SHOULD ENGINEER SELL 2023 LEXUS GX TO BUY 2024 GX? // WHICH IS BETTER? // ENGINEER'S COMPARISON!

The V-8 powered 2023 Lexus GX 460 is a very special vehicle for David Chao, who loves its buttery-smooth V-8 and hefty hydraulic steering. But the all-new 2024 Lexus GX 550 does almost everything better than the older 2023, despite losing the reliable V-8 engine. Should David trade his 2023 GX to buy the 2024? To find out, David does a complete engineer's review of the "old vs new" GX from bumper to bumper. Let David know in the comments section what you think he should do!

Automotive Press is owned and managed by David Koichi Chao, a global expert in the field of automotive evaluation, engineering, and strategy. With over 35 years of engineering experience, David is able to review vehicles from unique perspectives utilizing technical and specialized methods. David is a board member and a director at AJAC (Automobile Journalist Association of Canada).

David is known around the world as an authentic specialist of Lean/Agile Thinking, and travels all around the world to review vehicles and teach latest engineering methods. Born and raised in Japan, David has an engineering degree from University of British Columbia and post-graduate education from MIT and Harvard Business School in Boston.

[megharper]

The gx460 with the v8. Proven very long-term performance and reliability. Let Lexus work the bugs out of new vehicles.

[lforeman]

Nope you should keep your 2023 as it’s a gem with that smooth reliable V8.

[charleysheridan]

Amd, The Car Care Nut's most recent video on Lexus V-8's is very important for long term maintenance in keeping coolant changed. His video is important to watch for long term keepers of the GX V-8 engine.

[mfnazir]

You should keep your GX460. I sat in the new one at the dealership and it was a lot of plastic and then I sat in GX460 that thing is nice not much plastic very nice. I would wait a few years for Lexus to improve GX550 right now plastic junk is not worth the money, and I am someone who loved the new shape and was excited about it but my advice is to keep your GX460.

[GuillermoGonzalez-zelglez]

I will keep my new 2023 GX460 that i just got last year very confortable and luxury specially the V8 love it

[offshorebear]

If you are an engineer, can you do more engineering tests? How about actual power output, software responsiveness, NDT, load testing, QMS, etc? Panel gap testing with an uncalibrated plastic stick doesn't do much. Can you at least use a caliper or a mic?

[jpdoc]

‘23 V8 for the win 🏆
screen is an easy upgrade👍

[ThachVo-yg]

Don’t do it! My gx550 OT+ has idle vibration and now brake issue.

[Fuegoturbo]

22" wheels on a GX.🤯 Love my 23 GX and I feel like the new one goes way up in price for materials and finishes that are great for a Toyota, but not what I'd expect from Lexus.

[derrickaf]

I’m fortunate enough to own a 2019 GX460 and a 2023 GX 460, the 2019 GX unfortunately (subject to changing my mind) will be traded in a couple years and the 2023 GX 460 is the keeper. 
Your reviews are always on point and well presented:)! 
Thank you…

[Mferny]

I don't think there's even a comparison, 2023 GX 460 all day long! The V8 is bullet proof. The interior feel and luxury appointments of the GX 460 are much better. I feel like the new Lexus vehicles use a lot of cheap plastics and the fine luxury features of leather, wood, etc. are all gone. The Lexus motto used to be " The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection", sadly I do not see that in it's new vehicles today.

[markgroves]

Maybe it's telling that people do not seem to be trading in GX460s for the new GX550, at least not in central Texas. When I bought my wife a 2021 GX460 CPO in April to join my 2018 LC200 in our garage, there were at least 30 CPO GX460s model year 2020-2022 to choose from at the 3 Lexus dealers nearest me. Today there is only one in stock, a 2019 GX460.

[Hogfever]

My wife and I currently own a 2004 GX 470 premium original Owners, it has 160 thousand miles on it. It is in great shape and we still drive it cross country yearly. On December 3, 2024. We purchased a Lexus 2023 GX 460 atomic silver premium package pre-certified with only 7K. We also checked the new GX 550, my wife and I didn’t particularly care for the look of the new vehicle. We are not off-road people and don’t plan on taking our $70, 000 vehicle off-road even though it’s capable. We know there are people out there who will fall in love with the new GX 550, we’re just not one of them. We currently own three vehicles and they are all V8s, I’m from the old school who love V8s!

[L--ct]

Ideally, buy the GX550, while keeping the GX460 until you're sure. The old systems approach was run both in parallel. After a given amount of time, keep the one you decide is best for you and sell the other one. I suspect leasing is an option for somebody who can deduct the lease costs income-tax-wise, but vehicles bought-outright can also be depreciated and there may be other deductible methods depending on one's tax laws.
David, you'll have the advantage of better info and having test driven the GX550 more than what I'd be able to do at today's dealership which may only get one in at a time.

[douglasbarnes]

I have the GX 460, I love the new one, but would wait a year or two given the engine issues with the Tundra.

[stevenscarborough]

My wife and I bought an L-Certified 2023 GX460 Premium in late July. Short version: we love it. To fund it, we sold a 2021 4runner Off Road Premium--- which we also really liked. We are decreasing our offroading and have done most of what we wanted in the 4runner.

Fyi, I was wanting a 2024 GX550 Overtrail. But at the time up here in the Denver area there were waiting lists for the GX550--- such as over 200. Dealers were telling us it might be 6 months or more; hence, we went with the GX460. As a side note the highway mpg is rated at 19. With just me driving at 68 mph, I routinely get 23 - 24 mpg!

[LonGilford]

I own a 23 GX 460 💙 love the V8 engine!!! I will never part with it!!! I know what I have in the GX 460, I’m not worried about the GX 550!!!

[Samwilson]

I chose a 23 after driving both. Drivers area more room on 23 for sure. Esp side to side with legs. Preferred the LC to the new GX.

[Marks.Reviews]

Does the GX 550 and LC 250 have aluminium panels?

[uschi]

You said the V8 in the GX 460 has been "the most reliable powertrain". And while I would agree, that's only if you're diligent with maintenance. Especially with coolant flushes every 50k miles. Watch your friend AMG's latest video where he talks about head gasket failures on the 1UR and the resulting coolant leak and overheating which results in a warped head or, worse, a warped block.

And you're right, the new twin turbo V6 in the GX 550 is unproven. The update to the partial engine assembly took place in February 2024 it's likely the engine in the GX 550 won't have the same failures that Tundras and LX 600s have had. But, only time will tell if it's a truly reliable engine. Given Toyota's history, I would guess it's going to be reliable but only if the owners are diligent with their maintenance. Oil changes, transmission fluid changes, coolant flushes, diff fluid changes - these are the keys to a long-lasting vehicle.