The Discontinued Lexus V8 SUV Buyers Are Hunting To Avoid Air-Suspension Disasters
When you purchase a Lexus, you’re pretty much buying it not just for the elevated driving experience over an equivalent Toyota, but also the reliability associated with a luxury vehicle from a reliable brand. Reliable, however, doesn’t always mean cheap to maintain. If a Lexus is richer in features, expect a higher chance of expensive repairs.
That’s the case with the Lexus LX and LS. The drivetrains of these two flagship models are robust overall, but their engines are not found in economy cars. When something goes wrong (though you can trust us that the chances are extremely low), the replacement part isn’t going to be cheap.
What you should be concerned about, though, is air suspension durability. In a brand-new Lexus, the air suspension is going to last far longer than in the European brands, which we can guarantee. Unfortunately, the suspension is pretty much the part that gets beaten up the most in a vehicle. So yes, it’s inevitable that an air spring will have to be replaced in the future, and it’s not going to be cheap. Here’s why this Lexus SUV alternative is starting to become attractive to some used luxury SUV buyers.
The Case With Air Suspensions
But to understand why having air suspension in vehicles can turn used car buyers uneasy, here’s what you need to know about their complexity. On the other hand, let us explore why Lexus makes a more reliable air suspension.
Complex And Overengineered
Trust the German luxury brands to come up with overly complex solutions to certain automotive challenges. Porsche makes the most complicated cupholders in the world in its sports cars just to maintain their interior design, while still having a degree of practicality. Oftentimes, their solutions become too overengineered—sometimes reaching a point of diminishing returns. Case in point—their air suspensions.
Sure, the air suspensions that the Germans engineer have the ability to completely eliminate body roll or even lift a sedan in less than a second for easy entry and exit, but at what cost? By the time these vehicles reach their next owners, these air suspensions—with their plethora of sensors that can wear out, plus rubber components that can get crunchy over time—become the perfect recipe for a cascading repair bill.
Lexus Is Simpler And Has A Clever Trick
On the other hand, you’ve got Lexus and its take on air suspension. In the case of the LS, it uses an on-demand compressor system instead of the usual pressurized central air storage reservoir. The on-demand air compressor only pumps air into the springs when needed, which eliminates the need for a central air reservoir. Do note, however, that a leak in an air spring or a faulty valve can also cause the on-demand air compressor to run continuously.
For the Lexus LX, however, what’s fitted as standard in these vehicles isn’t the usual air suspension, but something different. It’s called Active Height Control (AHC), and rather than using pressurized air, it uses hydraulic fluid. So yes, this is even more durable and long-lasting. The main advantage is that the rubber air springs are replaced by heavy-duty hydraulics, which use nitrogen-filled spheres and incompressible hydraulic fluid. Yet, even with AHC being more durable, there are still some buyers in the used market who are uneasy with AHC, as seen in this Reddit thread. The fear is particularly strong among owners who intend to lift the vehicle’s ride height even further.
Here’s How Much A 10-Year-Old Lexus GX Is Worth Today
With multiple awards for its reliability, the luxury Lexus GX holds its value better than many mainstream models.
Consider A Used GX 460
That’s where the appeal of the Lexus GX 460 comes in. The final model was produced in 2023, and this model is proving to be a hit in the used market. Here’s why.
Exceptionally Durable And Long-Lasting
AHC was also offered in the Lexus GX 460, but unlike in the LX 570, this was only offered on higher trims. As a result, certain buyers, particularly those who have intentions of lifting the vehicle’s ride height and modifying its wheel and suspension components, favor the simplicity of coil springs. To be fair, AHC is far longer-lasting than traditional air suspension, but when the time comes that they need replacements, they’ll still be more expensive than traditional coil springs.
