I don’t want nor need the third row. I want the extra space in the rear not a permanent folded seat.

 

Then why not just get a LC 250?

 

Lexus > Toyota

 

Another factor to consider... my state just began charging extra if you have a hybrid. Thought that was reserved for EVs only. I was leaning hybrid until this recent discovery. Guess I'll have to find a way to disable the silly and annoying start/stop protocol.

 

What state are you in? I can see California doing this also because it’s always looking for taxation. That will eliminate the purpose of getting a hybrid. At 20,000 miles driven/year and 20 mpg vs 27. I’ll save about 250 gallons @ $5 =$1250. So if the tax difference is minimal I guess I’d pass on the hybrid.

 

Louisiana... it just started this year. $110 for full EVs and $60 for Hybrids. It ain't much, I'll admit. But it's the principle that a Hybrid still uses gas. And hence we pay the gas tax.

 

Lexus GX is more luxurious in the frills. but people will probably recognize the LC more, because name recognition. Before I went Lexus I had NO idea about what the different Lexus models stood for and could not care less.

LC is also a better off roader it seems, since you'd need overtrail to get some stuff that comes standard in all LC trims. Plus approach angle is significantly higher in LC.

 

The Tundra hybrid meant only a shift in mpg from 18/24 to 20/24. The hybrid system is mainly to add torque to the bottom end rather than making any large gains in the mpg. The new hybrid Tacoma--which will be the same hybrid drivetrain--going from old to new was only a shift of 20/23 to 22/24 with the new hybrid version. But, the curb weight for tacoma went from max 4550 to 4720. The GX is going from 6600lbs to 5700-ish (not sure how much heavier the hybrid one will be).

But you figure you gained like 1mpg on the tacoma, and it's 1000lbs lighter. If I was guessing, based on those details, probably best case scenario based on the Tundra and Tacoma results, you might get 2mpg overall improvement compared to the non-hybrid, but you'll mainly just have a big increase on torque.

I've been super disappointed. I love the hybrid cars, and love sitting in traffic and hearing the gas engine shut off. And pulling into my driveway in complete silence with HEV mode running is nice. And I don't need a ton of power, and even if I'm doing light off roading to go camping I'm not climbing 30-degree hills in a mad rush or anything. And I love that they made the GX more of a luxury off-road vehicle--I had heard rumors of that years ago. So I was waiting years thinking a hybrid would come out of it, but once the tundra hybrid mpg was known, I was not optimistic about mpg for the GX. But I still held out hope that the hybrid GX would have mpg somewhere midway between the previous GX(15/19) and the RX (36 combined), so my hope was to see like in the high 20s like 25-29ish. But I thought rumors said the GX would remain a body on-frame not a unibody, which means heavy, even with modern designs. I'm hoping the GX might come out with a plug-in hybrid and maybe they will surprise everyone and focus on mpg for that version rather than crazy unnecessary power. But I'm not expecting that to be the route. I imagine they are of the mind that if you're paying much attention to mpg then you should get an RX or an NX or a maybe a Toyota Rav4 or Highlander.

So oh well, guess I'll just stick with my car for now.

 

There's no free lunch here. My wife and I are looking at the TX and seeing how many posters here aren't getting the EPA MPG for a unibody SUV that weighs almost 1000lbs less than the GX550 means with the Turbo4 hybrid powertrain, the GX hybrid is not going to be setting MPG records.

 

No info on the hybrid but MPG is a major shortfall on the GX. Currently getting about 13-14 in city driving and under 300 miles of range. Would have expected the turbo 6 engine + 10 speed transmission to have delivered better than that. Hybrid option could be very compelling depending on power level, MPG, and cost.

 

While disappointing that isn't surprising. I think official MPG for GX550 is 15/21. It was 15/19 for the GX460. Easy to get only 13-14mpg in city in the GX460, esp in heavy start/start or with any meaningful gradient. Since the city driving milage is the same for both GX models, I wouldn't expect much more than that - maybe you get to 15 if you have a very light foot?

 

[QUOTE=dbluchtefe;11716947] But, the curb weight for tacoma went from max 4550 to 4720. "The GX is going from 6600lbs to 5700-ish"

The curb weight for most base model 2nd gen GX 460s is right around 5,125 lbs, and the GVW is 6600 lbs. GX550 weighs in around 5600-5700 lbs depending on model, GVW 6900--7165 lbs., model dependent.

 

I've been watching some news / videos overseas in east asia, and looks like at least for other markets like South Korea, the hybrid GX will come with the 2.4L Turbo 4 hybrid like the land cruiser / 4runner... maybe they'll still put the 3.4L Turbo Hybrid 6 for NA market... hope so..