Lexus GX

Which Lexus GX version to buy: GX 550, 4.6 AT, 4.0 AT, or 4.7 AT

If the choice is which Lexus GX to take and why, the numbers split the catalogue into four jobs: GX 550 in 3 generation (from 2023-09-01, production stop not measured) is the only version with Turbo, 349 hp, 649 Nm, 6.5 s to 100 km/h, and a 10-speed Automatic; 4.6 AT 296 hp (and the 301 hp twin in 2 generation, restyling 2) is the long-run 8-cylinder Gasoline AWD SUV 5-doors with 8.3–8.4 s and mea…

If the choice is which Lexus GX to take and why, the numbers split the catalogue into four jobs: GX 550 in 3 generation (from 2023-09-01, production stop not measured) is the only version with Turbo, 349 hp, 649 Nm, 6.5 s to 100 km/h, and a 10-speed Automatic; 4.6 AT 296 hp (and the 301 hp twin in 2 generation, restyling 2) is the long-run 8-cylinder Gasoline AWD SUV 5-doors with 8.3–8.4 s and measured mixed use of 12.8 l/100 km; 4.0 AT 270 hp is the lighter 6-cylinder path in 2 generation and 2 generation, restyling, 9.8 s, 98 fuel, consumption not measured; 4.7 AT in 1 generation (2002-01-01–2009-12-31) is three 8-cylinder Automatic 5-speed cars that share one name and must be split by horsepower — 235 hp, 263 hp, and 270 hp. All versions are AWD. There is no price in this dataset, so “what the extra displacement buys” is read as horsepower, torque, seconds, kilograms, and litres, not money.

Which generation actually changes the choice

Lexus GX is five catalogue entries and three generations. Restyling sits inside 2 generation; it is not a fourth and fifth generation.

1 generation (2002-01-01–2009-12-31), SUV 5-doors, three versions, all named 4.7 AT. The spread is 235–270 hp on the same 4664 cm³ V-shaped 8 with boost No. That generation is the only one with a 5-speed Automatic and the only one with 220 mm ground clearance (on 235 hp and 263 hp). The 270 hp 4.7 AT drops clearance to 210 mm.

2 generation (2009-01-01–2013-12-31) plus 2 generation, restyling (2013-01-01–2019-12-31) plus 2 generation, restyling 2 (2019-01-01–2023-08-31): still SUV 5-doors, still AWD, still Automatic, now 6 speeds. The buyer’s fork is 4.0 AT 270 hp versus 4.6 AT 296 hp, then a 301 hp 4.6 AT only in restyling 2. The first restyling does not change the 4.6 AT 296 hp engine figures versus the pre-restyle 4.6 AT; restyling 2 does change kerb weight (2450 kg down to 2340 kg, 110 kg) and adds the 301 hp twin.

3 generation (from 2023-09-01): one version, GX 550. Engine size falls from 4608 cm³ on 4.6 AT to 3445 cm³ (−1163 cm³) while power rises from 296 hp to 349 hp (+53 hp) and torque from 438 Nm to 649 Nm (+211 Nm). That is the only Turbo, the only Direct injection (direct), and the only 10-speed Automatic in the model.

Engine specs that decide the version (table)

Exact names from the catalogue. Same name, different power: keep both.

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): GX 550 349 / 3.445 ≈ 101.3 hp/l; 4.0 AT 270 / 3.956 ≈ 68.3 hp/l; 4.6 AT 301 hp 301 / 4.608 ≈ 65.3 hp/l; 4.6 AT 296 hp 296 / 4.608 ≈ 64.2 hp/l; 4.7 AT 270 hp 270 / 4.664 ≈ 57.9 hp/l; 4.7 AT 263 hp ≈ 56.4 hp/l; 4.7 AT 235 hp ≈ 50.4 hp/l. The extra 1163 cm³ of 4.6 AT versus GX 550 does not buy more specific output; Turbo on GX 550 does.

4.6 AT 301 hp versus 4.6 AT 296 hp in 2 generation, restyling 2: +5 hp, +8 Nm, same 4608 cm³, same 95, same boost No, same 6-speed Automatic AWD. That 5 hp is 1.7% more power. 4.6 AT 296 hp versus 4.0 AT 270 hp: +26 hp, +62 Nm, +652 cm³, fuel 95 instead of 98. 4.7 AT 270 hp versus 4.7 AT 235 hp: +35 hp, +13 Nm, same 4664 cm³; compression 10.4 versus 9.6; fuel 92 versus 95.

Engine position: Front, longitudinal on GX 550, on every 4.6 AT, and on 4.7 AT 235 hp and 263 hp. On 4.0 AT and on 4.7 AT 270 hp the position is not measured. Feed: Distributed injection (multi-point) on every version except GX 550 (Direct injection (direct)). Bore × stroke: GX 550 85.5 x 100; 4.6 AT 94 × 83; 4.0 AT 94 × 95; 4.7 AT 94 × 84.

