The Lexus GX Outranked All But 1 SUV for Reliability on J.D. Power
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 05/23/2023.
Buying a new car is one of the biggest investments most of us will make. As with any investment, you want to put your money somewhere that won’t dramatically lose value. In the world of buying cars, that means buying a vehicle that is either rare or extremely reliable. As it happens, J.D. Power ranked midsize luxury SUVs for 2022, and the Lexus GX beat all but one model.
How does J.D. Power rate reliability?
J.D. Power is the king of consumer-derived review data. To rate a new car’s predicted reliability, they survey real owners on common trouble areas, including design flaws, mechanical and electronic functions, and general malfunctions. They then review the gathered data and attribute a reliability score based on real ownership experiences. For quality and reliability, the Lexus GX earned an impressive 86/100, and is one of the best luxury SUVs.
The 2022 Lexus GX is the second-most reliable SUV
Although Lexus is a Toyota brand, didn’t you kind of expect to see the Toyota Tacoma or 4Runner or Camry at the top spot? The Lexus GX isn’t a far shot, but still, it seems a little strange. Any way you want to cut it, J.D. Power named the 2022 Lexus GX the second-most reliable SUV on the market. Sitting just two points behind the Lincoln Nautilus, owners seem to love their GX SUVs.
However, the driving experience of the Lexus GX leaves a lot to be desired. Earning just 75 points out of 100, it is only “Average” in the eyes of owners. However, for both quality and dealership experience, the Lexus SUV ranked near the top of the list.
The 2022 GX is still powered by an old 4.6-liter V8 paired with a traditional six-speed automatic gearbox. Despite its high-end appeal, this is a fairly dated SUV — the dinosaur V8 and body-on-frame construction land the GX firmly in the prehistoric.
Once you get past the 17 mpg, there is little to dislike about the Lexus GX. However, owners did find a few things. For one, the interior is said to be a touch cramped, at least compared to other luxury SUVs. Also, the max towing capacity is only 6,500 lbs, and the handling can get a bit clumsy.
Is the 2022 Lexus GX worth it?
“Worth” is a tough word to define for multiple people. The 2022 Lexus GX starts at $56,125 and runs up to $65,635 as the starting point for the top trim. It might be a tough off-roader, but it is still a fancy luxury SUV, too. The ride is supple and quiet, with good power, a beautiful interior, fancy features, and of course, the most reliable SUV on the market.
Sure. It’s expensive, but given the value received for the money spent, it’s a hard one to argue against. You can easily spend more than $65,000 on a terrible car without even trying these days. Buying one of the best ones for the same money seems like a reasonable price if you ask me. If you think about the long game, that money is even better spent. Let’s just hope that gas prices can chill out a bit.
