2010 Lexus GX 460

2010 Lexus GX 460 sport-utility vehicle, says Toyota Motor Sales.

Last week, Toyota had promptly halted sales of the GX 460 after Consumer Reports noted an unexpected handling behavior, and possibly a malfunction of the electronic stability control system.

The test behavior, in which the stability system allowed the back of the vehicle to slide out sideways when the driver lifted abruptly off the accelerator while going tightly around a corner (lift-off oversteer), could potentially result in a higher chance of rollover if the vehicle were tripped by a curb, dropoff, or change in surface.

Consumer Reports subsequently gave the 2010 Lexus GX 460 a rare "Don't Buy: Safety Risk" designation.

Toyota later confirmed that its own engineers had duplicated the behavior

Curiously, there's more to the story. Now Toyota Motor Corporation has also released a confession of sorts, explaining that several different conditions contributed to the issue:

- In the GX 460 and Land Cruiser Prado, heavy components, such as the fuel tank, are located on the left side, and in left-hand drive versions, the left side is made even heavier because of the presence of the driver.
- For vehicles with certain tires (on 18-inch wheels) and equipped with the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS*) and VSC, the activation of the VSC may not be sufficient in certain circumstances due to the setting of the VSC program.

Toyota will recall Lexus GX460, DOT officials say

Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling the Lexus GX460 sport utility vehicle to correct a problem that could lead to rollover or loss of control, according to Department of Transportation officials.

Problems with that model surfaced last week when Consumer Reports magazine reported that the vehicle had slid out of control during routine testing. In response to the findings, Consumer Reports issued a rare "do not buy" advisory to the public.

Toyota's recall would affect roughly 6,000 vehicles in the U.S. To date, Toyota has responded by testing all of its SUVs for potential stability problems. It acknowledged that it was able to duplicate the problem with the GX460. Toyota officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Consumer Reports Puts 2010 Lexus GX 460 On Don’t Buy List

For the first time since 2001, Consumer Report has indicated serious concerns of rollover for an SUV. This time, it is one of the most popular brands, the new Lexus GX 460. Three months and 5000 SUV sales later, Consumer Reports have cautioned users not to buy Lexus GX 460 SUV until Toyota (NYSE:TM) engineers are able to fix stability issue. According to Consumer Report experts, when they tested new SUV on track handling course, the vehicle nearly fell sideways due to a potential rollover problem. On sharp turns whenever test drivers took off their feet from accelerators, the SUV had tendency to veer off sideways due to high center of gravity. Although, electronic traction control takes over to keep Lexus GX 460 in an upright position but engineers found that the sudden impact was too quick even for computers to handle.

2010 Lexus IS 250C

2010 Lexus IS 250C

The IS 250C, from certain angles, is no exception. To provide ample space to stow the roof and still leave a little carry-on luggage room, the entire rear end often grows out of proportion to the rest of the car. The IS C's overall length grows a little more than two inches, and it shows. It's also impossible to hide the massive cut lines for the trunk lid, which only adds to the feeling of extra mass. Then you add 400 pounds to the curb weight, and that extra mass becomes a real issue, especially in car packing a 204-hp V6.

To be fair, the car looks sharp from the front three-quarter angle, and--like all good convertibles--is fine with the top down. It also is fitted with some damn nice equipment--the super-powerful and clean sound of the Mark Levinson audio system is worth the money, along with the strong navigation system and the adaptive headlights which both do a great job of helping guide and light the way forward.

If your tastes run to luxury and you're willing to forego serious power to get everything for less than $50,000, the IS 250C is a good option.

Lexus Hybrid Adds Economy To Luxury

The Lexus RX 450H shows just how far hybrids have come. It was the first luxury crossover SUV as well as the first luxury full-hybrid SUV, and it couldn’t be more different from the teeny Insight or even the first-generation Prius, which absolutely defined dorky in automotive terms.

The RX crossovers have been a huge success among upscale drivers, and with the RX 450H, they can have their luxury SUV steak with a side order of smug frugality. Instead of the non-hybrid RX 350 with its 18 city, 25 highway fuel mileage, RX 450H breaks out with 30 city and 29 highway.

That difference probably won’t pay back the $7,000 extra cost over the regular gas-powered car for a whole lotta years unless gas prices spike into the stratosphere, but there is the daily psychological benefit of driving lean and clean. Plus, those sublime interludes when the Lexus is cruising through city streets in near silence on electric power only.

The Lexus RS was completely restyled for 2010, with a sleeker exterior and a more luxurious interior for its third generation. For many people, the RX pushes all the right buttons for versatility, accommodations, refinement and luxury.
The ride is soft and cornering is accompanied by plenty of body roll from the hefty SUV. But what it may lack in drivability, RX makes up for in cushy comfort. If insulation from the rough edges of the outside world is what you desire, then here it is, in spades.

The hybrid drive is generally seamless, though there is some jerkiness as the RX shifts between the electric motor and the gas engine. At low speeds, electric power become the only motivation up to about 40 mph, when the gas engine cuts in. At traffic lights and other stops, the engine shuts down to save fuel.

In the city and suburbs is where you save the bulk of your gas money. On the highway, it is what it is, though on downhill grades the engine will turn itself off until it’s needed again. A nicely designed video graphic helps the driver monitor the hybrid functionality around town, and saving gas can become something of a game to see how well you can do.

Acceleration is decent, though if you go poking too hard on the throttle at start ups, you’ll foil the fuel savings. Throttle response is fairly languid, anyway. The continuously variable automatic transmission is designed to make the most of the hybrid’s functionality, but it sets up an annoying drone when the gas engine is running.