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There are still a few genuinely old-school SUVs on the market, and one might surprise you. The popular 2023 Lexus GX is a relic of the past – a body-on-frame luxury SUV that hasn’t significantly changed in over a decade. Yet, despite being outdated compared to competitors, the GX continues to produce steady sales annually and maintain impressive resale value. What’s keeping the decade-old Lexus GX so popular?

A white Lexus GX, a popular luxury SUV, sits in front a misty forest.
2023 Lexus GX 460 | Lexus

According to Edmunds, the current Lexus GX model can trace its lineage all the way back to 2010. The popular Lexus SUV has had some aesthetic changes over those 13 years – but it’s structurally identical to the 2010 model. The Lexus GX uses the same ladder-frame architecture, solid rear axle, and old-school V8 as it did a decade ago. 

Meanwhile, the GX’s rivals have changed significantly. Competitors from Audi, BMW, and Acura have added heaps of technology to help their SUVs handle more like cars. Turbocharged and hybrid powertrains, active suspension systems, and other innovations have brought luxury SUVs forward lightyears since 2010. 

The popular Lexus GX has mostly neglected these advancements and stuck to its formula. Despite its outdated design, the GX still sells. Car Figures reports that Lexus sells about 20,000 new GX models annually, and even used examples command excellent resale value. What’s the deal?

It’s rated as one of the most reliable new SUVs of 2023

If there’s one thing that the Lexus GX 460 is known for, it’s reliability. 

That’s no surprise seeing as the SUV shares its platform and many components with the Toyota 4Runner and Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Both the 4Runner and Land Cruiser Prado are purpose-built off-road SUVs that stake their reputations on being able to go hundreds of thousands of miles with only routine maintenance. The 2023 GX has the same foundation, along with some luxury features. 

The fact that the Lexus GX hasn’t changed in a decade plays in favor of reliability. It has remained relatively simple, while other luxury SUVs have become more complex. U.S. News and World Report even ranked the GX as one of the most reliable SUVs of 2023. 

The Lexus GX is a sleeper off-road SUV 

The Lexus GX quietly offers one of the best off-road SUV platforms on the market today, with standard four-wheel drive, a solid rear axle, body-on-frame underpinnings, and high ground clearance. 

Most luxury SUVs have spent the last decade chasing on-road refinement and sporty handling. The GX may seem like a dinosaur on the road by comparison, but its old-school architecture is ideal for off-road use. Adding just a few minor upgrades like off-road tires can turn the Lexus GX into one of the best overland rigs today. 

Should you drive a Lexus GX?

The Lexus GX is a great SUV to drive if you want traditionally rugged capability in a comfortable package. 

The days of old-school luxury SUVs like the Lexus GX are likely numbered. Electrification, efficiency standards, and other factors push automakers to modernize their SUVs into more efficient crossovers. Suppose you want to enjoy a luxury SUV with a traditional V8 and truck-based underpinnings. In that case, the Lexus GX may be one of the last options available.  

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Staff Writer, Producer - SUVs

Scott Prewitt

Scott Prewitt joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2023 as a Staff Writer for the SUV section. During college, he began his career in journalism as Editor in Chief of The Creightonian. After graduating from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, News and Public Relations, Scott spent time in a local newsroom. He soon found his way to the world of automotive journalism and has been writing about cars since 2017.

A passion for all things automotive began at a young age. Playing Gran Turismo racing games in the early 2000s sparked an interest in cars and Scott began devouring Car and Driver stories when he was in the fourth grade. Since then, Scott’s enthusiasm for autos has grown to become the focal point of his career as a journalist.

By combining the skills that earned him the News Graduate of the Year 2016 and the Omaha Press Club Recognition & Academic Scholarship with a craving for knowledge of automotive industry, Scott covers a wide range of content from breaking news about the latest SUV models to designated off-road and overlanding rigs. His reporting is informed by personal experiences like road trips, intriguing automotive history, and time spent poring over various outlets and YouTube channels. Scott is drawn to car culture because, in his own words,  “these vehicles are a combination of purpose-built engineering and emotive, expressive design.”

The personal aspects of the autos world are of particular interest to Scott, and he is fascinated by the relationship between humans and cars. Years of writing for dealerships across the country and time in the corporate communications world lend to his expertise as a writer here at MotorBiscuit.