2024 | lexus | lexus gx | off-road | critiques
It’s not day-after-day that we assessment a car and stroll away wishing we may personal what we simply drove. That is a kind of occasions. The 2024 Lexus GX 550 is that good. Redesigned from high to backside, this adventure-loving SUV is constructed with off-road functionality, before everything, complemented by refined driving dynamics and an opulent and serene surroundings.
When Lexus got down to create a brand new GX, the automaker knew they needed to do one thing completely different. Now that it has the Lexus TX to handle households searching for a cushty each day driver, that gave them the liberty to reimagine the GX as a rugged luxurious off-roader that may go toe to to with the Land Rover Defender. Whereas the prior technology GX 460 may go off the tarmac, it all the time felt like Lexus was leaning extra in the direction of luxurious than functionality with that mannequin. The GX 550 flips that equation upside-down, embracing its rugged character all through its design and options.
Lexus is providing the GX 550 in six completely different grades at launch. The bottom trim is the Premium, with the subsequent step up being the Premium +. For these searching for essentially the most succesful mannequin, there are the Overtrail and Overtrail+, whereas the Luxurious and Luxurious+ are essentially the most upscale. All of them look equally nice from the outside, sporting a daring and boxy look that may as properly have been chiseled from a block of metal. Our favorites are the Overtrail and Overtrail+, which roll on huge 33-inch wheels wrapped round 18-inch rims and have black lower-body cladding and an out there black roof. The premium mannequin rides on road-friendly 20-inch rims, whereas the Luxurious has huge 22-inchers.
The GX 550 arrives within the U.S. with a single powertrain, and it is an excellent one. The V8 of previous is gone and changed with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine that produces 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft. of torque. These are vital will increase from the outgoing mannequin – 48 extra horsepower and 150 extra lb-ft. of torque. The distinction is straight away noticeable once you push your foot down on the accelerator. The brand new GX strikes with out hesitation, shifting easily and effectively due to a brand new 10-speed computerized transmission. Having to inspire greater than 5400 kilos, it is spectacular that it will go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. Plus, it is highly effective sufficient to do some critical towing. The Premium/+ and Overtrail/+ fashions can pull greater than 9000 kilos every. As well as, a hybrid mannequin is due someday quickly, however it’s prone to have much less energy and be centered extra on gas effectivity.
On-road, the GX 550 is {smooth} and well-balanced. Regardless of its rugged body-on-frame development, it would not really feel like a giant truck from behind the wheel and is exceptionally quiet inside. An upright design for the A-pillars and windshield offers glorious ahead visibility, whereas a major dip within the heart of the hood makes it simple to see the path forward when off-roading. Lexus additionally features a full-size spare tire mounted below the GX, a welcome function on any trail-ready car.
We had been fairly impressed with the GX 550 once we bought it off the pavement and into the dust. The Overtrail+ SUV we took off-roading had no drawback dealing with unfastened rocks, sand, dust, mud, and moguls. Its 4-wheel drivetrain has a 2-speed switch case with high and low modes and Crawl Management and Downhill Help options, which assist regulate throttle and braking enter so you possibly can deal with steering. Upgrades from the prior-gen 4WD system embrace a wider chain to supply elevated torque switch, a decrease heart of gravity, elevated floor clearance, and improved torque distribution between the entrance and rear axles.
The Overtrail and Overtrail+ additionally get vital suspension upgrades over the Premium and Luxurious grades. Whereas the usual double-wishbone entrance and four-link coil spring suspension within the again present consolation, it is the adaptive variable suspension that basically shines. This technique mechanically adjusts suspension damping between 650 completely different ranges based mostly on terrain. The Overtrail’s E-KDSS (Electrical Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) can mechanically disengage the stabilizer bars to enhance wheel articulation and off-road management. Overtrails provide as much as 24.45 inches of wheel journey, holding your tires planted even when driving via deep ruts and over boulders. Luxurious and Premium fashions are practically as spectacular, with 22 inches of wheel journey. All grades can wade as much as 27.56 inches of water. Floor clearance is nice at 8.66 to eight.86 inches however cannot compete with the 11.5 inches you get with the Defender’s non-compulsory air suspension.
Along with the usual drive modes like sport and luxury, Overtrail GXs get modes for dust, snow, sand, and dirt, which assist handle traction based mostly on terrain. Not like the older Multi-Terrain Choose system that solely labored in 4Lo, this one works in 4Lo and 4Hi. Talking of which, switching between these two is a lot faster than it was once. Simply put the GX in impartial, flip the change, and drive, and it is just about seamless and practically instantaneous. A Torseen limited-slip heart locking differential is commonplace on all GX grades to make sure energy is evenly distributed between the entrance and rear wheels. The Overtrail grades add an digital locking rear diff, which ensures the left and proper rear wheels flip on the identical pace.
