On a washboard unmaintained logging road in upstate New York, the case for the Lexus GX460 is clear. A 4.6-liter V-8 provides a smooth, broad powerband while high-travel shocks and rear air springs soak up abuse without complaint. When the dirt turns to rocks, the 360-degree monitor and short overhangs make it a capable crawler, so long as you're careful with its gaping, angry mouth. It feels tougher, more willing to take abuse than any other luxury SUV. Like a baby Raptor, it's at its best when driven quick on loose surfaces.
But on the paved highways back to Brooklyn, things start to fall apart. For all its baby-Raptor charm, the GX460 isn't actually much nicer than the Ford truck on the road. And for $71,695 as tested, well, it needs to be. After all, a Raptor is cheaper, bigger, and has a bed.
The little Lexus touches, of course, put any Ford, Jeep, or Toyota to shame. Every knob is well weighted, the steering wheel is a pleasant mix of leather and wood, and buttery leather abounds. Dig even one inch deeper, though, and you'll start to find fossils. The infotainment system is now two generations old, having been designed before Lexus went to the horrendous mouse controller and persisting after the end of that era. It feels like it, with laggy, frustrating menus and a navigation screen that jumps bit by bit, rather than smoothly scrolling.
Up-to-date infotainment probably isn't a key priority for buyers who want to take the GX off-road, but when simple operations are this frustrating and poorly implemented it gets in the way. Recognize that a Wrangler or even Toyota's own 4Runner pack much newer and less irritating infotainment and it gets worse.
Where the GX does beat the 4Runner is in ride comfort. The GX soaks up major bumps without issue and is far more docile around town, though it still exhibits the jitteriness over uneven pavement we often see on body-on-frame vehicles. Generous amounts of insulation also keep the cabin quiet. It's also got a big trunk, though the side-hinged tailgate feels unnecessary. But since this is sold as a Land Crusier Prado in other markets, complete with a tail-mounted spare, I understand.
That, though, is the core problem with the GX460. It ultimately feels hampered by its quest to be both a capable, dependable off-roader of Land Cruiser heritage and a smooth, refined Lexus SUV. Its success in the former category makes it charming, but in chasing the latter its base price has ballooned to $53,000.
Not only does that put it up against far more luxurious options like the Lexus RX, Acura RDX, and BMW X3, but it also makes it more expensive than a fully loaded Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. Maybe it's a sign of my hopeless infatuation with the clear-eyed, purposeful 4Runner, but I can't for the life of me see why you'd pay more for the Lexus. If you really want more luxury than what the little Toyota can offer, the Land Cruiser and LX570 are far more successful at their dual mission.
Arguably the most fickle member of the Road & Track staff, Reviews Editor Mack Hogan is likely the only person to ever cross shop an ND Miata with an Isuzu Vehicross. He founded the automotive reviews section of CNBC during his sophomore year of college and has been writing about cars ever since.
