Lexus does not build many cars like the Lexus GX: a 5-door SUV with Petrol engine, built from 2002 in the decade of stability control, dual-clutch gearboxes and the first serious hybrids. Its designer of record is Shoichi Fujiyoshi (2000).
The background
The Lexus GX (Japanese: レクサス・GX, Hepburn: Rekusasu GX) is a mid/full-size luxury SUV sold in North American and Eurasian markets by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota. The GX is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, from which it derives its off-road capability. Lexus introduced the first generation, known as the GX 470 in 2002, and subsequently became the third SUV to enter the Lexus lineup. A full-time four-wheel drive system is standard with low-range gearing. The 4.7-liter V8 engine in the GX 470 was the same as used on the larger LX 470. The firm next introduced the second-generation model in 2009, badged GX 460 to reflect the switch to a 4.6-liter V8 engine. Lexus later released a lower displacement GX 400 in 2012 for the Chinese market, with a 4.0-liter V6 engine.
The third-generation model introduced in 2023 uses the GX 550 moniker with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine and GX 550h with a turbocharged hybrid electric 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. As of 2024, the GX is positioned between the larger LX or TX and the smaller RX. Though it is thought the GX has always been larger than the RX, from 2015 to 2022, the RX is slightly longer and slightly wider than the GX and therefore the GX was considered smaller. All GX production has occurred at the Tahara plant in Japan, alongside the Land Cruiser Prado and the export-minded Toyota 4Runner. Some countries classify the GX as a full-size vehicle (e.g., Australia), while some classify it as a mid-size vehicle (e.g., US), depending on local regulations. The name “GX” stands for “Grand Crossover”. Unlike crossover
The engineering
Under the skin sits Petrol engine; other versions carried different engines, listed in the specification table below. Kerb weight is 4871 lb. The gearbox is a 5-speed A750F automatic. The layout matters: drive goes to all four wheels, which is what lets the power be used on a wet road. The wheelbase is 109.8 in. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Where it sits
Where it sits in Lexus's history is not in doubt: it was built at Tahara, Aichi (Tahara plant), Japan. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Citroën C3, the Volvo XC90, the Porsche Cayenne. Its Lexus stablemates include the Lexus ES (V20) and the Lexus GS 450h.
The money
On the used market today a Lexus GX typically changes hands for $17,700–$73,300, and running it — fuel and maintenance at its age — costs about $5,569–$7,745 a year. Insurance sits around $1,860–$4,280 a year. The figures are class-level estimates from the federal record, with the formula on the methodology page; the model-year pages carry complaints, recalls and repair costs year by year.