2003 Lexus GX Consumer Reviews

I've been a Mercedes-Benz guy for 20+ years. And I've had them all: R129, W123, W124, W126, W210, W211, W221 but I've also had a few Lexus vehicles as well: a 2004 LS430, 2008 GS350 and a 2010 LS460. The GS350 was a piece of garbage; endless problems. But the LS430 was a dream to own. Unfortunately, it was totaled in an accident so I replaced it with the LS460 which was just as nice but required a lot more attention. Of course, when my job required a move to Mexico, taking a Mercedes-Benz to Los Cabos just didn't seem practical so I went back to Lexus for the 4th time since 2011 and I am so happy I did! The GX470 has to be one of the best built cars ever produced -- and I'm talking along the lines of the Daimler Benz AG products of old. The legendary ones. The quality is just stunning. Even at 315,000 miles the car is still an unstoppable tank that almost never has a problem, requires minimal maintenance, and drives like the luxury SUV it is all while taking on the worst of the dirt and gravel roads, off-trail routes and pot-holed highways of Baja Sur. Once you've spent any significant amount of time with a GX470 it becomes obvious why Toyota named this vehicle Land Cruiser Prado in the markets outside of the United States (yes, "Lexus" is a term used only in the USA and Canada) And that's exactly what it is: a mini-Land Cruiser. Built on a Toyota 4Runner frame with the drive train of a Land Cruiser and packed with all the luxuriousness of a Lexus LS. The fuel economy is the worst of any car I've ever owned (this one being my 39th) but I consider that a small price to pay for the comfort and safety of a 5,171 pound truck more capable in off-road environments than just about anything from Land Rover...without the asinine repair bills. One of the key factors that pushed me over the top in my final decision was how the GX stacks up against the LR3 and LR4 models from Land Rover. I've never seen either of those vehicles with 500k or 700k miles on them, yet I have seen -- with my own eyes -- more than a half-dozen GX470s with odometers that have well over 400k miles on them. In the end, that's the true test of a vehicle's quality and the engineering of it's constructor. Indeed, there is no other engine quite like the 2UZ-FE and there's no other SUV quite like a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado/Lexus GX, especially for use in the urban jungle. Whether you're crossing a desert or a mountain range, or just trying to get to work on the L.A. freeways, this is a vehicle designed and built to a standard so high, it wouldn't surprise me at all if this truck is still on the road in 2060. I expect to hear about the first GX470 passing 999,999 miles any day now. Certainly sooner, rather than later anyway. Who knows? Maybe I'll be the one announcing that feat...because I have absolutely ZERO interest in EVER getting rid of this car. Sure, I have other cars too. But this one is my forever car.

i have owned one for 15 years its been the best car i have ever driven. but i would pay attention to servicing the water pump and the belt every 90,000 miles and the rear air suspension is expensive to replace and the dashboard can also crack so i would put a cover on it before anything else. but other then that its pretty good

I've lost count of all the vehicles I've owned but this one is by far may favorite, despite it's short-comings, of which I only have two (I'm 6'4" and the captain's seat is tight, and gas mileage is awful but that's expected). It's unbelievably quiet, whether going 80mph across the windy Kansas Interstate or baja'ing down washboard roads. It's durability is legendary. That's just a fact. Off-road capability is everything you'd expect from a premium production SUV truck. The aftermarket support and accessories are vast (I've got a LRA auxiliary fuel tank, a JW Offroad swing out tire carrier and an ARB front bumper equipped with a Warn Zeon winch). And, it hauls 8 people* (realistically, 4 medium sized adults and 4 small children).

This has been my daily driver and family roadster for about the last 15 years. Keeping an eye out for when they break it so I can re-up with a lower mileage version of the same truck. Sign me up for another 15 years please. Easy to drive, easy to park, easy to tow, easy to pack, easy uturn, easy to keep it operational. It may lack what others want from a vehicle - but that’s why those people can buy other vehicles.

We bought this Lexus in 2004 and it has been an amazing vehicle. It fits 8; although 3 in the very back is a little crampy, but was great for a load of kids. It has hauled a trailer with four wheelers up the mountain, and traveled all around the United States without any problems. The gas mileage was a pretty steady 16 MPG. It has stood the test of time and several sons and we hate to say goodbye to it. Lexus body parts are plastic, so we have lost a bumper or other body parts here and there and they aren't cheap to replace, but that is just cosmetic. We have truly enjoyed this SUV!

Hello hello heloo

I love my gx470 i got it as a used car recently, it’s an 2004 and I bought it in 2020. Even with age of the vehicle it still drove like a dream. It’s comfortable roomy driver seat, excellent sound system and bass most the bells and whistles that the newer cars has. My only complaint is the gas mileage and the 3rd row didn’t leave a lot of room for any passengers other than a small child also when 3rd row is down there is very minimal trunk space.

With no doubt, my 2004 Lexus GX470 was a highly dependable and most comfortable automobile I ever owned. Due to its mileage, our trust to use the vehicle for long distance travel had waned, however my love for the vehicle had not. My local dealer's service department was second to none, and if it were not for my wife's dislike for Lexus's redesign of its front grill, I would have purchased another in a heartbeat.