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Best Car Deals for April 20252023 Lexus GX: Luxury and Off-Road Capability
What do our experts think of the 2023 Lexus GX? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels, and more. Find out our thoughts here.
What’s new for the 2023 Lexus GX?
As we expect an all-new generation to debut any day now, the 2023 GX doesn’t get much in the way of new equipment for 2023. What it does get is a new Eminent White Pearl paint color and the 17-speaker sound system that was optional on the Luxury trim last year is now standard. The Black Line Special Edition now gets a 360-degree camera system as standard equipment too.
2023 Lexus GX – lexus.com | Shop 2023 Lexus GX on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Excellent off-road
Fun V8
High-quality interior
Poor fuel economy
3rd row is very small
Slow infotainment system
We can’t wait for the 2024 GX update
2023 GX Specs
- 301 horsepower from base engine
- 329 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- 11.6 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 64.7 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Towing capacity of 6,500 lbs
- Available rear-seat infotainment system
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- 6-year warranty coverage
2023 Lexus GX Powertrain
Under the hood of every GX is a 4.6-liter V8 without a lick of electrification. With petrol power alone it develops 301 hp and 329 lb-ft of torque which it then sends to all four wheels with a six-speed automatic transmission.
That’s a pretty old-school powertrain but in the GX it’s put on display as robust, reliable, and actually pretty fun in a straight line. Sure, most rivals at this price point are actually quicker but the V8 in the GX does have some great character.
At the same time, it’s better to drive than we expected thanks to Lexus’ Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System which manages to keep the GX taut and tight on the road while allowing for more suspension travel off-road. This large SUV is easy to place in a lane, doesn’t float around at high speed, and isn’t really hard to park either. A newly-standard 360 camera system on the top trim helps too.
Where the GX really impresses though is in its ability to coddle an entire crew while climbing a mountain or rolling down a desert trail. To look at it, the GX seems like little more than another large mall cruiser but the truth is that it’s sincerely capable off-road. 8.1-inches of ground clearance helps but really this is a bundle of off-road fun wrapped up in a very fancy package.
Towing & Payload
Lexus says that the GX will tow up to 6,500 pounds which is fantastic for this segment. Surely, some of the truck-like underpinnings and the big V8 have something to do with that rating. Somewhat surprisingly, the tow hitch and wiring must be dealer installed as opposed to factory-ordered.
2023 Lexus GX Fuel Economy & MPG
The GX gets an EPA-estimated 15 mpg in the city and 19 on the highway. That’s pretty rough in today’s market but we’re happy to say that in our own testing it hit those figures and even exceeded them by an MPG or two at times.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The experience in the cabin of the 2023 Lexus GX is a mixed bag and somewhat dependent on where one sits. The front seats are spacious, highly-adjustable, comfortable, and feel very supportive. The dash, door cards, and center console feels well-made too. We even like the physical switchgear on the steering wheel and center control stack. Behind the front row though, things start to deteriorate a bit.
The second row is mostly comfortable too though the seats aren’t as well-cushioned or comfortable over time. They can be adjusted both back and forth on sliders and reclined though so that’s a positive. The third row is incredibly cramped and really only suitable for kids.
Keep in mind that with the third-row seats upright and in place, the GX has only 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space, making the rear cargo area miniscule unless the third row is stowed. Those with big families or the need to transport more than five people total regularly might do better to look at a larger SUV like the Chevrolet Tahoe or Infiniti QX80. All of that having been said, the GX is a supremely quiet place to spend time.
2023 Lexus GX Entertainment & Tech
Despite its age, the GX comes fully equipped with a decent technology package. Atop the center console is a 10.3-inch widescreen infotainment system. It’s touch sensitive but can also be controlled through a touchpad system next to the gear lever. We don’t love it and Lexus has all but banished it from the rest of the lineup by the time you’re reading this. In fact, when it was introduced to the GX for 2022 it was already a bit behind the times.
Nevertheless, the touchscreen itself works fine when used directly. It’s not as quick or as featureful as rivals but it’s reliable and easy to navigate. Rear seat occupants can enjoy an optional rear-seat entertainment system. It features a pair of screens, one for each outboard second-row passenger. In addition, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system is also available. It even comes standard on the top-level Luxury trim.
Safety Features
Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS have given the 2023 Lexus GX any overall safety scores. Lexus still deserves commendation for including a full suite of driver safety aids including lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection. We’d love to see even more features on a vehicle of this size and price though. For instance, it could really do with some lane-centering technology.
2023 Lexus GX Trims & Pricing
Base – $57,575
Lexus starts out the GX with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, heated power-folding wing mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone climate control, faux leather upholstery.
The Base model includes a 10.3-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, integrated navigation, Amazon Alexa integration, and wireless connectivity through Lexus’ Enform smartphone app.
Safety aids include parking sensors, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, blind-spot warning, and automatic high beams.
Premium – $58,910
The Premium trim adds LED fog lights, heated and ventilated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, automatic wipers, and heated second-row outboard seats.
Black Line Special Edition – $63,260
The Black Line Special Edition is only available in black, white, and green (only available on the BLSE) paint colors. In addition, it gets 18-inch black wheels, black roof rails, dark chrome exterior accents, a black headliner, a heated steering wheel, unique bumpers, and a 360-degree camera system. Only 3000 will be made.
Luxury – $68,230
The king of the GX lineup gets a self-leveling air suspension, 19-inch wheels, premium leather upholstery, a power-folding third row, and a 17-speaker sound system.
Warranties
Lexus goes a touch above and beyond the average for this segment when it comes to warranty coverage. It includes four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper protection and up to six years or 70,000 miles of powertrain coverage. In addition, Lexus will pick up the tab on all maintenance during the first year or 10,000 miles.
What we think
2023 Lexus GX – pressroom.lexus.com | Shop 2023 Lexus GX on Carsforsale.com
The 2023 Lexus GX isn’t all that different from the one we tested last year. We said back then that it was outdated and it still is. Nevertheless, we can appreciate the fact that it has its own niche. Those that want an absolutely bulletproof drivetrain without sacrificing luxury or off-road capability don’t have many places to look. The Lexus GX is one available solution.
