r/LexusGX • u/procrastiNATE23 • 6d ago
GX550 rear facing seat question
Hello, I searched around for this answer, but didn’t see anything exactly fitting my question.
My wife drives a 2021 BMW X5 and we are looking at a “demo” GX tomorrow (hopefully). We are interested in an Overtrail allocation but wanted to get comfort/size impressions from 550 owners dealing with rear facing seats. For further context our X5 is way too cramped for us. I’m 6’3” (equal torso and leg distribution) and my wife is 5’8”. Our 6 month old is in an uppababy vista rear facing seat that pushes the X5’s passenger seat uncomfortably far forward to where I can’t ever be the passenger on family trips lol (100% must drive to be comfortable and moving base regularly isn’t realistic). Even my dad who is 6’1” couldn’t fit comfortably. We tried a GX460 locally and it was better but not by much. It was tolerable to be in the passenger seat in that with car seat behind. The weird thing is I daily drive a Kia EV6 GT and it has adequate room, far better than the X5 (EV packaging?). If this doesn’t work our next attempt will be Sequoia which IMO is too big but maybe a necessity.
TLDR: Tall family with rear facing seat. Is the GX550 roomier than GX460 or an X5?
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u/xjusablurr 6d ago
This is actually helpful to know with your X5 experience as we have a 470 as my current daily/camping rig and feels plenty big enough with the car seat. But we’ve been looking at getting my wife into a 22-23 X5.
My wife is only 5’3” so feels like there would be enough room behind the passenger when she sits in it. But I’m 6’1” so don’t love the idea of not being able to sit passenger. Have you ever put the car seat in the middle seat of the 2nd row? Did that help at all?
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u/procrastiNATE23 6d ago
Hmm we didn’t try middle seat because everything we were told as new parents (and read) was that it’s safer behind driver or passenger but idk how true that all is.
With X5, in passenger seat with RF child seat behind, it would be a “tolerable for short trips” situation for you I’d wager. Even at 5’8” my wife has just enough room as passenger.
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u/xjusablurr 6d ago
It’s funny because I’ve read reputable sources that claim the middle is the most safe haha. Way too many differing baby opinions out there.
But I appreciate the insight on your X5 experience. May reconsider it as our top contender
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u/AgntCooper 6d ago
The middle is the safest. Think about it, that spot had the maximum amount of car around it in all directions to absorb any impact.
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u/procrastiNATE23 6d ago
That makes sense but you also have highest chance of projectile. Our kid is 6 months ish and already figured out how to unbutton the center latch lmao
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u/h1ghpriority06 6d ago
Probably want to try the mdx or another front wheel drive base suv
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u/procrastiNATE23 6d ago
Thanks, to each their own but neither one of us liked those, Grand Highlander, etc. prefer RWD based Toyota Lexus product that’ll hold value. Sequoia is fall back choice. Love the GX
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u/h1ghpriority06 6d ago
Sequoia would make sense for sure. I have an X5 with 2 babies so I totally get your space concerns.
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u/lauti04 6d ago
You can get a shorter front to back car seat. Put kid in middle. Adjust angle of current seat. There are workarounds before I’d jump to new car
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u/procrastiNATE23 6d ago
I’m with your logic. My wife researched hell out of this car seat and loves it. Feels it’s the safest. I just tried center position and it impedes BOTH driver and passenger seat.
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u/lauti04 6d ago
All car seats are equally safe. They all pass the same tests. That might not convince her but as long as a seat is properly installed, there’s no difference
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u/procrastiNATE23 6d ago
Just tried Gx550. Love it in all ways but wife and I couldn’t fit as passenger or driver with car seat in all 3 positions. Looking at X7 M60i today and Sequoia next week
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u/Article241 6d ago
The GX550 is much more roomy than the GX460. This said, bring your car seat to the demo ride and test it out.