I am guessing it was designed for the Prado to have a spare tire on it, which is the main reason these manufacturers do side swinging doors.

 

Huh I never thought about that.

 

I'm sure that was originally the reason but I don't think the current Prado has a spare tire on it, does it? Maybe only on some trims?

 

I suppose it does depending on the trim. I'm sure this is why it has a swing out door:

 

That is correct. Any Toyota model which can carry a spare at the back has a swing door, not only Prado. This design makes sense because then you can have aux fuel tank installed where the spare would normally go underneath.

 

Yeah! The design is superior when you're talking about off-road capability too. Nobody who is really in the muck off road is going to be able to retrieve a filthy, mud-logged spare from underneath the truck. They GX's spare should be on the back too, but too many people would refuse to buy it in North America if they did. Sadly it was cheaper to relocate the spare and leave the door as a swing-out than it was to change the manufacturing process entirely for a low volume Lexus version.

 

Thanks to all for the input. It's like everything else some like it and some don't. I'm looking at a 2014 Premium but I am having a difficult time with the swinging door. It may just kill the deal. Your comments are great and I really appreciate them. As long as they sell I'm certain that Lexus attitude is why change. I apologize for my delay in responding but time just zips right on by.

 

I had the same point of view when shopping for my wife's ML320 replacement. I really like the BMW double door design but I can not live with its reliability problems. After owning the GX for 3 weeks, I do not mind the swing door at all now. Comparing to the ML320, the GX is much better built.

 

Coming out of a vehicle with a power liftgate the GX rear door took some getting used to but I'm not going to say I "Like" the GX door but I've gotten used to it and it doesn't bother me.

 

New comments on the barn door in Car Chat
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...-the-side.html

 

the gx should have the option of spare on barn door. doesnt look bad at all

 

I don't see that being a seller in the US lol

 

looks like a rav4 from that angle.

 

Tecman you cursed me LOL. Right we did this back-and-forth, I wound up downtown Montreal with an armload of shopping bags and my briefcase, in a sleet/snow, parallel parked with some guy 1 foot from my bumper and I couldn't get anything into the trunk without tossing it randomly through the window hatch...HA ha.....I see your point, believe me

 

Thanks for the mental image, LOL