2022 Lexus GX Reviews, Pricing & Specs

We know you’re out there. You’re one of those people who love black-on-black vehicles that are impossible to keep clean. And even when you try, a flawless surface free of drip runs and surface swirls is essentially unobtainium without significant extra time and effort spent sweating the details. So, no, we do not understand you.

But you’ll probably love the new-for-2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition that we evaluated for this review. Though this version is also available in Starfire Pearl or Nori Green Pearl, the test vehicle arrived in the third available color: Black Onyx. The Black Line treatment eradicates almost all chrome from the GX’s exterior. In combination with the test model’s paint job, the new Black Line treatment transforms the SUV into a rolling black hole attempting to suck in and extinguish all of the light within its event horizon.

It took less than 24 hours and a windy afternoon to coat the Lexus with a layer of brown dust that made it look drab, shabby, and old.

Actually, every new Lexus GX model looks old. If not for the signature Lexus spindle grille and running lights, and the triple-beam LED headlights, you could easily confuse a new second-generation edition for a first-generation 2002 GX 470, which itself appeared dated when it went on sale two decades ago. At least the latest examples don’t look quite as ancient inside, though the overall themes between the original GX and the 2022 model are similar.

You certainly cannot fault the cabin’s quality. With few exceptions, everything within looks like it is crafted with care, featuring the smooth, silky refinement for which Lexus is legendary. It’s quiet, too, with little more than the faint roar of the standard V8 engine making its way to occupants’ ears.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 is available in Standard, Premium, and Luxury trim, and prices range between $56,700 and $66,210, including destination charges. Lexus bases the Black Line Special Edition on the GX 460 Premium and prices it starting at $60,535.

Given the GX 460’s base curb weight of 5,126 pounds, Lexus has no choice but to install a thirsty 4.6-liter V8 engine.

The powertrain makes 301 horsepower, the same as a Toyota Camry’s 3.5-liter V6, so it isn’t potent. What it supplies, though, in addition to a satisfying engine note and plenty of refinement, is torque. At just 3,500 rpm, you get 329 pound-feet of torque, which helps to make the GX’s leisurely 7.8-second run to 60 mph feel a little more exciting. The torque also contributes to the GX’s maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

A six-speed automatic transmission pairs with a full-time 4WD system with a limited-slip differential and electronic differential lock. The 4WD system is always on sending, 40 percent of the engine’s power goes to the front wheels, and 60 percent flows to the rear wheels in normal driving conditions.

You may have noticed the GX 460 is shaped like a tall and narrow shoebox on wheels. Unsurprisingly, its drag coefficient measures 0.35, which is a relatively high value—and not in a good way. Take that figure into account, along with the V8 engine, the always-on 4WD system, and the ponderous curb weight, and it isn’t at all surprising that the EPA fuel economy estimate is 16 mpg in combined driving. On premium gas, no less. On our testing loop, including a brief off-roading drive on moderately challenging terrain, the GX returned 16.8 mpg, a better result than expected.

Furthermore, the GX’s standard Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) goes a long way toward making the GX agreeable to drive. It helps maximize wheel articulation off-road while alleviating the excessive body motions you might rightfully expect in a tall vehicle with a short and narrow wheelbase. As a result, the GX feels more stable and secure than it otherwise might.

The Lexus GX hasn’t seen a redesign in 13 model years, but it remains surprisingly agreeable to drive. Lexus has done everything it can to refine the GX’s ride and handling on pavement, and like its cousin, the Toyota 4Runner, the GX is more capable than many rival SUVs off-road. The least appealing things about the ride and handling are the slow, heavy steering, which makes parking a chore, and the touchy brake pedal, making it hard to drive smoothly in traffic.

If you’re considering a GX, and are intending to take it deep into the backcountry, you will want the Off-Road Package. Available only with the Luxury trim level, this upgrade installs Multi-Terrain Select (an off-road traction control), Crawl Control (an off-road, low-speed cruise control), skid plates, improved drivetrain cooling, and both Multi-Terrain and Panoramic View monitoring cameras.

Climb aboard the Lexus GX, and you’ll enjoy an elevated driving position from a 10-way power-adjustable seat coupled with clear outward visibility. Designed for use in global markets, the GX is tall in height, narrow in width, and short in length, making it easy to position and maneuver in urban, suburban, and off-roading situations. Only the syrupy, molasses-slow steering requires extra effort.

The test vehicle’s seats were comfortable, and interior padding was present in all of the appropriate places. Some of the switchgear is decidedly old-school, but that simply means this Lexus is loaded with physical rather than virtual controls, clearly labeled in white on a matte-black background.

However, we repeatedly used the wrong knobs to adjust the stereo, accidentally twisting the Downhill Assist Control (DAC) and 4WD knobs instead of the volume and tuning knobs located below them. Come on, Lexus. Which ones are people going to use more often?

Black Line Special Edition models have NuLuxe upholstery—a convincing simulated leather—as well as black ash wood trim and a black headliner. In addition, the front seats are heated and ventilated, the back seats are heated, and this model offers triple-zone automatic climate control. Unfortunately, entering the rear seat is tricky because the back door openings aren’t wide. But, once you’re in, the GX offers a tall seating position and plenty of room for legs and feet.

