If you’re looking for a smooth, fuel-efficient crossover that handles like a sedan and fits into tight parking spots at Whole Foods, stop reading right now. Seriously. You’ll hate this thing. The Lexus GX 460 2022 is a dinosaur. It’s a literal fossil from an era when "SUV" actually meant something rugged, heavy, and slightly excessive. It’s built on a truck frame, it drinks gas like a thirsty camel at an oasis, and the rear door opens sideways like a refrigerator.
But here is the weird part. Despite being ancient in "car years," the 2022 model year was a massive turning point for this specific rig.
For years, Lexus just... forgot to update the interior. We were stuck with a tiny screen and buttons that felt like they came off a 2010 Blackberry. Then 2022 hit. Lexus finally gave it the 10.3-inch touchscreen and—more importantly—Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It was the "Goldilocks" year. You got the old-school, bulletproof V8 engine combined with tech that actually works in the modern world.
The V8 Elephant in the Room
Let’s talk about that engine. Under the hood of the Lexus GX 460 2022 sits a 4.6-liter V8. It pumps out 301 horsepower. In 2026, where everything is a turbocharged four-cylinder or a battery pack, a naturally aspirated V8 feels like a luxury. It’s not fast. Actually, it’s kind of slow. 0 to 60 mph takes nearly 8 seconds.
But it’s smooth.
There is a specific, buttery vibration-free feel to a Lexus V8 that you just don't get in a turbo-four. It’s the 1UR-FE engine, a platform known in the mechanic world for going 300,000 miles without breaking a sweat. If you’re the kind of person who keeps a car for a decade, this is the Holy Grail. Most modern SUVs are built to be leased and returned; the GX was built to be inherited by your grandkids.
Real Talk on Gas Mileage
You’re going to spend a lot of time at gas stations. The EPA ratings for the Lexus GX 460 2022 are 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. In the real world? If you have a heavy foot or you’re climbing a mountain, you’ll see 13 or 14 mpg. It’s the price of admission for that reliability.
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That Weird Rear Door and Why It Matters
Most SUVs have a liftgate. You press a button, it goes up, you stand under it to stay dry when it rains. Not the GX. The Lexus GX 460 2022 has a side-hinged rear door. It swings out toward the curb (since it was designed for right-hand drive markets like Japan and Australia).
It’s annoying in tight parking garages. You can’t fully open the back if someone is parked right behind you.
However, there is a hidden perk. The rear glass pops open independently. If you just need to chuck a gym bag or a bag of groceries into the back, you don't have to swing that heavy vault door open. You just click a button near the license plate and the glass flips up. It’s a niche feature, but once you have it, you kind of miss it on other cars.
Off-Road Chops: More Than Just a Pretty Face
Most people buy a Lexus to go to the mall. We know this. But the Lexus GX 460 2022 is secretly a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado underneath. It has a full-time four-wheel-drive system. It has a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS).
KDSS is basically magic.
On the pavement, it keeps the car from leaning too much in corners. On the trail, it disconnects the sway bars automatically so the wheels can drop further into holes and maintain traction. It’s all hydraulic—no fancy electronics to fail in the mud. If you find a 2022 with the "Off-Road Package," you get Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control. It’s basically a cruise control for rock crawling.
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You probably won't use it. But knowing you could cross a river while your neighbor's crossover gets stuck in a wet grassy field? That's the appeal.
Interior Vibes: Old School Luxury
Inside, the Lexus GX 460 2022 feels like a library. The leather is thick. The wood trim is real (it’s usually Gray Sapele wood with aluminum accents if you get the Black Line Special Edition).
The 2022 update was the first time Lexus moved the climate controls away from the screen and back to physical buttons. Thank god. You can actually change the temperature without diving through three sub-menus while driving 70 mph.
- The Third Row: It’s tiny. Don’t put adults back there unless you genuinely dislike them. It’s for kids or emergencies only.
- The Cargo Space: With the third row up, you have almost zero room. With it down, it’s decent, but the floor is high because of the frame underneath.
- The Sound System: If you can find one with the Mark Levinson 17-speaker setup, buy it. It turns the cabin into a private concert hall.
Why 2022 is the Specific Year to Buy
Why not a 2021? No Apple CarPlay. Why not a 2024 or 2025? Because that’s the new GX 550. The GX 550 is cool, it looks like a boxy Defender, and it’s very fast. But it has a twin-turbo V6. It’s a first-generation engine for that model.
The Lexus GX 460 2022 represents the absolute peak of the "Old Guard." It was the year Lexus fixed the tech but kept the legendary mechanical bits. It’s the most refined version of a platform that stayed in production for over a decade.
What to Watch Out For Before You Buy
It’s not perfect. No car is.
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First, the "Lexus Remote Touch" trackpad. Even with the new touchscreen in 2022, they kept the little trackpad near the shifter. It’s twitchy. It’s sensitive. Just ignore it and use the touchscreen.
Second, the brakes. Because this is a heavy, body-on-frame vehicle, the brakes feel a bit "squishy." You have to press them harder than you would in a BMW or an Audi. It takes a few days to get used to the weight transfer.
Third, the "leaning" issue. Some owners report a slight lean to the right (the "GX Lean"). This is often just how the KDSS system sits or a result of the fuel tank placement. It’s usually not a mechanical failure, just a quirk of the truck's geometry.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
If you are currently hunting for a Lexus GX 460 2022, here is how to handle the search.
- Check the Valley Plate: Even though these are reliable, some 4.6L V8s develop a slow coolant leak at the "valley plate" under the intake manifold. Look for pink crusty residue. In a 2022, this should be covered under warranty, but check anyway.
- Service History is King: These engines need oil changes every 5,000 to 7,500 miles to hit that legendary 300k mark. Use the Lexus Drivers website to plug in the VIN; it will show you every service ever done at a dealership for free.
- Skip the Luxury Trim Unless You Need Air Suspension: The Premium trim is the sweet spot. The Luxury trim adds rear air suspension which is nice for towing, but it’s expensive to fix when the airbags eventually dry rot in 10 years.
- The "Black Line" Special Edition: If you want the best resale value, look for the Black Line. It came in Nori Green Pearl (which is stunning) and has blacked-out trim that makes the truck look much more modern.
The Lexus GX 460 2022 is a niche vehicle. It’s for the person who wants to buy a vehicle today and still be driving it in 2040. It’s for the person who values a physical volume knob over a "haptic slider." It’s an expensive, thirsty, glorious contradiction. In a world of disposable tech, it’s a piece of heavy machinery. If that sounds like your vibe, there isn't much else on the road that compares.