Including to the visibility story, Overtrail GX 550s additionally get a Multi-terrain Monitor system, which makes use of 4 cameras to supply a view of the path forward, wheel placement, and even the street beneath your wheels. Photographs are crisp and vivid, and the show additionally exhibits your car’s pitch, roll, and wheel angle.
Inside, Lexus went with a horizontal and upright design for the dashboard and shows. Not like some automobiles that angle shows in the direction of the motive force, this clear, linear method helps drivers and co-pilots hold oriented when driving on uneven terrain. On the motive force’s facet, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster could be configured to your liking. The middle show is a 14-inch touchscreen that gives entry to media, navigation, local weather, and car settings. Like different current Lexus fashions, it is working the recently-released Lexus Multimedia system, which is fast to reply and feature-rich. Most controls are touch-based, so if you happen to’re searching for a number of tactile inputs, these are restricted to car controls, quantity and temperature knobs. We recognize the normal shift lever for the transmission and the close by buttons for drive modes, 4WD vary, and differential locks. We’re additionally huge followers of the upgraded 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, which sounds spectacular.
Whereas the Premium and Overtrail variants have sturdy NuLuxe artificial leather-based on their seats, the Luxurious grades improve to buttery-smooth semi-aniline leather-based. The entrance seats are fairly snug and provide glorious help. Regardless of which grade you go together with, you will take pleasure in heated and ventilated entrance seats, however the Luxurious, Luxurious+, and Overtrail+ additionally get entrance therapeutic massage seats. These seats provide 5 completely different therapeutic massage packages together with an depth setting. The therapeutic massage is extra refined than we have skilled on another automobiles, and it is extra stress-free than invigorating. One criticism concerning the therapeutic massage function is that it takes a sequence of 5 presses on the touchscreen to activate it. We’re hoping Lexus strikes this to the homepage in a software program replace.
Three potential seating configurations can be found for the GX 550, providing area for five, 6, or 7 passengers. Premium, Premium+, Luxurious, and Luxurious+ grades have three rows, together with a second-row bench or a pair of captain’s chairs. The Overtrail and Overtrail+ solely are available a two-row configuration and solely with the second-row bench. Heated seats can be found for the second row within the Premium+, Luxurious, and Luxurious+. The headroom within the again is great, due to the boxy form of the car, and there is loads of gentle within the cabin if you happen to go together with the moonroof or glass roof choice. The latter presents an LCD layer that switches from clear to opaque with the push of a button. Entry to the third row is comparatively simple with the captain’s chairs, due to a slide-and-tilt mechanism. Nonetheless, when you’re within the again row, you will discover no footwell, so passengers with lengthy legs will not be snug again there. That area is certainly finest for teenagers. There are cupholders and USB-C ports within the second and third rows, together with zoned local weather management.
There’s loads of room for carrying cargo behind the GX – assuming you are not utilizing all three rows. The Overtrail is the area champion, with 90.5 cubic toes, whereas the Premium and Luxurious sacrifice slightly top for the third row, lowering general area to 76.9 cubic toes. With the second row in use, you will get 45.6 cubic toes within the Overtrail and 40.2 cubic toes within the Premium and Luxurious. That drops considerably to only 10.3 cubic toes with all three rows in use, so do not count on to hold a lot cargo when transporting 6 or 7 passengers. One peculiar resolution was that Lexus left the third-row cupholders and USB ports in place for 2-row fashions. We suppose these may turn out to be useful for tailgating. One vital change from prior GX fashions is the brand new liftgate design. The previous swing-out door seemed cool with a tire on it, however it wasn’t very sensible in garages or when parallel parking. There’s now a extra standard energy liftgate with a kick sensor. It opens vertically, offering higher and simpler entry to the cargo space. It nonetheless has the pop-open rear window just like the previous GX, which is a pleasant contact.
If you’ll want to carry extra cargo or need to outfit your GX 550 for overlanding, you are in luck. Lexus has partnered with a number of accent makers to supply roof bins, tents, fridges, and different gear that may be ordered immediately within the Lexus GX configurator. These gadgets will likely be shipped on to the dealership and put in by the vendor, with pricing set by Lexus. The preliminary line-up of accent makers contains ARB, Yakima, Kurgo, Dometic, Carmate, and Pelican. We’re hoping to see extra sooner or later, too.
Lexus swung for the fences with the 2024 GX 550 and knocked it out of the park. Its design is successful with everybody we all know, and its powertrain, expertise, and off-road capabilities are all main upgrades from the earlier technology. Count on excessive demand for the brand new GX, with a number of loyal followers ready a very long time to improve their older GXs and plenty of new consumers who’re positive to return over from different manufacturers.
Pricing begins at $64,250 for the GX 550 Premium, with the top-of-the-line Luxurious+ beginning at $81,250. The one we need to personal is a well-equipped Overtrail+, with a sticker worth of $80,915. Possibly Santa will likely be good to us subsequent Lexus December to Keep in mind and ship one to our driveway with an enormous bow on it.