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Despite its aging design, the GX continues to boast elegant styling and luxury in a unique off-road-ready package. For better fuel economy, consider the Acura MDX or Infiniti FX.

The 2009 GX remains relatively unchanged for this year. In fact, it has been several years since it’s been redesigned — a sore point for many reviewers. The GX’s body-on-frame construction also puts it at a disadvantage compared to other luxury crossover SUVs. However, a redesign expected for the 2010 model may remedy that issue.

“Although its rugged truck-based underpinnings provide advantages in terms of towing or going off-road, the resulting higher weight, lower fuel economy and decreased space efficiency means this Lexus may not be the best choice for the type of on-road driving that most luxury SUV owners spend the majority of their time doing,” says Edmunds. “In addition, the GX 470 falls a bit short in terms of the latest luxury features when compared to newer competition.” Still, the GX is loved for its combination of class and ability to venture off the beaten path.

The 2009 Lexus GX comes in only one trim, the GX 470, which has standard all-wheel drive.

• “GX 470 is bolstered by the resale-value record and red-carpet dealer service associated with the Lexus brand. But a trucky nature makes it less appealing than crossover rivals such as Acura’s MDX and Lexus’ own RX.” — Consumer Guide
• “Crude architecture hampers the ride and interior space and never lets you forget it’s a truck.” — Car and Driver
• “Despite the current trend for manufacturers to build SUVs based on car chassis, Lexus has decided it can hold true to its original truck-based sport-utility roots with the GX 470, keeping its first-rate off-road abilities but refined to offer capable on-road dynamics at a price around $45,000.” — Road and Track
• “In the GX 470, rugged clearly does not mean outdated, and that goes beyond the entertainment choices.” — New Car Test Drive

GX Performance – 8.0 (Very Good)

For a truck-based SUV, the 2009 Lexus GX offers an especially smooth ride. On top of that, it’s a very capable off-roader and boasts a powerful V8 engine. In a comparison test with several other luxury SUVs, Car and Driver reports that the GX “never feels truckish. In fact, it delivered a ride almost as plush as the Acura’s and BMW’s, with plenty of suspension travel for even the worst two-tracks.” The GX placed fifth out of the eight SUVs tested.

GX Exterior – 7.6 (Good)

Reviewers have little to say about the 2009 GX’s exterior, though several complain that it hasn’t received an update in quite a while. “Beauty, of course, is in the eye of the beholder, and these eyes see both the Bimmer and the Benz as better-looking than the Lexus, which has that Toyota truck boxiness,” says the Los Angeles Times.

GX Interior – 7.7 (Good)

The GX’s upscale cabin is one of its strengths. An optional third row makes it extremely versatile for families looking for luxury. “Luxury is what Lexus is known for, and the interior of the GX 470 offers fine leather on the seats and lustrous wood on the dash and steering wheel,” says Edmunds. But there are a few features earn the GX doesn’t offer that competitors do.

GX Safety – NA

Neither the federal government nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released crash test ratings for the Lexus GX, but reviewers generally approve of the safety systems on board.

GX Reliability – 10.0 (Excellent)

The 2009 Lexus GX reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power’s automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2009 GX has a basic warranty for the first four years or 50,000 miles.

The Source for information on this page is: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Lexus_GX/

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