This catalogue does not measure engine recall, engine failure, or reliability scores. Those searches have no numbers here.

Performance and mpg: who is actually faster, who uses more fuel

0–100 km/h, fastest to slowest among measured figures: GX 550 6.5 s; 4.7 AT 270 hp 8.1 s; 4.6 AT 296 hp 8.3 s; 4.6 AT 301 hp 8.4 s; both 4.7 AT 235 hp and 263 hp 8.5 s; 4.0 AT 9.8 s.

GX 550 is 1.8 s quicker than 4.6 AT 296 hp (8.3 − 6.5) and 3.3 s quicker than 4.0 AT (9.8 − 6.5). 4.6 AT 296 hp is 1.5 s quicker than 4.0 AT. The 301 hp 4.6 AT is 0.1 s slower to 100 km/h than the 296 hp 4.6 AT in the same 2 generation, restyling 2 (8.4 versus 8.3) with the same 2340 kg kerb weight — five extra horsepower does not buy a quicker measured sprint here. Top speed: 4.0 AT 180 km/h; GX 550 180 km/h; both 4.7 AT variants 180 km/h; 4.6 AT 301 hp 177 km/h; 4.6 AT 296 hp 175 km/h. The 4.6-litre 8 is not the fastest in a straight line; it is the most tightly capped (175–177 km/h).

Fuel, where measured (l/100 km, city / highway / mixed):

• 4.6 AT (296 hp and 301 hp, all 2 generation entries that list it): 17.7 / 9.9 / 12.8. CO2 303 g/km, Euro 4.
• 4.7 AT 270 hp: 15.7 / 12.4 / 14.8. CO2 not measured, Euro 3.
• GX 550: 15.7 / 11.2 / 13.8. CO2 not measured, eco class not measured.
• 4.0 AT, 4.7 AT 235 hp, 4.7 AT 263 hp: city, highway, mixed, and CO2 all not measured; eco class not measured.

Mixed: 4.6 AT 12.8 versus GX 550 13.8 is 1.0 l/100 km more for the newer Turbo 6. City: GX 550 and 4.7 AT 270 hp both 15.7, 4.6 AT 17.7 (+2.0). Highway: 4.6 AT 9.9 is the lowest measured; GX 550 11.2 is 1.3 more; 4.7 AT 270 hp 12.4 is 2.5 more than 4.6 AT. If mixed litres are the buying test, 4.6 AT wins among versions that were measured. If city litres matter, GX 550 and 4.7 AT 270 hp beat 4.6 AT. 4.0 AT cannot be ranked on mpg in this dataset.

Tank: 87 l on every 4.7 AT, 4.6 AT, and 4.0 AT; GX 550 79 l (−8 l). Mixed range from measured figures only: 4.6 AT 87 / 12.8 ≈ 680 km; 4.7 AT 270 hp 87 / 14.8 ≈ 588 km; GX 550 79 / 13.8 ≈ 572 km. The smaller tank on GX 550 plus higher mixed use shortens that arithmetic range versus 4.6 AT by about 108 km.

Dimensions, weight, and kg per horsepower

Wheel size is not measured on any Lexus GX version in this dataset.

Kerb / gross, kg, and payload (gross − kerb):

kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp): GX 550 2574 / 349 ≈ 7.38; 4.6 AT 301 hp 2340 / 301 ≈ 7.77; 4.6 AT 296 hp restyling 2 2340 / 296 ≈ 7.91; 4.7 AT 270 hp 2210 / 270 ≈ 8.19; 4.6 AT 296 hp earlier 2 generation 2450 / 296 ≈ 8.28; 4.7 AT 263 hp 2209 / 263 ≈ 8.40; 4.0 AT 2326 / 270 ≈ 8.61; 4.7 AT 235 hp 2120 / 235 ≈ 9.02. Restyling 2’s 110 kg cut on 4.6 AT 296 hp is the difference between 8.28 and 7.91 kg/hp without changing 296 hp. GX 550 is the heaviest kerb (2574 kg, +234 kg versus restyling 2 4.6 AT) and still the lowest kg/hp because of 349 hp.

Ground clearance: 4.7 AT 235 hp and 263 hp 220 mm is the highest measured; 4.6 AT 215 mm; 4.7 AT 270 hp 210 mm; 4.0 AT 205 mm (−15 mm versus 4.6 AT, −10 mm versus 4.7 AT 270 hp). GX 550 clearance is not measured.

Suspension that changes the buy: GX 550 Independent, spring front and Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem rear. 4.6 AT Independent, spring front and Dependent, pneumatic rear. 4.0 AT Independent, spring front and Independent, pneumatic rear. 4.7 AT 235 hp and 263 hp Independent, pneumatic both ends; 4.7 AT 270 hp Independent, pneumatic both ends. Brakes: GX 550 Ventilated disc front, Disc rear; 4.6 AT Ventilated disc both ends; 4.0 AT Ventilated disc front, Disc rear; all 4.7 AT Disc both ends.

Which version to choose

Take GX 550 if the job is peak power, torque, and 0–100. It is the only Turbo, the only 10-speed Automatic, the only 349 hp / 649 Nm, and the only 6.5 s sprint. Versus 4.6 AT 296 hp it buys +53 hp, +211 Nm, −1.8 s, and +53.6 hp/l specific output (101.3 versus 64.2). What it does not buy: a larger tank (79 versus 87), lower mixed litres (13.8 versus 12.8), lower kerb (2574 versus 2340 in restyling 2), measured clearance, measured CO2, or a measured eco class. Payload 565 kg is 85 kg less than restyling 2 4.6 AT (650 kg).

Take 4.6 AT 296 hp in 2 generation, restyling 2 if the job is measured mixed mpg, payload, and the long 8-cylinder spec without hunting the 301 hp twin. Same 17.7 / 9.9 / 12.8 as every other measured 4.6 AT, but 2340 kg instead of 2450 kg, payload 650 kg instead of 540 kg (+110 kg payload). Versus 4.0 AT it buys +26 hp, +62 Nm, −1.5 s, +10 mm clearance (215 versus 205), 95 fuel instead of 98, and a measured consumption sheet. Versus GX 550 it buys 8 l more tank, 1.0 l/100 km less mixed, 234 kg less kerb, and Euro 4 with 303 g/km CO2.

Take 4.6 AT 301 hp in 2 generation, restyling 2 only if the extra 5 hp and 8 Nm and 177 km/h (versus 175) are the point. It does not buy a quicker 0–100 (8.4 versus 8.3), does not change 17.7 / 9.9 / 12.8, 2340 kg, 215 mm, 87 l, or Euro 4. Distinguish it from 4.6 AT 296 hp by 301 hp; the name is the same.

Take 4.6 AT 296 hp in 2 generation or 2 generation, restyling if restyling 2 is not on the table. Engine, 8.3 s, 175 km/h, 12.8 mixed, 215 mm, and 87 l match restyling 2’s 296 hp car; kerb is 2450 kg (110 kg more) and payload is 540 kg. The restyling itself does not change those engine numbers versus the 2009–2013 4.6 AT.

Take 4.0 AT in 2 generation or 2 generation, restyling if the job is the 6-cylinder 3956 cm³ path, Independent, pneumatic rear, and 98 fuel. 270 hp, 376 Nm, 9.8 s, 180 km/h, 2326 kg, 205 mm. Versus 4.6 AT 296 hp it is 26 hp and 62 Nm down, 1.5 s slower, 10 mm lower, and 124 kg lighter than the 2450 kg 4.6 AT (14 kg lighter than restyling 2’s 2340 kg). Consumption, CO2, eco class, and engine position are not measured. Specific output ≈ 68.3 hp/l is higher than 4.6 AT 296 hp (64.2) because 270 hp sits on 3956 cm³ rather than 4608 cm³.

Take 4.7 AT 270 hp in 1 generation if the job is the strongest first-generation 8, 92 fuel, 8.1 s, and Independent, pneumatic at both ends. 270 hp, 447 Nm (the highest torque before GX 550’s 649 Nm), 5-speed Automatic, 2210 kg, 210 mm, 15.7 / 12.4 / 14.8, Euro 3. Versus 4.6 AT 296 hp: −26 hp, +9 Nm (447 versus 438), −0.2 s (8.1 versus 8.3), +5 km/h top speed (180 versus 175), mixed +2.0 l/100 km (14.8 versus 12.8), −1 gear, −240 kg versus the 2450 kg 4.6 AT. Versus GX 550: −79 hp, −202 Nm, +1.6 s.

Take 4.7 AT 263 hp if 220 mm clearance and 263 hp on 4664 cm³ matter more than the 270 hp tune. 8.5 s, 180 km/h, 2209 kg, payload 556 kg, 95 fuel, compression 9.6, consumption not measured. Versus 4.7 AT 270 hp: −7 hp, −10 Nm, +0.4 s, +10 mm clearance, −1 kg kerb, 95 versus 92.

Take 4.7 AT 235 hp if lowest kerb in the whole GX catalogue is the filter. 2120 kg is 90 kg below 4.7 AT 263 hp and 454 kg below GX 550. 235 hp is the lowest Lexus GX horsepower here; kg/hp ≈ 9.02 is the worst; 8.5 s matches the 263 hp car; 220 mm matches it; 645 kg payload is second only to restyling 2 4.6 AT (650 kg). Consumption not measured.

A short rule from the arithmetic: GX 550 for seconds, newton-metres, and Turbo; 4.6 AT 296 hp restyling 2 for measured mixed litres, payload, and the 8 with 6 speeds; 4.0 AT for the 6-cylinder 3956 cm³ / 98-fuel sheet when mpg is allowed to stay not measured; 4.7 AT 270 hp for first-generation torque and 8.1 s; 4.7 AT 235 hp for mass; 4.6 AT 301 hp only as a labelled 301 hp twin of the same 4.6 AT name.