2022 Lexus GX

Overview

If your lifestyle includes the actual driving of trails to off-grid glampsites, the 2022 Lexus GX is one luxury SUV that will get you there in appropriate style. Its truck-like body-on-frame construction, 4.6-liter V-8, and adjustable suspension system will climb over almost any obstacle in your way. The downsides? The GX isn’t very fuel efficient and its on-road demeanor is clumsy, not to mention that other car-based crossover rivals offer more comfort. But the GX plays in a niche within the mid-size SUV marketplace for luxury off-roaders that also includes the Land Rover Defender, which makes Lexus a unique choice.

What’s New for 2022?

A Black Line Special Edition of the Lexus GX joins the lineup this year and comes with a host of blacked-out exterior trim, unique 18-inch wheels, a black interior headliner, and black faux-leather upholstery. The GX receives several new standard features for 2022, including a new, larger 10.3-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also newly standard this year is a parking assistant feature, in-dash navigation, and power-folding heated exterior mirrors. Lexus’s desirable Nori Green paint color is now available as an option on the GX for the first time.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The base-model Lexus GX460 comes with enough standard features to please most buyers in this segment. This SUV rolls on standard 18-inch wheels, and all models are equipped with exterior amenities such as automatic LED headlights, daytime running lights, illuminated running boards, and heated power-adjustable side mirrors with integrated turn signals. Ten-way power-adjustable front seats and a power-adjustable tilt-and-telescoping steering column are on hand to help you find an ideal position behind the wheel. The cabin is also home to standard features such as keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, faux-leather upholstery, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. All GX SUVs comes with driver-assistance amenities such as blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assistance.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 2022 Lexus GX continues to offer just one engine: a 4.6-liter V-8 that generates 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque. This powerplant is teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Lexus’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System is standard, and this setup aims to boost traction during off-road adventures. During our testing, the GX cruised from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. We’ve tested rival models that are much quicker, however. An Audi Q7 with the available V-6 made the sprint in 6.1 seconds, and a BMW X5 xDrive50i covered the same distance in a scant 4.2 seconds. The GX exhibits relatively smooth handling on paved streets, but it is in its element when taken off-road. Its sturdy underpinnings and 8.1 inches of ground clearance make this SUV an excellent choice for buyers who need a vehicle that’s at home in the great outdoors. A 6500-pound towing capacity bolsters its versatility.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The GX won’t win any awards for fuel economy. According to the EPA, this all-wheel-drive SUV achieves mileage of just 15/19 mpg city/highway. That puts it well behind rival luxury SUVs such as the Lincoln Aviator, which gets 17/24 mpg when equipped with all-wheel drive. During our time with the GX, we observed mileage of just 20 mpg during our 200-mile highway fuel economy test—which is part of our comprehensive test regimen. For more information about the GX’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Lexus gave the GX its last full redesign all the way back in 2010, and this is perhaps one reason for the somewhat dated appearance of its cabin. The interior is home to wood and leather that looks appropriately deluxe, but there are also some hard plastics that seem out of place in a vehicle in this price range. Front-row passengers enjoy pleasant accommodations and a lofty seating position, but the second-row seats are surprisingly flat and hard, and the third row is a cramped space best left for kids. To its credit, the GX does a great job of keeping road noise out of the cabin, and the interior remains tranquil even when the vehicle is being driven at high speeds. This Lexus provides 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and 46.7 cubic feet behind the second. With the second and third rows folded, cargo space jumps to 64.7 cubic feet. This is less room than you’ll get in rival models such as the Audi Q7 (14.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 35.7 cubic feet behind the second, and 69.6 cubic feet behind the first).

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

The GX offers an appealing range of tech amenities. Base models come with a nine-speaker audio setup and an infotainment system governed by a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard Bluetooth connectivity facilitates hands-free phone calls, and all models come with SiriusXM satellite radio. The selection of available tech features includes a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system and integrated navigation. The options list also includes a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The GX comes equipped with driver-assistance features that can help you avoid accidents such as automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning. For more information about the GX’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

When it comes to warranty coverage, Lexus outpaces rivals such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for 1 years or 10,000 miles

Specifications

Specifications

2022 Lexus GX460

Vehicle Type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE

Base/As Tested: $56,700/$62,245

Options: Black Line Special Edition (black 18-inch wheels, open-pore black interior trim, black window trim, black roof rails, scarlet taillamps), $3835; tow hitch with ball mount; $605; Blackline crossbars, $405; glass breakage sensor, $335; exhaust tip, $130; headlamp washers, $100; wheel locks, $85

ENGINE

DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 281 in3, 4608 cm3

Power: 301 hp @ 5500 rpm

Torque: 329 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm

TRANSMISSION

6-speed automatic

CHASSIS

Suspension, F/R: control arms/live axle

Brakes, F/R: 13.3-in vented disc/12.3-in vented disc

Tires: Michelin Latitude Tour HP

P265/60R-18 109H M+S

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 109.8 in

Length: 192.1 in

Width: 74.2 in

Height: 74.2 in

Passenger Volume: 128 ft3

Curb Weight: 5264 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS

60 mph: 7.2 sec

1/4-Mile: 15.7 sec @ 89 mph

100 mph: 21.1 sec

110 mph: 27.6 sec

Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.

Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.6 sec

Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.7 sec

Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.1 sec

Top Speed (gov ltd): 112 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 180 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.74 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY

75-mph Highway Driving: 18 mpg

Highway Range: 410 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY

Combined/City/Highway: 16/15/19 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs