By AARON COLE
Managing Editor, MediaOne of Utah
It seems almost silly to ask, but when did “utility” fall out of favor from “sport utility vehicles?”
When drivers turned to four-wheel autobehemoths more than a decade ago because passenger sedans exploded on contact — or at least people thought they did — the dilution of recreational vehicles began.I’ve driven more SUVs less surefooted than Lindsay Lohan and daintier than grandmother’s china than true blood off-roading machines. What happened? Where’s the rock crawling, nail spitting, go-anywhere heritage of true SUVs? I want to ride in a four-wheel-drive version of “Rocky IV,” for once; conquering a snowy Russian mountain by day and sleeping on a wood floor at night.
Forget — for a moment — what’s in the 2010 Lexus GX460’s interior, and contemplate what’s not: a body-on-frame construction with live axle; a 4.6-liter V8 engine worth 301 horsepower and 329 ft.-lbs of torque; a limited-slip center differential that can be locked while bounding through the Gadsden Purchase; and a crawl mode that could scale a wall.
Did I mention this is a Lexus?
The GX460 traces its lineage back to the Toyota 4Runner — a true legend in the monument of off-roading glory — and is forged with all the grit and mettle of its ancestor. The resemblance is unmistakable as the exterior styling borrows heavily from the redesigned 4Runner.
But the Lexus GX46 also carries all the accoutrements standard for a luxury SUV parked outside your favorite far-too-expensive restaurant. Think Mr. T in a tuxedo.
The Lexus has textbook full-time, four-wheel drive, equipped with a low range the carmaker gussied up for sophisticated audiences with a nifty mechanism called Crawl Control. The GX 460’s computer regulates speed, braking and engine output in the go-slow mode with five speed settings, which allows drivers to focus on the rock formations they’re about to traverse. Included with the granny gears are downhill brake assist and active traction to keep this intricate mountain goat rigidly planted on terra firma.
Lexus struck a balance with all that machinery by making it fade seamlessly into the background when drivers are less adventurous — or just commuting to work. Ride comfort in and around town is impressive for a truck with toolings made for off-road and upside-down driving.
This year, Consumer Reports issued a warning to consumers about the vehicle’s stability control — or lack thereof — while skidding and issued a “don’t buy,” rating. While the concern was handled immediately by Toyota in a massive, public recall, it’s hard to say that even under vigorous driving circumstances an ordinary customer could duplicate the issue Reports found.
Lexus scaled back from the previous generation GX by losing a little displacement and ride height in the 2010 model. The SUV’s leaner engine boasts 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway, a slightly better mark than previous years.
While it’s plain to see Lexus built the new GX to be leaner, meaner and greener than previous generations, the SUV still hasn’t strayed far from the audience that made it popular in past years.
Standard luxury fare like xenon headlights, opulent climate control, leather seats, wood trim and optional third-row seating cater strictly to a suburban crowd who view the SUV less as an off-road animal and more of a grocery getting, status symbol tank.
The price tag isn’t for the faint of heart. Starting at $55,000 and easily running up to $62,000, which was the price of our test vehicle fitted with satellite navigation and other nifty goodies, the GX460 is planted solidly in higher tax brackets than other SUVs with the same off-road capabilities.
But even with the flair and glitz that the GX460 brings to the road, it’s hard to ignore that this truck was built for the hills. Looks, they say, can be deceiving.
Aaron Cole is a syndicated auto columnist and managing editor of MediaOne of Utah, and has driven hundreds of new cars — but only briefly. By most accounts he is wrong and has proudly been banned on Internet message boards. Send complaints, compliments or supplemental income to aaron.m.cole@me.com.
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