2003 Lexus GX470

I have to question priorities when there's a hot little German five-speed sedan and a big Lexus sport utility sitting in my driveway, and I choose to drive the Lexus primarily because it has heated seats. This is not a good sign. But it does give me some insight into why luxury, and Lexus in particular, continues to lure customers.

Of course, I could tell you I gravitated towards the Lexus GX470 because it's more newsworthy than the sedan, which it is. The GX470 was just introduced for 2003, adding the first midsize entry to Lexus' sport utility lineup.

But, truth is, I kept choosing it because I really liked those toasty soft leather buckets on chilly mornings. I also liked how it eased me into the day, offered my coffee a choice of four cupholders, adjusted the seat and steering wheel automatically, sang to me through a Mark Levinson 14-speaker audio system and never made me work very hard at anything.

They may position this GX470 as the ruggedmeister of the lineup, but I have a sneaking suspicion I discovered its real talent in these finer points.

The Good News
The GX470 wants to steal some thunder from Acura's MDX, Mercedes ML series, Land Rover Discovery and BMW's X5, but uses a slightly different approach.

That difference starts with the fact it's based on the revised Toyota 4Runner platform. Lexus is due some credit here for paying more than lip-service to the GX470's sport utility label. It is body-on-frame, i.e. truck, construction, as opposed to car-based and comes with a live rear axle, automatic self-leveling, driver-selectable rear height control, locking center differential, 8.3 inches of ground clearance, descent control for steep grades and an adaptive full-time four-wheel drive system. It is much better engineered for treacherous terrain than its aforementioned competition, with the exception of the Discovery, which beats them all.

But once you climb into those sumptuous heated leather seats, caress the polished wood-and-leather steering wheel, get the kiddies settled in the back with a movie in the integrated entertainment system and relax into the ultra-easy performance that typifies Lexus, the thought of dragging all this splendor over some forsaken rural path seems an awful shame. Who wants mud swiped across their bird's eye maple trim?

The GX470 may be based on the 4Runner, but there are distinct differences. Most obviously, this Lexus is taller. The roof is 3 inches higher, which accommodates an optional third seat not available in the 4Runner.

The extra air up there also creates terrific headroom befitting a luxury vehicle (but a concept lost on too many) and a slightly higher perch for passengers. In overall dimensions, the GX470 pushes the higher limits for its midsize class.

Despite the taller profile and ground clearance, the GX470's center of gravity is a little over an inch lower than the previous 4Runner. This, and a significantly wider track, enhance stability and address rollover concerns. Safety is further addressed by three-point seatbelts and headrests for all eight passengers; front and side airbags up front and head-protecting curtain air bags front and rear; side beams and energy deflecting crumple zones.

Powering this big, luxury wagon is the 4.7-liter V-8 borrowed from the Toyota Tundra pickup. This year, the horses have been bumped up to 235, which prove more than adequate to meet any and all power demands on-road. The power flows seamlessly through a new five-speed automatic transmission, and the gentle ride, coupled with extra noise insulation, helps maintain that calm, even temperament inside.

The GX470 also looks very different than the 4Runner. Both are handsome, but where the 4Runner seems comfortable in its truck-based-sport-utility-skin, the GX470 puts on airs. It's a more polished look with a front end relating it to the larger and more expensive LX470.

Also of note: The rear door swings open instead of opening hatchback-style, and the two rear seats fold up against the sides or remove all together.

The Bad News
In order to make this GX470 more off-road worthy, Lexus sacrificed some points that would make it more compelling for the carpool crowd. Specifically, interior room suffers somewhat from the body-on-frame construction, and the live rear axle eats into footroom in the back big time. Even with the raised roofline, the third row seat is practically uninhabitable for adults, even short ones.

My test version also came with the optional navigation system. It's a good system, but it keeps showing up when you don't need it.

Gas mileage
EPA rated at 15 mpg city/18 highway

Price
Manufacturer's base, $44,925;
Price as tested, $52,405

Is it worth it?
Lexus needed the GX470 in its SUV lineup, because the RX300 (soon to be RX330) is mostly a car and the gargantuan LX470 is too much vehicle for a lot of folks. This GX470 fills a gap with an SUV that is very Lexus in its trappings and on-road driving experience, but also offers real off-road engineering. It's a lovely, capable SUV.

That said, the GX470 is a lot of money, especially when the new Toyota 4Runner on which it is based is also a very nice SUV for thousands less, and there is more affordable worthy competition, like the Acura MDX.

Granted, my test vehicle had almost $7,000 in options, including $2,000 for the third row seat with rear air conditioner, $1,560 for elaborate rear seat entertainment system (DVD/CD/games) and $2,700 for navigation/Levinson audio system.

But even without all that, the GX470 is pricey. You have to really want the luxury, the third row of seats and/or the Lexus label to justify the cash.

As for me, I can find great heated seats in a Volkswagen Beetle.

Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville's daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television.