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Old 03-16-2023, 03:45 PM #1
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Thoughts on Getting a 5th Gen 4R vs. a GX460

This is a great site, and I have gotten lots of valuable information from it over the years. Since there may be others cross-shopping, I thought I’d share one person’s opinion when comparing a 5th Gen 4Runner and a new(er) GX460. If you're curious as to some of the differences between the two, read on.....

A few years back I agonized over getting a 4R or a GX. I have owned many Toyotas in the past, including 4Runners Gen 2 through 4, 1st and 2nd Gen Tundras, an FJ, and an LX450. After much consternation, and despite multiple horrific dealer experiences, I finally zeroed in on a 2022 ORP. About a year later, we wound up unexpectedly needing another vehicle, so we picked up a 2023 GX460 Premium. I have around a little over a year on the 4R and about 5 months on the GX. Here are my experiences so far.

Quality/Features: Both have been excellent vehicles, and have outstanding build quality. As a comparison, our recently sold 2008 Tundra was an awesome truck but it clearly didn’t have the tight tolerances and materials quality of either the 4R or GX. While both are great, the GX has slightly nicer paint, fabrics, and materials, and the switchgear inside just feels much more upscale than the 4R. I have the standard sound system on both and the GX setup sounds much better. That being said, I am no audiophile. Advantage: GX

Ride and Handling: The 4R rides a bit softer, yet feels a little sportier and is more fun to drive. It feels smaller and lighter, which it is (about 400 lbs lighter than the GX). When we will be driving into the city, or taking the backroads, we tend to grab the 4R keys. The rear hatch on the 4R is more convenient in tight spots or parallel parking. The GX goes around curves with less body lean thanks to KDSS, and seems quieter on the highway, but is a bit more ponderous than the 4R. The GX is road trip – longer ride machine. I’d tip this slightly towards the 4R.

Powertrain: The GX has the permanent 4WD, which is nice for the wife who doesn’t want to mess with the 4WD selector on the 4R ORP. The V8 is much smoother and refined than the V6, and may have slightly better acceleration by my seat of the pants measurement. Highway passing is much more pleasant in the GX. That being said, I do not mind the V6 at all. It is more tractor like than the V8, but it kinda fits the 4R character. It has plenty of power for the 4R, especially unloaded. That V6 is also the standard engine worldwide for the new Land Cruiser, so Toyota must have confidence in it. Folks complain about the 5sp in the 4R and 6sp transmission in the GX, but for me they both work well and operate very smoothly. The 4.6 is a nice engine, but it feels way less gutsy than the 5.7 in the much heavier 2nd Gen Tundra, while that 5.7 only requires regular gas. I wish that they could put that in a GX! Advantage GX

Mileage: This is highly subjective and varies significantly driver to driver. I do not drive vehicles very hard, and tend to take it easy, but live in a hilly area. Both vehicles are totally stock, and do not carry extra weight if not needed. The 4R and GX are close to a draw on the highway, with I am guessing the lighter and slightly less powerful 4R being offset by the better aerodynamics and extra gear in the heavier GX (both around 19-20 mpg). The 4R does maybe 1-2 MPG better than the GX in the city (16-18 MPG) however. I put the 91 Octane in the GX and 87 in the 4R. You don’t buy either of these vehicles for mileage. Slight advantage 4R, especially considering the octane requirement on the GX (I know this is contentious whether the higher octane is needed, but it is what Lexus specifies).

General Utility: There is significantly more cargo space in the back of the 4R than the GX, mostly (but not completely) due to the 3rd row of the GX taking up space. I find the rear hatch more convenient in the 4R, especially when it rains. The interior is much nicer on the GX, and more sturdy/utilitarian on the 4R. I have not towed with either one of these yet, but the GX can tow 1500 lbs. more than the 4R. Honestly, neither of these vehicles are really set up for serious towing. If it were me, if I were going to tow anything more than 3 or 4K lbs regularly, I’d use a more tow-focused vehicle. The rear seat has a little bit more legroom in the GX. The 3rd row is really small in the GX (or in a similarly equipped 4R) and are best used in a pinch over very short distances. There are vents in the headliner on the GX for the 3rd row, not so for the 4R. Going to the store/loading up with gear we usually choose the 4R. Advantage 4R

Off Road: I have not taken the GX off road yet, so I cannot really compare. The 4R has more ground clearance and the rear locker, while the GX has the full time 4WD which is nice especially in constantly changing/winter weather.

