Lexus GX470 vs Toyota Land Cruiser

When shopping for a run forever, off-road capable or reliable daily driver SUV, these two should be at the top of any list.  The Lexus GX470 is a luxury and up-market 4Runner that was made from 2003-2009.  The 100 series Land Cruiser was the flagship from Toyota built with the best of everything from 1998-2007.  Now, on the used market, one can get a good GX470 for around $10k and a Land Cruiser from around $16K and up.  So which should you buy?  Should you buy either?  Read on.

LAND CRUISER 100

The MSRP on this car in the early 2000’s was over $60K.  It was built in Japan and overbuilt - everything about it can be summed up by one word - beefy.  It uses a 4.7 liter V8 which is known to travel more than 500K with ease.  Basic oil changes, 90K timing belt changes and few other maintenance items are all it asks for.  The penalty for this is fuel mileage - 13 mpg is a good day in the Land Cruiser world but in return, owners enjoy legendary reliability.  

Full-time 4WD means the Land Cruiser has traction and safety in all weather conditions or off-road terrain.  Ample ground clearance, suspension travel and locking differentials make going almost anywhere possible.  The front seats are leather, wide, comfy and make the driver and passenger feel as if they are sitting on their living room ottoman.  Room for 7 with the third row seats make this an ideal family car for those more adventurous than the minivan type.  Add to this the rear AC and heat and plenty of sound insulation make this an ideal vehicle for family road trips. 

In many third-world countries, the Land Cruiser is the vehicle of choice based on its unbreakable nature.  When traveling deep into the unknown, knowing that your vehicle will get you back is of utmost importance.  For USA owners, knowing they can expect miles and miles of trouble free motoring is reassuring.  

Land Cruiser owners love their tailgates.   Standard equipment, the rear window flips up and the tailgate flips down.  This makes an ideal spot for picnics, changing a baby or just sitting and watching the world go by.  Fold up the rear seats and there is a huge amount of room for camping, grocery runs or the hardware store.

LEXUS GX470

The Lexus GX470 is based on a 4Runner, but shares the same engine as the Land Cruiser.  It weighs 500 lbs less which makes it feel much more nimble and sporty.  The downfall of this smaller footprint is the lessened interior room.  The third row seats are best taken out and that space used for storage as legroom is very minimal.  The second row has decent legroom, but less width than the Land Cruiser for 3 across seating comfort.  Rear passengers enjoy AC, but there isn’t rear heat.   Interestingly, there are only latch child seat anchors on the outside passenger side.  The smaller size makes it easier to park or take to more narrow off-road trails.  The Lexus ride is very car like and smooth - the inputs, the quiet interior and the suspension make for a very serene place to be.   The seat bottoms front and rear are shorter than the Land Cruiser, the armrests are smaller and the center storage is much less in the GX.  Power seats with heat and lumbar are standard equipment for the driver and passenger. The leather Lexus chose is made of a very slippery material but is good quality and seems to be durable.

Reliability remains a strong suit with a proven powertrain, full-time 4x4 and go anywhere capability.   The rear of the Lexus uses airbags to lift or lower the vehicle (for loading - low or off-roading - high).  This is a point of failure (but usually not till 200K miles) but even then, replacing the airbags or removing that system entirely is very DIY friendly and only a few hundred dollars.  

The achilles heel of the Lexus is the rear ‘barn-door’ that it uses instead of a tailgate.  Some owners love their doors, but the majority loathe that feature.  The door opens wide and to the passenger side making loading items in a tight parking lot or a busy street more difficult that it needs to be.  This shouldn’t be a dealbreaker, as the rest of the car is really very good.  Typical Lexus quality, a wood grained steering wheel and a nicely optioned interior make this a good choice for a first car, a family car or an off-road adventure rig.  

THE VERDICT

So, which should you buy?  If space is a concern, the Land Cruiser wins without question.  The extra width, weight and interior room is significant.  If having the most robust suspension, components and off-road toughness is important, the Land Cruiser wins again.  For a soft ride and in-town nimbleness, the Lexus is hard to beat.   Both are easily modifiable for whatever use whether it be lift kits, big tires or full time travel overlanding setups.   Owners can expect a lifetime of miles with either of these vehicles and trust them to keep them and their loved ones safe.   There isn’t a wrong choice here - pick the one that looks and feels the best and they will both treat you with years and years of safe and reliable motoring on the road or off.