Lexus GX 470 named Four Wheeler of the year

[RangerX]

I just got the Feb '03 Four Wheeler in the mail. The Lexus won over the Wrangler Rubicon, H2, 4Runner, diesel Excursion, Montero, and Kia Sorrento.

 

[Hartman]

How can this be...

 

[Mike]

bwhahahahhahaha

 

[Alec]

It's based on the 4Runner platform. From what I've read, it is a very competent vehicle both on and offroad. I can guess why it won:

Over the Wrangler R; road manners, noise, and overall luxury
Over the H2; same as above plus styling and mileage
Over the 4Runner; same truck but more expensive
Over the Exc; too big, noisy, and mileage
Over the Montero and Kia; DUH!

 

[wj-jeep-guy]

the rubicon shouldve won, it is 4 wheeler of the year not luxury overpriced yuppiemobile of the year.

 

[Texplorer]

the rubicon shouldve won, it is 4 wheeler of the year not luxury overpriced yuppiemobile of the year.

Who do you think most of the buyers are for these types of SUV's, yuppies. If it was a true 4wd contest you would of seen a different group of trucks like the Grand Cheroke, Xterra, and other SUV's aimed toward outdoors activities. But since they are trying to get the whole price range for this test (from 18.000 to over 45,000) they have to pick different types. And you cant compare a $45,000 vehicle to an $18,000 one.

 

[Robb]

I can't believe the KIA didn't win..............if I had my choice of the KIA or Lexus, I would take the KIA everyday of the week.

Robb

 

[DocVijay]

The Lexus is actually a very competent off-roader. Throw in the fact that it's also a very competent on-roader as well, and you do have a winner. There are actually tons of mods available for these guys. If I had the money, I'd get one. Then I'd scrape it all up on rocks and trees, just to see the real yuppies that consider a gravel road as off-roading pass out.

 

[Doug]

Lexus and "competent offroader" are 3 words that should never be used in the same sentence. EXPECIALLY when being compared to a rubicon. Ill tell you right know why the lexus was rated #1 in four wheeler... FourWheeler = Pavement Queen rag. When was the last time you saw a beat up trail rig on the cover of one of those magazines?

 

[Pendarus]

Last spring I spent a day off roading in an Infiniti QX4. As a stock vehicle it could do everything my stock 94 4X4 could do. If I had to buy a new luxury SUV for offroad I would have a QX4.
So don't get down on the the Japanese luxury crowd, some of them a very competent off road vehicles.

 

[Doug]

Originally posted by Pendarus
Last spring I spent a day off roading in an Infiniti QX4. As a stock vehicle it could do everything my stock 94 4X4 could do. If I had to buy a new luxury SUV for offroad I would have a QX4.
So don't get down on the the Japanese luxury crowd, some of them a very competent off road vehicles.

call me skeptical but i highly doubt a stock qx4 could do as well as a stock explorer. though it of course depends on the trail. Im willing to bet a stocl explorer would be able to do more than a qx4 but thats just me.

 

[Pendarus]

It was a very competent 4X4. It has lowrange and a locking center diff. The only complaint I had is the ground clearance could be better. It did very well on a trail where my X almost got high centered. Also you must remember it is buit on the Pathfinder chassis. Very rugged and very confortable.

 

[DocVijay]

The Land Cruiser has always been a great off-roader. It's been in production for over 50 years and has kicked ass all of them. Throw in the leather and every other option and you can loose sight of it's true capabilities. Lest we forget, the Land Rovers are also luxury vehicles, and are still some of the best off-roaders on the planet.


Just because something is luxury doesn't mean it can't get down and dirty. It's just that most people don't buy them for that.

 

[Alec]

...and I'd kinda be afraid of body damage in a $50,000+ vehicle. But like I said above, the new Lexus GX is built on the 4Runner platform, which is a fairly decent chassis.

 

[Stephen]

Hate to drag up a discussion thats already ceased, but I missed it the first time around.

I do agree, that if I were going to pick a vehicle for "fourwheeler of the year" then the GX470 wouldn't be my choice. If I were picking "SUV of the year" then it would be a very different story. I have not driven the GX yet, but I did take and extended look at one at the car show, and I did extensively drive the Lexus LX470 a couple of years ago before I bought my Sequoia, but I couldn't justify the price because it wasn't going to be a daily driver.

The LX is every bit as competent an offroad vehicle as the Toyota Land Cruiser it is based on. Lexus does a good job at adding refinement and luxury, but not changing the basic systems and construction that allow the Land Cruiser to be as good as it is offroad. You can take an LX470 anywhere you can take a Land Cruiser.

From what I can see the same is true of the GX. It has the same frame construction and 4WD system as the 4Runner, as well as a height adjustible suspension hill descent control.

Lexus does a good job at making no outrageous claims about their vehicles, they are what they basically are and that works for the buying public, and both the GX and LX are competent.

As for the QX4, its actually gotten great reviews for its offroad prowess. My quess would be it would easily run circles around a stock Explorer offroad...