JD Power reviewed the 2020 Lexus GX. This review focuses on the GX's updates for 2022 and how they potentially impact its overall appeal to consumers.
The Lexus GX competes in the Midsize Premium SUV market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2022 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, 59 percent of new Lexus GX buyers are male (vs. 57 percent for the segment), and the median age of a new GX buyer is 52 years (vs. 61).
As part of the APEAL Study, owners rated the GX in 10 primary categories. Listed below in descending order, you'll find their preferences, from their most favorite thing about the vehicle to their least favorite:
In the 2022 APEAL Study, the GX ranks fifth out of seven Midsize Premium SUV models.
In the sections that follow, our independent expert analyzes a GX 460 Black Line Special Edition equipped with the following options:
The test vehicle's price was $61,745, including the $1,150 destination charge.
To enhance the GX's already formidable off-road performance, Lexus engineers assembled various systems that leverage electronics for better traction. Multi-Terrain Select allows the driver to choose from multiple modes designed to improve progress over several different surface types. There are separate modes for loose rocks, mud and sand, and moguls. The system tries to limit or eliminate wheelspin by automatically adjusting the engine throttle and brakes as the GX moves forward. Sensors immediately detect wheel slip and adjust to compensate, helping improve traction.
Another helpful, standard off-road feature on the GX 460 Black Line is downhill assist control, more commonly known as hill-descent control. This system actuates braking automatically in low-speed, off-pavement situations. It works at speeds up to 15 miles per hour but is typically best at much lower speeds. The system allows the driver to focus on steering the SUV in challenging conditions amid boulders and trees on steep descents.
Available Crawl Control takes this effort one step further. Designed to maintain an optimal slow and steady pace in off-pavement conditions and engaged when the GX is in low range, Crawl Control allows the vehicle to move forward or in reverse at one of five driver-selectable low-speed settings. It also engages the front and rear virtual locking differentials to help reduce tire slippage and optimize traction through sand, mud, or snow. As with hill-descent control, the goal is to help the driver concentrate on what the vehicle is approaching.
A full-time automatic 4WD system is standard on all 2022 GX trim levels, including the Black Line Special Edition. The GX's system has much more in common with dedicated off-roaders like the 4Runner TRD Pro and Jeep Wrangler than your garden-variety all-wheel-drive crossover SUV. One highlight is the Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip center differential. In normal operation, it distributes 40 percent of its power to the front axle and 60 percent to the rear. But the real benefit is that it automatically changes torque distribution based on wheel slip. Drivers can also electronically lock the center differential for extremely challenging off-road conditions.
Another highlight of the system is its 2-speed transfer case. Again, your typical suburban SUV doesn't have a 2-speed transfer case that offers a low range. Like the locking center differential, it is a sign of a vehicle that is very serious about off-pavement driving. Interestingly, that doesn't describe the typical driver in this segment.
All these mechanical components and tech are useless if the vehicle doesn't have the power to take advantage of them. The Lexus GX takes care of that with its 301-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 engine, one of a dwindling handful of V8s left on the market. The engine produces 329 pound-feet of peak torque, helping the GX offer a highly robust 6,500-pound towing capacity. The GX has trailer sway control to enhance straight-line tracking with a boat or camping trailer behind to maximize those benefits.
One has to sense a bit of a disconnect between the drivers of the Lexus GX and the vehicle's technical attributes. Do well-off suburbanites crave hardcore off-road capabilities? Not likely, but the Lexus GX scores with women and discerning men with its interior and exterior aesthetics. Lexus fills the interior of the vehicle with high-quality materials and genuine wood. The exterior has numerous details that set it apart from mass-market models of the same size.
The Black Line Special Edition features extensive use of black treatments. It does away with most of the chrome that adorns other GXs to produce something less obtrusive and, depending on your point of view, cooler. It has its own black-finished grille, skid plate, and fog lamps. Revised taillights with clear lenses over black inserts adorn the rear corners. And the rear spoiler and radio fin are both black, too. The standard tires on the GX are 265/60R18 mud and snow, mounted on glossy black 18-inch alloy wheels on the Black Line Special Edition.
The seats in the GX 460 Black Line are gray faux leather that does an excellent job of simulating the real thing. The seats and interior also feature gray stitching. Lexus uses matte-black-finished ash wood as an accent on the steering wheel. In all, it is a tasteful interior that gives a new verve to what was already a high-quality cabin.
Lexus gives GX customers some choices of suspension technology to enable the SUV to perform as they'd like. Lexus calls the suspension on the Luxury trim the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), and it certainly is not the run-of-the-mill suspension setup. One of its key goals is to keep the GX 460's body level. Given the fact the SUV has a live rear axle, that is a tall order. But KDSS accomplishes it to a great extent with hydraulics. When the GX encounters an uneven surface, a compressed cylinder in the system causes fluid to flow to the other cylinder. That movement damps some forces that would otherwise cause a wheel lift, helping the vehicle keep all four wheels on the ground.
Beyond KDSS, buyers can equip the Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition with an optional adaptive variable suspension. This goes beyond hydraulics to employ electronically controlled and electrically activated shocks that adjust to road conditions in milliseconds. The adaptive-damper suspension has three modes: Normal, Sport, and Comfort.
The standard Lexus GX suspension does a good job of quelling the forces inherent in a design that includes a live rear axle from being too disruptive. The adaptive suspension takes that further. At the same time, the GX's ride isn't as smooth as many modern luxury crossovers of similar size (and price.) Those buyers who never consider going off-road might choose a kinder, gentler crossover, like the Lexus RX.
The Lexus GX is one of a couple of Lexus SUV models that deliver much more robust off-road capabilities than luxury buyers might expect. As an all-terrain vehicle, the GX is right there with the much-heralded Toyota 4Runner, and it boasts a more powerful engine than the 4Runner. Yet, the GX's buyer demographics suggest that off-roading isn't top of mind for most buyers.
So, what does the GX deliver to the suburban school pickup set? First, a stunning interior filled with luxury features. The 2022 Black Line Special Edition gives buyers yet another good interior choice to supplement the base, Premium, and Luxury trims. Second, the GX can go almost anywhere at any time of year. In areas where snow cover is an issue for months at a time, the GX offers a superior set of capabilities. Third, the GX is a midsize luxury SUV that can tow. Its 6,500-pound towing capacity blows away virtually all other import luxury SUVs' tow ratings. Fourth, it has distinctive exterior styling. In a world full of lookalike SUVs, the Lexus GX stands out.
While the GX 460's ride and handling in most situations aren't as cushy and precise as some rival luxury SUVs, it has a pleasant around-town demeanor. The 301-hp normally aspirated V8 engine provides plenty of zip, and the veteran 6-speed automatic transmission means the engine is most often in the fat part of its torque curve. If you somehow find yourself in a mud bog, the low-range transfer case can provide the torque multiplication to get out when typical luxury SUVs would be stuck there for approximately forever.
Of course, buyers will have to live with the GX's little idiosyncrasies. The third row is hardly the most commodious in the segment, but the guess is that children will typically populate it for relatively short periods. Instead of a liftgate, the GX has a swing-out rear door, and because of the way it's hinged, it isn't all that helpful if you are parallel-parked. But with years and years of successful sales, the GX has found many ways to enable owners to overlook its few foibles.
The 2022 Lexus GX is a solid choice in every sense of the phrase. It has rugged capabilities, and it has a reputation for longevity. Some of its drivers might not be nearly as rugged as it is. And that's okay.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine and Kelley Blue Book and currently is the host of the SportsMap Radio Network program America on the Road, which is available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, and other outlets.
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