We have driven the Lexus GX 460 before and appreciated its ability to blend ruggedness with the type of luxury you would expect from the luxury automaker. It’s the type of three-row SUV that can take you over the hill and through the tough terrain to your plush Airbnb in the woods without a hiccup. The only issue is that its tech always felt a little outdated until now.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 is “murdered out” with its Black Line special edition package

For the 2022 model year, the Lexus GX 460 comes standard with a few new tech-savvy tricks. For starters, a larger 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system sits front and center on the dashboard. Next, Apple Carplay and Android Auto are now standard features, although you’ll need a cable to make them work. Other new features include park assist, in-dash navigation, and power-folding mirrors.

Our test car for the week also came with the new Black Line special edition package, which includes gloss black 18-inch wheels, open-pore black trim pieces, a black NuLuxe interior, black window trim, and black roof rails. We admit, although we’re not typically fans of the “murdered out” look on cars, it really works well on a brawny SUV like the GX 460. If you like the look, you better act quickly because the Black Line edition is only limited to 3,000 units.

Otherwise, the Lexus GX 460 is largely the same

Aside from the all-black trim and new standard tech features, the 2022 Lexus GX 460 is the same as it has been for the past two years. Under the hood, you’ll find only one engine choice: a 4.6-liter V8 engine that generates 301 hp and 329 lb-ft of torque. The large powerplant is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drivetrain.

In our real-world testing, the setup feels powerful and comes online quickly with the stab of the throttle. However, it’s a little slow upon initial acceleration, but that’s to be expected considering it’s a large SUV.

That being said, the GX 460 does an excellent job accelerating up steeper inclines and doesn’t hunt for gears too much when it’s time to speed up. In terms of comfort, the Lexus GX offers a spacious cabin thanks to its boxy shape. It also provided plenty of cargo space and a relatively flat floor, which came in handy when moving a lot of cargo.

Overall, the GX’s interior design is utilitarian, and although it may look dated compared to competitors, it gets the job done in terms of usefulness. There are plenty of storage cubbies for small stuff, and we liked the use of tactile buttons and tuning knobs instead of haptic touch buttons that can be found in some rivals.

The Lexus GX has one major drawback

So far, the only major drawback to driving the 2022 Lexus GX 460 is its lackluster fuel economy. According to the EPA, the GX 460 can get up to 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. In our testing so far, which includes a mix of city and highway driving, we’re averaging 15 mpg according to the car’s onboard computer.

That shouldn’t be too surprising, considering it’s a large SUV with a big V8, but with today’s gas prices, it’s definitely a pain at the pump. Regardless, the 2022 Lexus GX 460 looks stunning, and we welcome the added changes for the new model year.