Details of Cars

Lexus GX: the body-on-frame luxury SUV built on the Land Cruiser Prado

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Lexus GX of the J150 generation
A second-generation Lexus GX. Photo by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Lexus GX is a mid-size luxury SUV with body-on-frame construction, based on the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. The first generation, the GX 470, arrived in 2002 as the third SUV in the Lexus range, and the line continues with the third-generation GX 550 of 2023.

Lexus GX at a glance

Lexus GX key facts
Class mid-size luxury SUV (full-size in some markets)
Based on Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Construction body-on-frame
First model GX 470, shown in January 2002 as a 2003 model
GX 470 engine 4.7-litre 2UZ-FE V8, 175 kW (235 hp)
Drive full-time four-wheel drive with low range
Second generation GX 460, 2009, 4.6-litre V8
Chinese model GX 400, 2012, 4.0-litre V6
Third generation 2023, GX 550 and GX 550h hybrid
Ground clearance 211 mm in the GX 470
Built at Tahara, Japan
Name Grand Crossover

based on one source (English Wikipedia)

History of the Lexus GX

Lexus introduced the GX 470 at the North American International Auto Show in January 2002 as a 2003 model, with sales starting in November 2002. Development began in 1999 on the basis of the J120 Land Cruiser Prado, and the design was by Shoichi Fujiyoshi. The suspension followed the Toyota 4Runner with rear air suspension and added Adaptive Variable Suspension and Downhill Assist Control. Power came from the 4.7-litre V8 also used in the larger LX 470, and towing capacity was 2,300 kg, raised to 2,900 kg during the 2004 model year.

Lexus GX 550h
The hybrid GX 550h of the third generation. Photo by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Inside there were two rows of seats as standard and an optional third row for up to eight people, with a side-opening tailgate. A Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System became optional in 2004, the same year that a roll-sensing feature for the side curtain airbags and a rear backup camera were added. For 2005 the engine gained variable valve timing and 201 kW (270 hp), and a Sport model joined the range. Styling was updated for 2008. The GX 470 won Four Wheeler of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and was rated the highest premium luxury SUV in initial quality by J.D. Power in 2005.

The second generation, the GX 460, debuted at the Guangzhou show in November 2009 with a 4.6-litre V8 of 224 kW (301 hp), body-on-frame construction and a Torsen centre differential, the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System becoming standard. A GX 400 with a 4.0-litre V6 was added for China in 2012. The third generation of 2023 uses the GX 550 name with a twin-turbo 3.4-litre V6 and a GX 550h with a turbocharged 2.4-litre hybrid four. All GX production has been at the Tahara plant in Japan.

Design and features

  • Land Cruiser Prado base: the GX inherits its off-road ability from Toyota’s heavy-duty SUV.
  • Body-on-frame: unlike crossover SUVs, the GX keeps a separate ladder chassis.
  • Full-time four-wheel drive: low-range gearing is standard on every generation.
  • Adaptive suspension: AVS, Downhill Assist Control and later KDSS were offered to combine comfort with axle articulation.
  • Tahara build: every GX has been assembled alongside the Land Cruiser Prado.

Lexus GX versions

  • GX 470 (2002): the first generation, with a 4.7-litre V8.
  • GX 470 Sport (2005): a sportier version with the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System.
  • GX 460 (2009): the second generation with a 4.6-litre V8.
  • GX 400 (2012): a 4.0-litre V6 for the Chinese market.
  • GX 550 and GX 550h (2023): the third generation, with a twin-turbo V6 or a hybrid four.

The GX is the smaller relative of the LX, and it shares its V8 with the LX 470. The road-biased SUV of the range is the RX; more cars are in the Lexus collection.

Sources

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