Lexus GX J150

The Lexus GX in its J150 series is a full-size body-on-frame SUV, closely related to the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Across an unusually long production run from 2010 to 2023, its fundamental hardware stayed almost unchanged — and that is precisely its strength. Anyone looking for a rugged, genuinely off-road-capable and durable seven-seater will find one of the most solid offerings in the segment here. It was sold exclusively with the 4.6-litre 1UR-FE V8 producing 224 kW, an engine widely regarded as mechanically near-indestructible. If you can live with the thirst, mileage well beyond 300,000 kilometres is entirely realistic.

On the engine side there is little to criticise, but a few maintenance points are worth knowing. The coolant gasket on the valley plate tends to weep over the years, as does the timing chain cover. The water pump and secondary air pump are wear items — the latter was subject to a service campaign and typically announces itself with fault codes P2440 and P2442. Valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals also start to leak with age. None of this is dramatic, but on a neglected example it adds up.

The more characteristic weak spots lie around the drivetrain. The KDSS system — the hydraulic anti-roll bar decoupling setup — likes to lose hydraulic fluid at its actuators and accumulators, which can get expensive. Owners who tow or drive hard off-road should watch transmission temperatures, as overheating does occur. In salt-belt regions, frame rust is a serious issue that deserves a thorough underbody inspection on any purchase. Add the usual age-related items: an alternator that can fail prematurely, sticking door lock actuators, worn lower ball joints and control arms, and shift solenoids that stick on cold starts (P2714/P0761).

When buying, the underside tells the real story: frame, KDSS lines and transmission cooling reveal whether a vehicle was cared for or neglected. The infotainment is dated by today's standards, but that is cosmetic.

The honest verdict: the GX J150 is a workhorse with luxury pretensions that will comfortably cross the quarter-million-kilometre mark with proper maintenance. The V8's thirst is the price you pay for that robustness. Anyone who can accept it and finds a rust-free, well-kept frame is buying one of the most dependable large SUVs on the market.