According to iSeeCars, the GX 460 is exceptionally reliable. It has an average lifespan of 10.9 years or 142,683 miles, with a 19.9 percent chance of reaching 200,000 miles. This is one of the publication’s highest-rated vehicles. When it comes to running costs, RepairPal estimates that the GX 460’s annual repair or maintenance costs hover around $770, which is below the segment’s average of $807. The GX 460 will likely experience valley plate coolant leaks, but that’s not too expensive to repair, and it’ll be at the high six-digit mileage mark before that even happens.
The V-8 Is Immortal
What’s even more amazing when it comes to its durability is the 4.6-liter V-8. The 1UR-FE produces 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, which does not sound like a lot for a vehicle in 2026, but was powerful enough in 2010. Besides, what it makes up for when it comes to its relaxed power is long-lasting durability. Apart from the aforementioned valley plate coolant leak that the engine may experience when it reaches ultra-high mileage, this V-8 only needs routine maintenance for most of its life. It’s the main contributor to its lower-than-average annual repair or maintenance costs from RepairPal.
|
Lexus GX 460 |
|
|---|---|
|
Engine |
4.6-liter V-8 |
|
Drivetrain |
4WD |
|
Horsepower |
301 hp |
|
Torque |
329 lb-ft |
|
Transmission |
6-speed A/T |
|
EPA Combined MPG |
16 MPG |
And if anything does happen, this engine’s commonality with the one used in the Sequoia and Tundra means that spare parts are abundant and affordable. This is why the GX 460’s resale value is extremely high, with iSeeCars determining that after five years, it’ll still hold 65.7 percent of its value. In terms of what it’s worth in the market, Edmunds has determined that three-year-old (2023 model year) examples now have an average value of $53,864 – $56,793, which is very high for its segment.
10 Luxury Cars With Reasonable Maintenance Costs
Luxury cars are highly appealing, especially in the second hand market. But their maintenance cost could be a turn-off
What A GX 460 Offers
The Lexus GX 460 has more than just bulletproof reliability. Thankfully, our team has been able to review the final model year GX 460, in which you’ll learn that it’s a well-mannered luxury SUV that just so happens to be well-trained for mountain climbing.
Engineered For Indulgent Invincibility
When you think of cars that are built like tanks, the last thing you’ll think about is poise and refinement. In the GX’s case, it manages to be first and foremost a highly durable off-roader, thanks to its body-on-frame platform and robust mechanicals, while providing the isolation you expect from a Lexus. There’s a bit of shimmying as a nature of body-on-frame vehicles, but it’s largely a cosseting driving experience. Higher trims get the hydraulic-based AHC, but lower variants with coil springs still ride beautifully.
Since it’s a soft and tall body-on-frame SUV, sportiness and dynamism are nonexistent here. It’s not a bad thing, though, since this isn’t what the GX is for. With full-time four-wheel drive and a locking differential, among other off-road features, the GX is just as good at traveling off the beaten path as it is cruising on a highway. That V-8, though, with its modest output, is best described as capable, but not fast. It’s not efficient, either, as it barely manages to reach beyond 20 MPG in mixed driving conditions.
Elegant Looks Inside And Out
Despite the GX’s age—with the vehicle having been in production for 13 years—its design has aged well, in my opinion. In its final evolution, the GX adopted a sporty interpretation of the brand’s Spindle Grille with a mesh design. A Black Line Edition was introduced in 2022 to add a bit of aggression to its design. Overall, the GX’s looks may not be the most cutting-edge in terms of outright sleekness, but it looks poised yet rugged and ready for adventure.
It’s also the same story inside, where the overall vibe is stately and elegant. The materials feel great to the touch—even the NuLuxe synthetic leather feels buttery smooth. For its final facelift, the GX got a 10.3-inch version of the Lexus Remote Touch Interface, which adds touchscreen and touchpad functionality to the operating system. Barely anyone was a fan of the touchpad, so you’ll mostly navigate the software through the touchscreen. Since it’s an older SUV, it still has heaps of physical controls, so that’s always a good thing these days. The third row, however, is pretty much a kids-only zone, especially due to the low seating height.
Sources: Lexus, iSeeCars, KBB, CarEdge, RepairPal
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments