2007 Lexus GX 470

The Lexus GX 470 is unchanged for 2007.

Positioned between the RX 350 and LX 470, the GX 470 shares its body-on-frame architecture with the Toyota 4Runner, but with a slightly taller roof for more headroom. Its three rows of seats accommodate up to eight passengers.

The GX 470 uses a 4.7-litre V8, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Its full-time four-wheel drive system uses a Torsen torque-sensing centre differential that splits power 60/40 front to rear under normal driving conditions. The GX 470 also comes with downhill and hill-start assist control, limited-slip centre differential, skid plates, load-levelling rear air suspension and adjustable height control system.

Features include 17-inch alloy wheels with full-size spare, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear A/C with climate control, six-CD/MP3 Mark Levinson stereo with 14 speakers, eight-way driver and four-way passenger power heated leather seats, 60/40 fold-and-tumble second-row seats, removable 50/50 third-row seats, birds eye maple wood trim, privacy glass, roof rack, rear splash guards, power sunroof, heated mirrors with memory and reverse tilt-down, rain-sensing wipers, fog lamps, power tilt and telescopic wheel, garage door opener, and roll-sensing front and rear curtain airbags.

It can be further optioned with an Ultra Premium Package, at $76,150, which adds a rear-seat, in-dash six-disc DVD changer with two sets of wireless headphones, DVD-based navigation system with backup camera, and rear spoiler.

More rugged than the RX 330, but easier to drive on a daily basis than the LX 470, the GX 470 is luxury that can haul cargo. It can go off-road, but its buttery-smooth ride is more at home on pavement, where its luxurious appointments make more sense. The third-row seat can be folded out of the way, or removed entirely if necessary. If all the luxury goodies aren’t that important, the priciest Toyota 4Runner is $15,555 less, with the same 4.7-litre V8.