Looks: While I like them both, I wish you could get the Land Cruiser Prado looks on the GX460 (or just give us the Prado with the turbo diesel to boot!). The GX grill takes some getting used to and I’d love to get rid of some of the body cladding and probably the running boards. I think the 4R ORP looks better than the GX, but that is purely personal.

Other: This is pretty subjective, but a stock 4R is more common and attracts less attention (which in my book is good). IMO many people (at least in my area) buy a GX just to have a status symbol Lexus SUV (like a BMW or Mercedes), not to have a legendary super well-built off road vehicle that will last forever. The GX and it’s driver can be perceived as more pretentious. Put another way, the 4R is much more common and “under the radar” than a GX out in the sticks (or at Walmart LOL!). Something that surprised me was that the insurance costs were virtually the same for the year newer and much more expensive GX compared to the 4R. Maybe folks tend to drive the 4R's harder......

Overall: Even though these vehicles share many parts and are built on the same assembly line, they feel like and are completely different vehicles. While both of them are awesome, I do not believe one is “better” than the other. That being said, the GX is simply a Lot More Car than the 4R. It is truly luxurious, and to me it feels like I’m in a cocoon driving it, isolated from the outside world. The 4R looks and feels more sporty, more connected to the road. There was around a $13K cost spread in the GX over the 4R ORP, but here you really do get what you pay for IMO. Historically, the 4R holds its value better than the GX.

Conclusion:
They are both kind of the last of their generation (body on frame SUV’s with bigger naturally aspirated engines). If you want luxury and refinement, the GX is hard to beat. If you have young kids, and/or are very active outdoors (hunting/fishing/hiking/camping/etc.), and like to off road, the 4R may be the way to go. The 4R is also a great vehicle that is significantly cheaper than the GX with no huge drawbacks. You can get the 3rd row and the full time 4WD in the 4R Limited, but for the ~$8K difference if you can swing it I’d vote for the GX if you need those options. The GX is NOT a 4Runner with a V8 and more options. They feel completely different driving day to day.
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Old 03-16-2023, 03:53 PM #2
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Thoughts on Getting a 5th Gen 4R vs. a GX460

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Old 03-16-2023, 03:55 PM #3
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Agree. I wrote a similar but poorer review a couple weeks ago.

I was surprised by how little I actually wanted the gx after spending some time in a new one. There is a layer of softness and isolation that just makes it numb and boring imo. I went the other way in 2007 with 4th gen and bought and loved the out of a ‘07gx. Longest I have owned any car and most likes driven in one car. Not much for others here but 110k happy miles.


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Old 03-16-2023, 04:24 PM #4
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I had a similar debate - but went with a 2023 4Runner limited. To me it’s much “cooler” and is an excellent vehicle that just does everything well. And the lower price point (all subjective) was an added bonus. Perhaps if the styling of the Lexus was better, I’d go there, but it doesn’t do it for me. Also, I’ve owned many top end luxury vehicles, and no concerns feeling like I need more….seats are great, fit and finish and it just works !

I say go 4Runner for the win.

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Old 03-16-2023, 06:16 PM #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4runner_auug View Post
I had a similar debate - but went with a 2023 4Runner limited. To me it’s much “cooler” and is an excellent vehicle that just does everything well. And the lower price point (all subjective) was an added bonus. Perhaps if the styling of the Lexus was better, I’d go there, but it doesn’t do it for me. Also, I’ve owned my top end luxury vehicles, and no concerns feeling like I need more….seats are great, fit and finish and it just works !

I say go 4Runner for the win.
Yep - I agree. The Limited is a nice option and a good way to split the difference.
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Old 03-16-2023, 07:59 PM #6
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The front grill on the GX is a non-starter. Fugly comes to mind.
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Old 03-16-2023, 08:50 PM #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CutthroatSlam View Post
The front grill on the GX is a non-starter. Fugly comes to mind.
It's not my favorite as well, but it is growing on me. This would be much better:
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Old 03-17-2023, 08:51 AM #8
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Agree on the looks. Just blends in like everything else and makes the Lexus statement. The 3rd row is borderline unusable and doesn't have the cargo room we needed in a 3 row vehicle, so went elsewhere into one of the big crossovers for the family car. But, I sure would love having that V8 power and another gear to help with towing with my 4R.

