Luxurious and highly capable, with fresh styling.

Introduction

The 2008 Lexus GX470 gets fresh styling on the outside and new trim inside. Based on the Toyota 4Runner, the GX combines superior off-road capability with Lexus luxury and quality. 

For 2008, Lexus revised the styling to give the GX a richer, more mature exterior appearance. Changes for 2008 include a dark metallic grille, red-and-clear taillights, a liquid graphite finish for the wheels, and bright-metal door handles and roof rack side rails. Darker wood trim lends a more upscale look to the interior for 2008. The last complete redesign was for the 2003 model year. For 2007, Lexus updated the GX 470's optional rear-seat DVD system with a 9-inch wide-format screen. The optional navigation system offers voice activation and enhanced display features. An input jack for iPods and other audio devices comes standard. The optional Mark Levinson Premium Audio offers DVD capability and can play MP3/WMA-formatted CDs. Everyone, from rear-seat passengers to the driver, can watch a movie on one of the screens, including the navigation screen when parked. 

Inside, the GX 470 is roomy, quiet and comfortable, with an optional third-row seat that expands capacity to eight. Its cabin is swathed in leather and walnut. An overhead-cam V8 and smooth five-speed automatic transmission provide sufficient power for towing, trail-bashing, or carving corners on a coastal highway. 

Power is provided by a 4.7-liter V8, rated 263 horsepower and a substantial 323 pound-feet of torque, driving through a five-speed automatic transmission. Underneath, the GX 470 has body-on-frame construction like commercial or military trucks, with a solid rear axle and serious four-wheel drive features such as a locking center differential and two-speed transfer case. Its full-time four-wheel drive features electronic traction control (A-TRAC) and automatically dispatches torque to the tires with the best grip. An electronic system called Downhill Assist Control (DAC) helps the GX 470 safely negotiate slippery inclines, while Vehicle Stability Control helps steady the GX 470 in slippery turns. 

We've found the Lexus GX 470 highly capable in rugged terrain. Its electronic features make unskilled drivers look like experienced off-road pilots while enabling experienced off-road drivers to go even farther. In short, the GX 470 can go just about anywhere its driver is willing to point it. Its rugged design means it holds up well when punished repeatedly over rough roads, good for drivers who frequent the backcountry or launch boats over rugged terrain. 

Lineup

The 2008 Lexus GX 470 is offered in a single, well-equipped trim level ($47,315). Standard features include leather upholstery, power heated seats, a wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, rain-sensing wipers, automatic dual-zone climate control, HomeLink universal transmitter, an 11-speaker stereo with six-CD changer, rear-seat audio with remote control and headphones, a glass sunroof, illuminated running boards, and a 115V AC power outlet in the cargo area. The standard wheels are 17-inch alloys wearing 265/65HR17 tires. 

The optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System ($1,750) enhances on-road handling without compromising off-road capability. A Sport Package ($1,800) combines KDSS with smoked front and rear light bezels, a chromed exhaust tip, and dark graphite finish on the wheels and roof rack. Inside, dark graphite trim is added to the center console and instrument panel, and the standard brown walnut wood trim is replaced by black bird's-eye maple. The carpet is black, too, instead of the standard gray or ivory. 

The optional navigation system ($3,250) includes a Mark Levinson audio upgrade, Bluetooth wireless technology that links compatible cellular telephones to the GX for hands-free communication, and a reverse-camera system to help spot objects (and children) behind the vehicle. Options include a third-row seat combined with rear air conditioning ($485); a rear-seat entertainment system with two headphone sets ($1,650); and a tow-hitch bracket ($50). 

Lexus Link ($900), which comes with a one-year subscription, combines GPS satellite and cellular phone technology to connect the driver to a concierge desk 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Roadside assistance, stolen vehicle tracking and remote door unlocking are among the services provided. The system automatically dispatches emergency services if you press a panic button, or if the airbags are deployed and you fail to respond to the operator's call. 

Safety features that come standard include advanced front airbags, side-impact airbags for the front seats (for torso protection in a side impact), and side-curtain airbags (for head protection in a side impact or rollover). Three-point seatbelts are provided for each seating position, and the front belts are equipped with pretensioners and force limiters to help minimize seatbelt-related injuries. A tire pressure monitoring system comes standard. We recommend getting Lexus Link for its safety benefits. The GX 470 has the latest electronic control systems, including four-wheel traction control, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), a Torsen limited-slip center differential, and Adaptive Variable Suspension with adjustable height control. 

