Tired of boring SUVs? Buckle up buttercup!
The Lexus GX has sort of lived a dual life. When it was first introduced in 2002, most buyers saw a tall, luxurious SUV that was great for hauling the kids around or maybe a great road trip. But for those in the know, it was also a supremely capable off-road vehicle. But at the then-high prices, most weren’t likely to dirty one up.
Well, things have changed, partly due to the pandemic, overlanding became a big thing – a really big thing – letting you get away from everyone and still have a great time. And the then-used GX models became ultra-desirable for that mission.
Now the overlanding experience has become mainstream, and there are a lot of folks willing to drop big bucks to create an off roader that’s capable and still have the kind of luxury and comfort you’d expect from say, a Lexus. So, Lexus just decided to build you one from the factory. And it’s a honey. Let’s take a look!
Big. Bold. Boxy
In case you haven’t noticed, the boxy vibe is back – check out the new Toyota Land Cruiser, the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia EV9 and Land Rover Defender all look like they were drawn with a straightedge.
And Lexus and Toyota have some ownership of this. Think about the original Land Cruisers and they were boxy, functional and just plain bitchin’. And the new GX fits right in the mold.
The front starts the show with the familiar Lexus spindle. While on some models it looks oversize, the big grille looks perfect here to help make an imposing first impression. Standard triple beam LED headlamps and LED fogs and cornering lamps give an angry glance to any small fry that get in your way.
The profile is very reminiscent of the Land Cruiser, but trades off some slabby sides for bulging fender flares, and a bit of an aero look with a swept back windshield pillar and kick-up starting at the rear doors. And we just love the 20 x 7.5-in six-twin-spoke alloy wheels with a black and bright machined finish for a fresh look.
The rear really accentuates the height of the vehicle and reminds us of a bit of the old GX model. One feature we really like is the pop-out rear window – great for loading things when it’s too tight to swing up the relatively large reach hatch. When you do need to open that hatch, an available kick sensor gives you hands-free capability, perfect when your arms are full of packages.
On the style front (or rear, in this case), the brand spells out L E X U S in bold block letters (a design introduced on the 2022 NX model.) Finishing off our tester was the Nori Green Pearl, a lush deep green with a metallic luster. Fun fact: Nori is the best-known seaweed in the U.S. Delicious!
Tech, Lex and Lux
Inside, the first impression is a big one – it’s tall, wide and deep. Tall enough that shorter drivers may need to reach for the convenient grab handle to pull themselves in. It’s worth the little bit of exercise, because once you get in, you’re surrounded by an ideal combination of plush and rugged.
Rugged means you get NuLuxe faux leather (very convincing) seating, but the plush of heated and ventilated seats helps you stay comfortable. Once seated, the tall position gives you a commanding view of outside, as well as the 12.3-inch configurable digital display, with a round tach/speedo gauge in the center, and a variety of other screens. We liked the one that shows the front/rear and side/side tilt angles – very handy in serious off road.
Another plus is the useful Head Up Display, and while we are normally spoiled by Lexus Mark Levinson Audio systems in our testers, we have to say that the standard10-speaker Lexus Premium Sound system sounded great.
There’s also a massive 14-inch info-tainment touchscreen that seems to be standard fare on both Lexus and Toyota models, and it’s sharp, super-sized for your app-viewing pleasure, with separate dedicated climate controls –including rotary knobs for temperature – underneath. You can also leave the cords at home thanks to standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We’re also pleased to see that Lexus includes a volume knob. Yay!
Below the climate controls are dedicated switchgear for drive mode, tow modes and such, and behind that an honest to goodness shift lever – know frou-frou pushbutton controls, thank you. Also handy is the toggle switch for the 4WD system – easy to find when you need it.
Those in the 2nd row will also enjoy loads of space, and we were surprised to find a 60/40 split-row for three. (it seems most testers we get have captain’s chairs) Showing off some clever design, the 2nd row can slide forward and tilt to give access to the third-row seats or tumble completely forward for max cargo space. That third row will accommodate adults for short trips, but kids will be happy for longer goes.
With that third row up, cargo space is tight – but that’s true of just about any 3-row SUV of this size. In the GX you can power down that third row and then you have an excellent amount of cargo space and room for five – probably the most practical application. Trips to the big box store are a snap with the 2nd row tumbled forward.
Not- Too-Soft Roader
Driving the GX 550 is a treat, too.
Under the hood is a 3.4-liter, twin-turbo V6 pumping out an impressive 349 horsepower and an even more impressive 479 lb.-ft. at just 2,000 rpm. Combined with a 10-speed automatic, the big, heavy SUV feels light on its feet, and pulls strongly from down low all the way up. 0-60 in 6 seconds feels quick and sharp. A combined 17 mpg is also quite reasonable for the size and power. And with a towing capacity over 9,000 lbs., it’s easy to bring along the big toys.
Lexus also made sure that the new GX keeps the off-road Bona Fides, with a Torsen locking center differential, and if you’re really going into the rough stuff the new Overtrail grades offer an electronic locking rear differential and electronic KDSS system that can lock and unlock the front and rear stabilizer to enhance wheel articulation. All this, on top of the truck-like body on chassis configuration, should really be able to handle abuse.
Another piece of off-road tech, the Multi-Terrain Monitor uses four cameras within the Panoramic View Monitor System (PVM) to transpose underfloor, front, side and rear-view camera images shown to the 14-inch display. This lets you check road conditions, blind spots and distance between obstacles. Pretty cool and useful around town for parking and those narrow drive-throughs!
While we didn’t get a chance to off-road, we will say that the GX is super comfy on-road. Yes, the truck-style chassis may be a bit firmer than a car-based SUV, but we think it also feels more capable, and for such a big vehicle it’s fun to toss around like a smaller vehicle. Yet put it on the highway, stretch out, and it’s as luxurious and quiet as any Lexus.
Big Green for the Big Green?
This is a premium luxury SUV, so no, it’s not going to be cheap. The GX 550 Premium starts at $64,250. For a powerful 3-row luxury SUV, that’s good value. Our tester was a pre-production prototype, but Lexus’ best guess on our Nori Green tester equipped with the optional Cold Area Package, Head up Display, Digital Key, Traffic Jam Assist and Tonneau Cover would ring the bell at $71,455.
There’s a wide range of competitors, too. If you’re not into off-roading the Volvo XC90 at $89,145 is a compelling if pricey choice, While the Jeep Grand Cherokee L at $71,060 offers similar off-road capability, but it doesn’t quite have the luxury chops.
We think Lexus is leading the way. Stay tuned for our test of the new Toyota Land Cruiser soon – the sibling of the GX may have something to say about that!
Bold, Capable and Luxurious, the 2024 Lexus GX 550 is the premier, go-anywhere 3-row luxury SUV!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.