2012 Lexus GX 460 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Lexus GX 460 review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 GX 460, and includes Lexus GX 460 safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The 2012 Lexus GX 460 is a seven-passenger, body-on-frame SUV equipped with a standard V8 engine and a full-time four-wheel-drive system. Competitors include the Audi Q7, Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX56, and Mercedes-Benz GL Class.

For Lexus, 2012 could very well be the Year of the Color Change. Like many of its siblings, the GX 460’s assortment of exterior hues has been touched up a bit, as Fire Agate Pearl arrives to replace Peridot Mica. Other mild tweaks include new wheels and revised exterior trim.

Lexus is in the business of building coddling luxury vehicles, so it comes as no surprise to discover that both GX 460 models, base and Premium, are equipped with creature comforts aplenty. Starting with the lesser of the two, we find a list of standard features that includes dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped seats, power heated and ventilated front seats with memory for the driver’s settings, a power folding third-row seat, wood interior trim, and a power moonroof. A nine-speaker sound system with an iPod-ready USB port, satellite radio with a complimentary three-month subscription, and a six-disc CD changer also comes standard, and the GX 470 is equipped with Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, a 4.2-inch center display screen in the dashboard, and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity. That assortment of vehicular niceties is provided in addition to rain-sensing windshield wipers, illuminated running boards, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

From there, buyers can build upon the GX 460’s foundation by adding optional HID headlights, a touch-screen navigation system that incorporates Lexus Enform telematics, a 330-watt Mark Levinson audio upgrade, and a rear entertainment system. Passengers in the second- and third-row seats might also appreciate the available triple-zone climate control system, while drivers could benefit from Lexus’ sensor-based Intuitive Park Assist technology.

Buyers who direct their attention to the 2012 GX 460 Premium will find all of the base version’s standard amenities, as well as power-folding auto-dimming exterior mirrors, HID headlights, and an adaptive variable suspension with three settings. Inside, the Premium model gains a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, and triple-zone automatic climate control.

Most options are shared between the two trim levels, though a handful have been reserved specifically for the Premium. You’ll need to get the Premium model if you want a pre-collision system that bundles intelligent cruise control with a lane departure warning system, a driver attention monitor, and a wide-angle forward-view camera to aid drivers when traveling in tight places.

Within the GX 460’s name lies a clue as to what you’ll finder under the hood. It’s a 4.6-liter V8 engine that puts out 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, and has earned EPA ratings of 15 mpg in they city and 20 mpg on the highway. Every 2012 GX 460 is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system that includes a Torsen limited-slip center differential with a locking feature for those times when traction is high in demand yet short in supply.

Rivaling the GX 460’s abundance of standard features is a bountiful collection of safety-related items, such as four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, 10 airbags, stability and traction control systems, and Smart Stop technology (the brakes override the accelerator if both are pressed at the same time). Lexus has also fitted its mid-level SUV with downhill assist and hill-start assist control to help drivers when ascending or descending steep grades. At the time of this writing, crash test results had not been published.

All of those safety features and creature comforts make the GX 460 appealing to shoppers, unless, of course, they don’t work. Consumer Reports, for one, doesn’t think that will be an issue, as the publication predicts above average reliability and has included this Lexus amongst its coveted selection of Recommended vehicles. J.D. Power and Associates has given the GX 470 an award for its quality, and has recently predicted that dependability will be well above average.

When circumstances call for the GX 460 to serve as a cargo van, the second- and third-row seats can be folded to create a 91.9 cubic-foot storage space. If that doesn’t quite get the job done, perhaps the SUV’s 6,500-pound towing capacity will.

Though it’s less efficient than some of its key rivals, and lacks the option of a more powerful engine, the 2012 GX 460 impresses with its refinement, reliability and proven off-road capability. If a spacious third-row seat is absent from your list of must-haves, this Lexus is deserving of a test drive.

By Thom Blackett