Can the 2016 Lexus GX460 climb to the very top of the TFLtruck’s Gold Mine Hill off-road trail, or will limited ground clearance and street-biased tires hold it back? The Gold Mine Hill is a trail high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It consists of three stages: steep rocky incline, steep and tight corner traction challenge, and final articulation and traction challenge.
The Lexus GX has always been a luxuriously appointed off-road capable SUV. It is built on a ladder frame and has a two-speed 4×4 transfer case and a solid rear axle. It has the underpinnings of an off-road truck, and the creature comforts of a luxury SUV. The 2016 model includes the latest features such: adjustable suspension, off-road crawl control, and surround-view camera system.
Power is provided by a trusted 4.6-liter V8 with 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque. The 6-speed automatic transmission does the shifting. It’s still a three-row seven-passenger SUV that offers up to 64.7 cu-ft of cargo capacity, although a five-passenger Toyota 4Runner has significantly more cargo area with the rear seats folded (89.7 cu-ft).
Although the GX460 starts at $50,780 before destination charges, a fully loaded model like you see here comes in at $68,765.
It has a modest 8.1 inches of ground clearance. Will this be enough to clear the final articulation section of the Gold Mine Hill trail? Watch the video to find out.
