The first-generation Chevrolet Captiva offered buyers a lot of car for their money. It was a large, seven-seater SUV with powerful diesel engines and decent off-road capability thanks to its four-wheel-drive system. A facelift in 2011 brought revised looks and simplified the engine line-up down to just a single diesel. Two models are available: an entry-level, five-seat, two-wheel-drive version and a high-spec, seven-seat, four-wheel-drive one. Although all Captivas are comfortable and well equipped, they don't lead the class when it comes to efficiency and the range-topping LTZ specification can be quite expensive.
Despite its name, it seemed like the Chevrolet Captiva was merely content as the wallflower of the compact crossover segment. While everyone else boasted head-turning good looks or formidable performance (or both), the Captiva had an available diesel variant and seven seats. Sure, it was enough for a select few to part money for one, but the vast majority of Filipinos passed on it. Well, Chevrolet has finally understood that having a diesel and seven seats maybe good for few, but an updated styling and some spec tweaks are much more important. Enter the 2015 Captiva, a compact crossover that’s now slicker than your average. While it’s not a real fuel miser, at least it handles tidily. Along with the new engine, the 2015 Captiva receives a re-tweaked suspension. Chevy calls it a soft ride suspension, but it feels firmer than the pre-facelifted version. It sharpens the road manners, but the flip side is the ride isn’t as relaxed as it should be for this class. Bumps get easily transmitted into the cabin which isn’t helped by the less than solid feeling body structure. It doesn’t flop or flip through corners, but the overall experience is still very pedestrian. The steering isn’t as quick and feels rather numb, mainly because it still relies on a non-variable ratio hydraulic assist steering, but at least there’s still good grip. Unlike more modern offerings, it doesn’t have stability control to speak of and this causes the front tires to chirp at full throttle. But at least the torque steer is largely controlled.
The 2015 Lexus GX can go where few others can.A decade ago, 'tough-truck' luxury was all the rage. But the Lexus GX 460 is strictly a niche product today.
For the U.S. the GX 460 has become an increasingly hard sell. Even as gas prices have continued to trend down, Americans continue to gravitate to more road-bound crossovers with better fuel economy. That said, it offers a luxurious cabin for family-hauling, as well as a full-fledged off-roading four-wheel-drive system for weekend warriors.
Likes Towing ability Good front seats, driving position Useful off-road electronics Powerful V-8
Dislikes Side-opening hatch opens away from the curb Too-light steering Poor gas mileage Spongy brake pedal feel Disappointing, high cargo floor
The 2015 Lexus GX 460 has a personality that makes it stand apart from most 3-row luxury SUVs. Actually it's more like a split personality that embodies the plush accommodations associated with every Lexus, and the 4-wheel-drive capability to venture where few of its peers would dare. While rivals such as the BMW X5, Acura MDX, Infiniti QX60 and Audi Q7 are tailored for sedan-like on-road performance, the V8-powered Lexus GX has truck-like construction for excellent off-road performance. That makes the GX somewhat of a compromise in the city, where its ride is less forgiving. But for adventure seekers looking for a 7-passenger SUV that's luxurious and rugged – not to mention reliable and a resale champ – the Lexus GX is among the last and best of its kind.
Likes If you want to crawl over rocks, scale treacherous slopes and tow heavy loads in your 3-row luxury SUV – or at least give the impression you do – nothing outside a Land Rover LR4 will do it better in the $50,000-$60,000 price range. Moreover, the Lexus has excellent resale value.
Dislikes If the terms "low-range gearing," "locking center differential" and "crawl control" sound like foreign language, you likely won't be using the Lexus GX 460 for serious off-roading. In that case, you'll appreciate the more refined on-road manners and better fuel efficiency of one of its luxury crossover SUV rivals.
Merging a sturdy chassis and typical Lexus luxury, the GX is a mountain climber in a three-piece suit. A 301-hp 4.6-liter V-8, a six-speed automatic, and a four-wheel-drive system with a locking center differential are all standard and provide the GX its off-road credentials. Inside, plush seats, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a power-adjustable steering wheel are standard; adaptive cruise control and automated emergency braking are optional on the top Luxury trim. GX460 was the Lexus brand’s third-best-selling SUV (even though the Lexus lineup had only four SUVs). In calendar year 2015, it gathered more buyers than the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, Infiniti QX80, Land Rover LR4, and Range Rover Sport, and it nearly kept pace with the Mercedes-Benz GL. However, the Acura MDX, BMW X5, and the combined Mercedes-Benz M-class/GLE all outsold the Lexus by a ratio of more than two to one. It has certainly outlasted just about all of its mid-size, truck-based peers. Add in booming sales of other examples of the larger breed—Escalades, Navigators, and such—and the expected demise of the traditional body-on-frame SUV has been slower than anticipated. Blame cheap gasoline.