There is a third-row seat, but access is challenging, and adults will be very unhappy in this location. You might not want to put kids back there, either, since the seatbacks and head restraints reside just inches from the GX’s cargo door. That doesn’t leave much rear crush space if another large SUV or a big pickup truck crashes into the back of this Lexus.

Not only is the third-row seat inhospitable, but also it eliminates cargo space. And when stowed, it forces a higher load floor that makes putting heavy objects into the GX harder than it otherwise might be.

Loading a Lexus GX is already a hassle. This SUV uses a heavy tailgate that swings open to the side, from left to right. So if you’re parked at a curb or another vehicle is close behind the Lexus, good luck getting anything into this SUV. It’s neither power-operated nor a hands-free design, either.

Lexus claims the GX will hold 11.6 cubic feet of cargo behind the third-row seat, but unless you’re carefully stacking bricks to the ceiling, we fail to see how this space is usable. Flatten the power-folding third-row seat, and the GX carries a respectable 46.7 cubic feet of luggage. However, with the second-row seat folded down, cargo space is limited to 64.7 cubic feet, less than a Toyota RAV4 supplies.

Lexus calls the 2022 GX 460 “the most advanced GX ever.” That’s accurate, thanks to a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is long overdue.

The new infotainment screen sits at the top of the center control panel above the air vents, where it is easy to see and use. Best of all, there is no further reason to fumble around with the old Remote Touch Interface (RTI) touchpad on the center console—though it remains present to collect dust and take up space that could otherwise be used for storage.

Highlights of the infotainment system include standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. The GX even has a CD player, so dust off that old disc collection and get ready to relive the 1990s. But, there’s also a Lexus app that is smartwatch-compatible and Lexus Enform connected services—including a WiFi hotspot—so you get the best of both eras. In addition, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround-sound audio system is available but was not installed in the test vehicle.

Oddly, Lexus mounts the stereo controls at the bottom of the center control panel under the off-roading controls. Both sets of components use knobs, but the ones for the stereo are shallow and smooth, making them harder to grasp and turn than the more prominent and textured knobs for the DAC and 4WD. Plus, the stereo knobs are the same color and finish as the panel on which they’re located, while the DAC and 4WD knobs get shiny trim to attract the eye. This entire arrangement seems backward.

Notably, the infotainment display offers a dual-screen view so that you can see the navigation map and the radio display simultaneously. Also, the voice recognition technology is excellent, quick and accurate in its responses. Dare we say it, but we like the GX’s new system more than the next-generation Lexus infotainment system that debuted in the redesigned 2022 NX.

For 2022, Lexus makes its Intuitive Parking Assist technology standard on the GX. That’s a fancy name for the front and rear parking sensors. You can also upgrade the SUV with surround-view and terrain-view cameras. Otherwise, there isn’t much in the way of technology to discuss.

Structurally, the Lexus GX is a teenager. Keep that in mind because there aren’t any crash-test ratings to consult when assessing the safety of this SUV. And remember what we said about how close the third-row seat is to the tailgate and rear window glass.

Avoiding a collision in the first place is easier thanks to standard Lexus Safety System+, a collection of safety features that includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The GX 460 also has blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services with automatic collision notification and emergency calling. Safety Connect is complimentary for three years.

If you review the list of features above, you’ll find some things missing: safety technologies that are available in the Lexus GX’s competitors.

Now, you might find their absence refreshing and a reason to buy the GX. Or, if you want driving aids such as lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, a Level 2 semi-autonomous highway driving system, active blind-spot intervention, evasive steering assist, or other increasingly common technologies in modern luxury SUVs, you’ll need to shop elsewhere.

We didn’t miss them, and since the Lexus wasn’t trying to second-guess or override our steering inputs during our evalution, the lack of tech may have contributed to an unexpectedly favorable impression of the GX driving experience.

There are two reasons to buy a Lexus GX 460: going off-road or towing up to 6,500 pounds of trailer. Otherwise, this SUV is primarily a study in compromise, which may help explain why Lexus quit claiming to relentlessly pursue perfection.

Alternatives to the GX that offer similar off-road exploration capability but more modern technology include the Jeep Grand Cherokee L in Summit and Summit Reserve trim and the Land Rover Defender and Discovery. However, the Jeeps and Land Rovers cannot match the quality that oozes from the Lexus GX, nor its reputation for bulletproof reliability.

Speaking more broadly, it is puzzling that Lexus has allowed its entire lineup to age in a less-than-graceful fashion and has missed clear opportunities to retain existing (and attract new) customers. For example, the company still does not offer a properly sized three-row crossover SUV. (No, the RX L doesn’t count because its third-row seat is as useless as the GX’s).

However, based on the revamped IS sports sedan, the new NX compact crossover, and the redesigned LX large SUV, the winds of change are blowing at Lexus. A replacement for the GX, if one is coming, can’t arrive soon enough.