2020 Lexus GX 460 First Drive: Brakes? What For?

As part of Auto123’s recent visit to the award-winning Toyota/Lexus plant in Cambridge, Ontario, the automaker had the idea of sliding the invited guests behind the wheels of its 2020 range of SUV models before stepping into the assembly plant for the big tour.

That day consisted of treks that were rather too short to permit doing a proper appraisal of the new models. Dare we say, an exercise in time-wasting? Well yes, with one exception. Our drive of the big 2020 Lexus GX 460 revealed an interesting new facet to this vehicle.

Allow me to set the scene. I climb out of a UX mini-‘ute in a forest whitened by the previous evening’s snowfall. Kindly Toyota/Lexus representatives, while trying their best to protect themselves from the abnormally frigid weather conditions for mid-November, invite me aboard a GX sitting there, beckoning. Ok, if you insist, I say. A gentle snow is falling.

My guide Giulio settles into the passenger seat. Sporting John Lennon-style round glasses and long hair, he has me drive on pockmarked-surfaced trails that wind their way through a vast field. He tells me land developers plan to build a gold course there. I continue driving, wondering about the why and wherefore of this little jaunt. Until Giulio has me stop the GX between two trees.

“You’re going to head over there”, he says, pointing a finger. “But first we’re going to engage the Crawl function”.

Read more