Test drive Lexus GX
Why can't the GX go on a date, what hairstyle the owner should have, and what option the engineers forgot about ...
AvtoTachki columnist Matt Donnelly explained why the Lexus GX should never go on a date, and why an SUV driver must be rich, obese and with a voluminous haircut.
What does he look like
Another review, another Toyota. Rather, it is a Lexus, but in reality it is a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado in a superhero mask. Outside, this luxury Lexus can be distinguished from its more democratic cousin only by the abundance of chrome and minor details. The inside of the GX 460 is really cool: a large "L" on the steering wheel, orange-brown leather and a bunch of premium little things.
The GX is tall and wide, yet deceptively short. It seems that the car is much larger than it actually is. No, this Lexus is very roomy, but, unfortunately, all this space is overhead and in some strange places. The huge amount of metal needed to create such volumes resulted in an impressive weight of the car and its dubious aerodynamics (both, by the way, do not contribute to fuel efficiency). Here, by the standards of the class, there is quite a bit of legroom. In general, this is an ideal car for short, plump people with lush hair, but I, being tall and bald, did not feel very comfortable inside.
The GX can probably be bought in one of the Lexus signature colors, but I can only guess about that: I have never seen this car clean. In general, this test car was the dirtiest of those that RBC gave me. Dirty - not at all in a playful, good sense of the word, believe me. He was simply filthy from head to toe. I asked a colleague to wash the SUV and he said that he saw the GX crystal clear for a few seconds. Alas, by the time the car returned to the office (that is, 15 minutes later), it again looked more like a hill than a vehicle.
All in all, this Lexus is just a dirt magnet. He will find it even in an absolutely sterile room and will evenly smear it on the rear window, paying special attention to the rear-view camera, gas tank cap, door handles - everything that you touch with your hands. By the way, the tiny rear wiper looks like a Chihuahua's tail stuck to the body of a hippo. And it's about the same effective.
Attractiveness
Of course, the GX is attractive, but in its own way. Just as a huge hippopotamus in a logger's shirt can be attractive - dirty after the first drop of rain. This car looks unwavering with its large wheels and high stance. But don't even think about going on a date or transporting someone sensitive to hygiene. Once you have your own experience of driving the GX, you will know: before you get behind the wheel, you need to change your clothes ... and again I am not in a good way.
How he drives
The aerodynamics here are the same as those of the hippo. But not with the usual one, which I spoke about earlier, but with the one who drags a parachute on his back. GX is not very interested in doing what you ask him to do. Perhaps the 296 hp that the 4,6-liter engine produces is not enough for him. But in any case, there are no other options on the Russian market. The SUV with Scandinavian calmness ignores sharp pressing on the gas pedal, does not emit brutal growls, but confidently moves in a straight line.
At high speeds, the V8 is more than adequate. The only problem is that passengers and the driver who are seasick can be very uncomfortable, as the GX moves through space like a boat in a hurricane. If you do decide to ride it on a date, make sure you or your spouse haven't eaten too much. Even people with a normal physique do not have enough adhesion force for the upholstery. They will jump on bumps and slide off the seats. Fortunately, the stock of free space is still enough so that passengers do not receive injuries to the butt and head at the same time.
The driving experience of an SUV is similar to a small truck or van: you sit at about the same height as in a GAZelle, and you don't see very much - mainly because the Chihuahua's tail cannot properly clear the huge rear glass. You have to rely on massive side mirrors.
I note the very precise steering of this model, smart electronics, which, among other things, lowers the mirrors when reverse gear is engaged, good response to pressing the gas pedal at low speeds. Off-road, the GX is also very good. Especially when you don't have to go too fast, no one is chasing you, and someone else pays for the fuel.
Facilities
This is a Lexus, so, of course, it is full of all kinds of options: an excellent audio system, a large multimedia screen, a thoughtful arrangement of all buttons. I especially liked that you can turn off the parking sensors on the steering wheel. Perhaps there is only one option that the Japanese overlooked when creating this car. He needs a small strip of paper covering the fuel gauge, which constantly shines in the eyes of the driver. He seems to be complaining: "I have big problems with appetite, and you pay for it!" This huge mammal with large ears consumes 21,4 liters per 100 km when the engine is cold, and 20,7 liters when it is warmed up. Fortunately, the fuel tank is very decent here.
To buy or not to buy
It's simple: I have an Audi Q7 with a much smaller diesel engine, and I wouldn't trade it for a Lexus GX. At least until he won a fortune in the lottery and transplanted his hair.