You hit the nail on the head, really. Solidifies my purchases for sure as I almost bought a GX.
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Old 03-17-2023, 10:34 AM #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WARnr View Post
I find the rear hatch more convenient in the 4R, especially when it rains.
The 460s have one of the better rear door setups in terms of overland / offroad use. The swing door can be used to mount tables, gear,etc. You can mount a spare tire to the door and swing it out as opposed to buying a rear bumper or tire carrier that must be first opened to access the 4R hatch. The only better rear end IMO is the land cruisers with the half hatch and half tailgate.
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Old 03-17-2023, 04:52 PM #10
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Everyone has an opinion. I drove my 2010 TE for 12 1/2 years before I sold it and bought a new GX . Had no complaints about the 4R but I was ready for a change and love the GX so much that I bought one for my wife .
Both the GX and the 4R are nice vehicles. Get what you like .
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Old 03-18-2023, 02:32 AM #11
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Quote:
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The 460s have one of the better rear door setups in terms of overland / offroad use. The swing door can be used to mount tables, gear,etc. You can mount a spare tire to the door and swing it out as opposed to buying a rear bumper or tire carrier that must be first opened to access the 4R hatch. The only better rear end IMO is the land cruisers with the half hatch and half tailgate.
I agree the previous version(s) of Land Cruisers and LXs had the best rear hatch setup. The GX hatch is totally fine in our normal use, and I like the way it looks. Not just in this 4R, but in previous versions as well I remember having the back hatch open in the rain, and it was nice to have a bit of cover to drink coffee, load up decoys, fishing gear, etc. Our environment is normally pretty damp and wet. It would be great if we could get the swing out spare option on the GX from the factory, along with the auxiliary gas tank!
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Old 03-20-2023, 09:20 AM #12
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I'm going to throw out a different viewpoint on both of these vehicles. obviously my opinion and I'm generally a dummy so ya. and this is coming from someone who never buys new vehicles. anyway

I looked at GX before purchasing my 4runner. to me, the GX is overpriced, which could heavily be geography dependent. yes, the v8 is nice for towing, yes it has 3rd row seats. but really though if you NEED both of those two things you will buy a vehicle that can do both of those better than the GX.

is the GX better offroad than the 4runner? I'd say it's close, edge to 4runner. I wasn't impressed by the GX given what they cost. and I currently own a lexus. the interior of the lexus cannot be beat, the comfort and plusheness and ride, ya it's great. but not worth the added cost of a GX over 4runner. for reference, the GX 460 new starts at $80K where I live and the 4runner limited around $60K. 2023 lexus rx350, starts at $60K as well. the LX starts at nearly $120K. yikes. the GX and 4runner limited are so close that it's really personal preference on what's more important to you and if it's worth the premium cost. both are great vehicles

now here's where my different viewpoint comes in. I think the RX 350 or 450h is a better buy for the $ than both the 4runner and GX. from a used vehicle standpoint there are so much supply since it's one of the best selling SUVs ever. my family owns 3 of them they are bullet proof. can it tow, no, can it offroad, not really, does it have a third row, no. but when you think about it, besides offroading, the 4runner and GX can't really do the third row and towing THAT good. yes they can do it, but they aren't tow rigs or people haulers. the lexus AWD is fantasic and you can even 'lock' the AWD to distribute maximum power to the rear. it's great in snow and more planted than the 4runner which seems to want to fishtail more easily. lexus did a fantastic job perfecting that RX 350 and the sport version my wife has is very nice. the driving experience is on point

this is a more of an off-roading forum so I get it there's going to be bias towards offroad oriented vehicles. but for those that only do light to moderate trails, mostly stock, think about the RX. if you NEED the ability to maybe use a third row then I get why you wouldn't consider the RX. bonus points to the RX though, most of them are driven by older people who take their vehicle for service at a lexus dealer exclusively and generally take good care of them
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Old 03-21-2023, 10:53 PM #13
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The RX 350 is unibody so a completely different universe than the GX and 4R.
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Old 03-22-2023, 01:03 AM #14
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Just chiming in and throwing in my 2 cents.
Aside from the fact that the Lexus GX460 has a better paint job (better consistency, thicker base, clearcoat) and interior finish. It also has a KDSS type of suspension which has better road control with a full time 4WD. In many ways it's a 4R Limited with KDSS.

There are a lot of 4Rs on the road as they sell over 160K units/year. The GX460 sells around 35K units/year, so it may get undue attention. I've seen more Tesla Model Ys, than GX460s on the road!
If you do frequent off-roading, then the 4R TRD ORP with KDSS would be my choice, otherwise I would get the GX460. This is Toyota's last hurrah of their naturally aspirated V8 engine.

You can't go wrong with either! Good luck.
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Old 03-22-2023, 07:10 AM #15
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as an owner of both - that v8 and 6-speed auto makes the gx the better choice. for dog owners the gx has 3 row hvac. and memory seats, which 4r does not have unless you get the limited.
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