Test drive: The 2021 Lexus GX460 is a truck among crossovers

The 2021 Lexus GX460 may not look all that different from other SUVs, but it’s one of the most unusual ones you can buy today.

(Lexus)

Along with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, it’s the only midsize luxury model that’s still built with body-on-frame construction and a solid rear axle, which makes it a real “truck” for sticklers of the term.

If that seems like a blast from the past, keep in mind that the current GX460 traces its roots back to 2010 along with the Toyota 4Runner that it shares some of its architecture with, so it is.

The $54,125 GX460 is powered by a 301 hp V8 that’s as quiet and buttery smooth as they get and sends its power to a full-time all-wheel-drive system through a six-speed automatic transmission. It also has a part-time transfer case with a low range that turns it into a true 4×4 and has a 6,500-pound tow rating.

The GX460 features a three-row, seven passenger layout. There’s a good amount of legroom for second-row passengers, but the power-folding third row seats are snug. The upholstery is price-appropriate throughout, but the plasticky dash looks its age and has the vibe of a 1980s boom box.

Automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control are standard along with a blind spot monitor and lane departure alert system that keep the old truck somewhat up to date.

The GX460’s signature feature is it Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, which uses hydraulics to link the four corners of the vehicle to keep body motion under control on smooth roads without restricting articulations on rough ones. Optional computer-controlled adaptive shocks further enhance the ride quality on some trims.

The body design doesn’t offer the kind of ground clearance you get on a hardcore off-roader like a 4Runner TRD Pro, but it has serious chops that can be further improved with the addition of an Off-Road Package. It adds underbody protection, a 360-degree camera system with a virtual view of what’s under the vehicle, a Multi-Terrain Select traction management system and the Crawl Control low-speed cruise control, which can be used at up to 5 mph on challenging surfaces.

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