New Car Prices and Research - 2003 Lexus GX 470

2003 Lexus GX 470
Addition To The Family

Writer's Notes

Test Car:
2003 Lexus GX 470

Curb Appeal:
The monochromatic look is elegant and as appealing on a trip to the mountains as it is for a night on the town.

Asphalt Rating:
A 4.7-liter V-8 engine with a double-overhead cam produces 235 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque.

Real World:
Typical Lexus quality and design, but the third row seat is a bit short on legroom and greatly reduces the rear cargo space.

Handling:
Thanks to a host of technological features, the GX 470 rides nicely for a body-on-frame SUV.

Comfort:
You have to ask? Comfort is Lexus' middle name.

Although the GX 470 accommodates up to eight passengers if the third row seat is ordered, adding the extra seat does compromise cargo room.

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It seems like every time I turn around Lexus has another addition in its family. The latest addition may be a baby in age, but definitely not in size. The eight-passenger GX 470 mid-size SUV slots comfortably between the RX 300 and the LX 470 both in size and price.

"Born" in December 2002 as a 2003 model, the Lexus GX 470 is an off-road capable sport-ute with a sedan-like interior---the precise combination that has made luxury SUVs so popular. It's what Lexus deems as the perfect vehicle for "luxurious adventures," whether that is a Saturday night jaunt downtown to the theater or a trip to the mountains with the kids.

From a design perspective, the Lexus GX 470 echoes the styling cues of its sibling sport utility vehicles with modern, elegant lines. Unlike other SUVs that feature a two-tone color scheme, the GX 470's body is monochromatic and incorporates such features as integrated fender flares and illuminated running boards.

As we've come to expect with a Lexus, the 2003 GX 470 is draped in luxury inside and includes a long list of standard features.
Once I slid behind the wheel, it was clear that the GX 470 had plenty of oomph to take its occupants on the adventure of their choice. The 4.7-liter V-8 engine with a double-overhead cam produces 235 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque. 80 percent of peak torque, 256 lb.-ft., is delivered at 1,100 rpm, making the GX 470 a solid machine for towing a boat or small camp trailer. With the optional tow package, it has a 5,000-pound towing capacity, while the standard five-speed automatic transmission uses shift logic to hold its gear when climbing to boost power and during descents to utilize engine braking.

Several features make the Lexus GX 470 sure-footed on any road. As is typical of most Lexus vehicles, the GX 470 has standard Vehicle Skid Control, which uses throttle intervention or individual wheel braking to control a skid and regain lateral traction. The new SUV also comes with Brake Assist, which is designed to help the driver in emergency braking conditions. The system determines if the driver is in a panic stop situation and, if he or she has not stepped hard enough on the brake pedal to engage the anti-lock brakes (ABS), the system will add braking power. Finally, Electronic Brake Force Distribution distributes the brake force between the front and rear wheels using the ABS, based on the current driving conditions.

For those looking for some more serious adventure, the 2003 Lexus GX 470 comes equipped with a full-time, four-wheel drive system as standard equipment. A Torsen torque-sensing center differential splits the power from front to rear as required depending on steering input and wheel slip. In most circumstances, power is split 40 percent in the front and 60 percent in the rear, or 40/60, but the system can adjust to a 29/71 ratio to improve tracking through serious curves or 53/47 in order to control rear wheel slippage. The low-range mode makes the GX 470 agile when traversing off-road slopes.

Downhill Assist Control also helps by holding the sport ute at a specific slow speed without the driver applying the brakes, while Hill-Start Assist Control helps the driver keep the vehicle stationary when starting on a slippery surface or a steep incline. Rear Adaptive Height Control features three settings. Although the vehicle is typically driven in the "neutral" setting, a "high" setting, which provides an extra 1.6-inches of ground clearance, is useful for off-road terrain. Similarly, the "low" setting drops the GX 470 1.2-inches from the neutral position to aid in loading and unloading cargo from the rear.

Despite its relatively new "legs," the Lexus GX 470 performed superbly in the ride category. The body-on-frame construction is accented with independent front and rear air suspension. Self-leveling capabilities mean a smooth ride on the road while still providing the support for hauling a full load of passengers and cargo. The ride is further enhanced by the Adaptive Variable Suspension, which responds to the road surface, vehicle speed, driver steering and braking as well as vehicle vertical movement by continuously adjusting each shock absorber damping rate.

As we've come to expect with a Lexus, the 2003 GX 470 is draped in luxury inside and includes a long list of standard features. Seating surfaces are all leather and include a memory function for the driver's seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors as well as heaters for both front seats. Other standard comfort and convenience features include automatic climate control, an overhead console with integrated HomeLink, a premium audio system with six-disc in-dash CD changer and steering wheel audio controls. Although the GX 470 accommodates up to eight passengers if the third row seat is ordered, adding the extra seat does compromise cargo room. This would definitely be an issue if taking the vehicle on a trip unless the body-color roof rack is ordered. Rear passengers will, however, be comfortable with the optional rear air conditioning and DVD entertainment system.

Other options on the 2003 GX 470 include rain-sensing wipers, power moonroof and a wood and leather steering wheel and shift knob like those offered on the LX 470. A DVD-based navigation system and Lexus Link, an emergency and roadside assistance system, are also available.

---Photos Courtesy of Lexus North America

---Story by Tara Baukus Mello

© 2003, Tara Baukus Mello, All Rights Reserved.