2016 Lexus GX Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Packed with posh and style, the 2016 Lexus GX 460 is also a rugged and sure-footed midsize SUV that seats up to 7 and offers truck-like body-on-frame construction and full-time 4-wheel-drive (4WD) capability, allowing it to take on some serious off-road rambling. But you’re more likely to see the GX 460 on your way into the office or in the theater parking lot than you are in the backwoods, and therein lies its weakness. Despite declining gas prices and the lure of off-road trips, the appeal of this luxurious but tough Lexus is becoming less defined.
The 2016 GX 460 returns in two trims, the Base and the up-featured Luxury. Both trims contain a 2-speed 4WD transfer case, V8 engine, and, unfortunately, a comparatively cramped 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seatbacks folded. But a couple of new upgrades are debuting for the upcoming year. Newly available Lexus Enform Service Connect allows remote viewing of various vehicle systems information on MyLexusandBeyond mobile apps for an iOS smartphone, and an optional Lexus Enform Remote system allows your Android smartphone to remotely lock the doors, locate your GX 460 in a crowded parking area, set your climate control, and, of course, start your engine. Sepia NuLuxe exterior trim decor also appears for 2016.
The 2016 GX 460 is powered by a 301-hp 4.6-liter V8 mated with a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission for a hefty 329 lb-ft of torque. Look once again for mileage estimates of 15 mpg city/20 highway/17 combined, and a towing capacity that maxes out at 6,500 pounds when outfitted with the proper equipment. Lexus’ Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) gives the GX 460 some impressive terrain-taming capabilities, especially when equipped with optional Crawl Control, but it also means a less-than-pleasant ride and handling experience on pavement.
Appearance-wise, the 2016 Base GX 460 trim sports standard 18-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, reverse-tilt outside mirrors, a rear spoiler, a trailer hitch and wiring, and skid plates, while the Luxury version adds step running boards and a roof rack.
Inside, the Base offers standard leatherette upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, reclining rear seats, and full power accessories, along with cruise control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, memory for driver settings, a rear-view camera, a remote garage door opener, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Bluetooth-interfaced Lexus Enform infotainment with directions and connections functions is also standard in the entry-level GX 460, as is a CD/MP3 player sporting 9 speakers, satellite radio, and an auxiliary audio input. The Luxury trim gets you such standard extras as premium leather upholstery, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, Siri Eyes-Free iPhone infotainment interface, tri-zone automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, and Enform navigation with Destination Assist.
The 2016 GX 460 also returns with optional rear-seat DVD entertainment, a 330-watt Mark Levinson premium Surround Sound audio system, and Intuitive Park Assist. A pair of safety packages featuring pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, Lexus’ Driver Alert Monitor, a lane-departure alert, and a wide-view camera system are also available.
Standard safety equipment aboard the 2016 GX 460 includes 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear side-mounted airbags, 3-row head airbags, daytime running lights, Enform-interfaced Safety Connect emergency telematics, a post-collision safety system, and a remote antitheft alarm. The Luxury trim adds standard front fog/driving lights. There is no government safety data on the 2016 GX 460, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awards the Lexus its highest marks in all crash-test criteria except for a second-best Acceptable rating for the child seat anchors.
Virtually all reviewers laud the GX 460 for its luxurious appointments and its off-road prowess, but they do caution that challengers like the Acura MDX, the BMW X5, and the Infiniti QX60 offer better on-road performance and agility, while the GX 460’s closest rival, Land Rover’s LR4, offers more passenger and cargo room, along with a more upscale cabin ambiance.
User reviews for 2016 Lexus GX
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Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 9
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 13.3 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.3 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Center console trim: leatherette · Dash Trim: Leatherette · Dash trim: wood · Door trim: leatherette · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Cargo area power outlet: 115V · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: power steering wheel · Memorized settings: 2 driver · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: third row · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: sunglasses holder · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Axle ratio: 3.91 · Limited slip differential: center · Locking differential: center
Engine
Alternator: 130 amps · Battery: maintenance-free
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: body-color with chrome accents · Door handle color: chrome · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Mudguards: front · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: side-hinged · Running boards: illuminated · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3 · Number of third row headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: Enform · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Rear Seats
Type: 40-20-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: sliding sunshade · Roof rails: silver
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: door unlock · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front and rear · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point · Third row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Third row headrests: adjustable · Third row seat folding: flat · Upholstery: perforated
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Mount Location: underbody · Size: full-size
Spare Wheel
Rim type: aluminum alloy
Stability and Traction
Traction control: with trailer stability control
Steering
Steering ratio: 18.4 · Turns lock-to-lock: 3.0
Suspension
Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: double wishbones · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: solid live axle · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Phone: hands free · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app function: vehicle location
Third Row Seat
Type: 50-50 split bench
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 6
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: manual flip-up · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: with washer · Solar-tinted glass: front
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Rear air conditioning: with independent controls · Single rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · Slacker internet radio · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 9
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 13.3 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.3 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Center console trim: wood · Dash trim: wood · Door sill trim: illuminated scuff plate · Door trim: wood · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: wood
Convenience Features
Assist handle: front · Cargo area power outlet: 115V · Cargo cover: retractable · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front, rear and third row · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: power driver seat · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: vehicle and key memory · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: front seatback · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Axle ratio: 3.91 · Limited slip differential: center · Locking differential: center
Engine
Alternator: 130 amps · Battery: maintenance-free
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: body-color with chrome accents · Door handle color: chrome · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Mudguards: rear · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: side-hinged · Running boards: body color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3 · Number of third row headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Yelp · Infotainment: Enform · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: coolant temperature warning
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: reverse gear tilt
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Rear Seats
Type: 40-20-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: tilt/slide · Roof rails: silver
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: door unlock · Parking sensors: front · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front, rear, third, and fourth row · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front and rear · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point · Third row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Third row headrests: adjustable · Third row seat folding: flat · Upholstery: perforated
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Mount Location: underbody · Size: full-size
Spare Wheel
Rim type: aluminum alloy
Stability and Traction
Traction control: with trailer stability control
Steering
Steering ratio: 18.4 · Turns lock-to-lock: 3.0
Suspension
Air Suspension: rear · Driver Adjustable Suspension: height · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: double wishbones · Leveling: self leveling suspension · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Rear Suspension Classification: solid live axle · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app function: vehicle location
Third Row Seat
Type: 50-50 split bench
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 6
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: manual flip-up · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: with washer · Solar-tinted glass: front