Walkaround

The Lexus GX 470 looks big and brawny. It doesn't seem excessively long on the outside, but it does look tall, especially from the rear, in part because of the vertically oriented tail lamps and other design cues. From the rear it looks tippy, which is unfortunate because it's anything but. 

The GX 470 shares its basic five-door body shell with the Toyota 4Runner. Unique rear quarters give the Lexus a different visual personality, however. It looks cleaner and more contemporary, a bit more like a tall station wagon compared to the carefully calculated rugged-truck look of the 4Runner. Unique grilles and bumpers distinguish the two vehicles and give them their respective Lexus and Toyota identities, but a more careful examination reveals that they are more alike than different. 

Details add visual richness to the GX 470. These include its peaky hood and grille combination, along with its nicely integrated body-colored bumpers, fender flares and side moldings. Massive headlamps and those complex, high-mounted tail lamps define its corners. 

Of the trim changes made for 2008, the new dark-metallic finish on the grille seems to make the least difference. More noticeable is the darker finish on the wheels, which somehow makes the spokes look slimmer. Turning down the brightness on the wheels has allowed Lexus to turn it up on the door handles and roof rack without making the GX look over-decorated. The overall change is subtle, and whether or not it's an improvement is a matter of personal preference. The new taillights are contoured the same as before, but the formerly orange portion at the top has been replaced by a small clear window for reverse and turn-signal functions. 

Interior

The Lexus GX 470 interior is trimmed in rich leather and new brown walnut trim. The woodgrain is darker and richer on 2008 models, an improvement over the orangey tone on 2007 models. 

The GX 470 is roomy and well finished, with large, comfortable seats and lots of elbow room. The materials are excellent. Tall side windows afford a good view out, making the cabin seem airy. 

All controls are right where we expect them to be, and everything is clearly labeled. All of the gauges and instruments are large and easy to read, with simple graphics shared by other Lexus products. Switches and controls are large, straightforward, elegantly designed and easy to operate. 

The GX is a space-efficient vehicle. The second row bench seat is roomy, comfortable and easy to get into. It splits 60/40 for versatility and folds flat. A family of four with a big dog will feel right at home. 

The third row, if ordered, can seat eight, sort of. The third row is suitable for children, but it's nearly hopeless for adults. On the positive side, the rear air conditioning included with the third seat allows separate temperature adjustment for third-row kiddies and dogs. Split 50/50, the third-row seat can be folded up out of the way or removed and stored. 

The cargo bay offers 13 cubic feet of storage behind the third row. It can be expanded in steps to more than 77 cubic feet by folding or removing the lightweight third-row seats, then folding the second row. This compares well with other current models in the class. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class offers 72.4 cubic feet, the BMW X5 offers just 62 cubic feet. Unfortunately, the GX 470's cargo door opens from the left side, awkward in the U.S. when unloading curbside at the airport. 

The navigation system, introduced for 2007, includes voice recognition that allows the driver to enter a destination by voice command. The screen features a high-resolution, 800x480-pixel display in 32,000 colors. Maps and roads are shown with 3-D shadow effects, and the system can even display graphic representations of buildings in selected cities. System functions include multiple route calculation, route preview, simplified highway-junction graphics and a dual-map screen option. Text can be displayed in English, Spanish, or French. 

The navigation system integrates Bluetooth wireless technology. When using a compatible phone, Bluetooth allows the driver to transfer phone books to the nav system and make calls through its touch-screen panel or voice commands. 

The backup camera (included with navigation) displays what's directly behind the GX 470 on the seven-inch nav screen when reverse is engaged. Beyond helping the driver to avoid backing over obstacles, such as a tricycle left in the driveway, it's also useful when parking in tight spaces. It's also a valuable safety feature because it can help the driver spot a child behind the vehicle when backing up. 

The standard audio system includes an auxiliary input jack. The Mark Levinson audio option turns the GX 470 into a concert hall on wheels, with 14 speakers and 240 watts of power. The Panasonic rear-seat entertainment system ranked highest in overall customer satisfaction in a 2005 J.D. Power and Associates study, and it' been upgraded since then with a 9-inch wide-screen display. The high-resolution screen lowers from the headliner. Front-seat passengers can watch a DVD on the navigation screen with the Mark Levinson audio system, but only when the vehicle is in Park. 

