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Lexus has done it again! With the consistent nudge towards hybrid and electric vehicles, the 2023 Lexus GX remains powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine. For all car enthusiasts, this is a win, regarding the love for raw power and torque.
Not only does Lexus provide a powerful engine for this luxury SUV, but they’ve also incorporated a body-on-frame build which is now rare and comes with the Mercedes-Benz G-wagon and the Land Rover Defender.
A quick look at Lexus’ website reveals that $57,575 gets you a naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 engine linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain is old, and you almost expect it to have a manual transmission, but it doesn’t. Lexus figured if it isn’t broken, why fix it?
Regardless, the GX comes standard with 4WD, an engine that churns out 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque. This impressive SUV can tow up to 6,500 pounds and is perfectly at ease tackling some of the most demanding off-road trails.
The exterior shows its take on Lexus’ modern signature spindle grille with an hourglass shape. Not to mention its chunky body that has undergone modifications over the years, but remains recognizable.
This year’s Black Line SE package adds black accents to its wheels, the roof rails, and shark fin. And instead of red taillights, this edition has clear lights with black inserts.
The package also sits on exclusive 18-inch gloss black wheels which add to the dark accents. Inside the car, you find a black headliner, Boulder Gray NuLuxe-trimmed seats, black matte ash wood trim, and contrasting gray stitching to give it a darker experience.
Let’s take a closer look at the 2023 Lexus GX.
The 2023 Lexus GX Is Great At Off-Roading
Like the majority of Luxury SUVs, the GX is fit with a standard four-wheel-drive (4WD) system with a two-speed transfer case that provides excellent off-road capability. The system has no problem hauling an entire family through some of the worst terrain.
The three-row interior has the quality and build you’d expect from a Lexus — comfortable and luxurious. Some would say the interior is becoming a bit outdated, but the fact remains that those seats are pretty cushiony and hold you well during those dips and turns while off-roading.
Some of the more mainstream SUVs in this class have more refined driving dynamics and better fuel economy, but few can compete with the GX’s rugged capabilities and proven dependability. The Land Rover Discovery is its closest competitor among off-road-ready luxury SUVs.
Lexus also has a Luxury trim which sports an Off-Road package with a surround-view parking camera system. It allows you to have a 360-degree view of the car and the surrounding obstacles.
Crawl control lets you move at a steady speed when in precarious situations, and a skid plate is also installed to protect the car’s underbelly. The package also comes with a Multi-Terrain Monitor, which uses cameras beneath the vehicle to show you what you’re driving over.
The 2023 Lexus GX Has Two Suspension Systems To Choose From
For a smoother ride, the GX comes with its Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) that uses a hydraulic system to transfer fluid from one cylinder to another when driving over uneven road surfaces.
This system enhances on-road and off-road performance to ensure you always feel stable and secure while driving. This is particularly helpful when cornering at high speed.
If you want even more stability as you drive, the Adaptive Variable Suspension adds electronically controlled dampers to bring out a smoother, more relaxed drive to the Lexus.
The 2023 Lexus GX Has An Improved Interior
Borrowing from the update initiated in the 2022 model, the 2023 GX has a functional interior. Loaded with a 10.3-inch touchscreen towering at the center console, the design brings a slightly updated feel to the model. The system supports Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa and Bluetooth, which is a leap into the future for the GX models.
The infotainment interface features a large touchscreen with mostly user-friendly controls and some functional physical buttons and knobs. The navigation and voice controls, on the other hand, aren’t as easy to use. The Remote Touchpad for controlling the infotainment system is similar to a laptop trackpad and is difficult to use while driving.
Regarding sound, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system specially engineered for Lexus is on board the SUV. Tri-zone automatic climate control is also among the available features for the 2023 GX.
Cargo Space Is Sufficient On The 2023 Lexus GX
In this luxury SUV, the second and third rows of seats fold flat into the floor, but the load deck of this traditional body-on-frame SUV is somewhat high, so anyone small will struggle to load heavier objects. This challenge also begs the question, where does your luggage go when you have a full car of people?
The liftgate also doesn’t flip up like a traditional hatch. Instead, it swings on the side hinges, which makes it open like a car door. This, combined with the somewhat high liftover height, make it difficult to load and unload cargo, though you can open the back windshield to drop in smaller items.
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