Driving Impression

The Lexus GX 470 is a smooth, comfortable SUV for everyday driving, and it offers some of the best off-road capability in the luxury class. Its array of onboard electronics is top-drawer, and all systems work in concert to increase the GX 470's capability and the driver's confidence. 

The 4.7-liter V8 delivers world-class smoothness and quiet. At highway cruising speeds it's barely audible. The GX 470 is no slouch in the performance department, in spite of its 4,871-pound curb weight. It's capable of full-throttle sprints from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.1 seconds, with a nice V8 intake roar to go with the rush. Toyota's sophisticated electronic VVT-i (for Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) improves efficiency and response at all engine speeds. VVT-i also helps the GX 470 run cleaner, earning the government's stringent ULEV-II (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) rating. Peak horsepower is 263 at 5400 rpm; torque tops out at 3400 rpm and 323 pound-feet. 

That's strong torque for towing. If you're pulling anything up to its limit of 6,500 pounds, this truck will handle it with ease. 

Fuel economy is impacted by all this capability. EPA estimates are 15/19 mpg City/Highway. And while the GX 470 will run on unleaded regular, Lexus recommends 91 octane (or higher) premium fuel for optimum performance. 

The five-speed automatic transmission offers quicker response and better gearing than a traditional four-speed automatic. Like the engine, the transmission is very smooth. 

The GX 470 handles well for a body-on-frame truck with a live rear axle. Like many truck-based SUVs, it feels heavy and ponderous, but it's never a chore to drive in the daily grind. Variable-ratio rack-and-pinion steering makes the steering quick and light in parking situations, but smoother and heavier on the highway, so it never feels over-assisted or darty. As a result, the GX 470 feels solid and well-planted at highway speeds. 

The adaptive suspension, which comes standard, continuously changes the shock absorber damping at each wheel individually in response to road surface conditions and speed as well as steering and braking inputs from the driver. Four driver-selectable settings are available to tailor the system to driver preferences or situations. You might want to use the softest setting for a bumpy boulevard, for example, then switch to a firm setting for driving down a winding rural road. We did this and it works well. The system automatically increases shock absorber stiffness in transitional maneuvers. It also reduces dive under hard braking and squat under hard acceleration. Air springs in the rear can raise rear ride height in rugged terrain or lower the rear end when loading cargo. 

Ride quality is also remarkably refined for a truck with a live rear axle. Road vibration and pavement undulations get through, but they are damped. We found the Comfort setting produced a cushy feel, though it's no magic carpet ride as you can still feel the suspension reacting to bumps. Switching all the way to the Sport setting makes the bumps feel more pronounced, making for a less comfortable ride, but more responsive cornering. 

The optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System provides more roll stiffness when needed for crisp handling response, without an increase in spring rate over bumpy roads. In other words, you get better handling without sacrificing ride quality. The system disengages the stabilizer bars for rugged, off-highway conditions, allowing more suspension travel and articulation to help the GX 470 step over obstacles. Lexus claims the system has been proven in World Rally Championship competition, which is another way of saying it's the real deal, not a fragile gadget. 

The brakes are superb. They have a nice feel and are easy to modulate for smooth stops in everyday driving. The brake rotors are large, and all four discs are ventilated for long life and fade-free performance. (Most trucks us. 

Summary

The Lexus GX 470 is a good choice for buyers who want luxury, build quality and off-road capability. It's smooth and powerful on the road and can go nearly anywhere off the pavement. The cabin is trimmed in quality materials and features good ergonomic function. It's roomy and comfortable and can accommodate up to eight people when equipped with the optional third-row seat. Plus, there's the Lexus reputation for quality, durability and reliability. If your driving takes you off the pavement or deep snow is part of your annual driving, the Lexus GX 470 is an excellent choice. If fuel economy is more important, a crossover such as the Lexus RX might be a better choice. 

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Jim McCraw is based in the Detroit area. 

Model Lineup

Lexus GX 470 ($47,315). 

Assembled In

Tahara, Japan. 

Options As Tested

third-row seat with rear air conditioner ($485); tow hitch receiver ($50); navigation system with Mark Levinson Audio ($3,250); rear seat DVD entertainment system ($1,650).