Looking at the previous-generation Lexus GX parked next to the 2024 Lexus GX 550, the design changes are glaringly obvious. From the LED lights to the upright stance, the new GX has a more modern feel, but it also looks ready for action-especially when you catch a glimpse of the new off-road-ready Overtrail trim level, with its 33-inch tires and black fender flares.
The interior of the brand's midsize off-road ready SUV also gets a modern upgrade with its standard 14-inch infotainment screen and 12-inch digital gauge cluster. You have a digital center stack and a decided lack of physical buttons and dials. Climate controls for are now embedded in the touchscreen. But since the new GX also gets an updated Lexus infotainment system, things you used to use your fingers for can now be handled simply with voice commands.
Overview
Thankfully, all this means that the previous-generation's clumsy touchpad-actuated control system is gone.
Throughout the cabin, a lot of the finishing touches appear more upscale than before, though we will say there are few touch points that don't quite live up to the GX's approximately $65,000 starting price. Case in point: The 12-inch gauge cluster doesn't dazzle-even though it is customizable and presents in four different colors. Also, the steering-wheel controls also look dated.
Competition
Lexus considers the BMW X5 and X7, the Land Rover Defender, and Mercedes-Benz GLE to be direct rivals for the new GX, and in terms of cabin appointments, that's some serious competition. The new GX, at best, rises to that level, but certainly does not exceed it.
Engineering
The new GX clearly borrows some of its boxy, upright design from the aforementioned Defender, though it is architecturally different. While the Defender employs a one-piece "unibody" design, the GX is based on Toyota's TNGA-F body-on-frame platform, which underpins a number of rugged-duty products including the Toyota Tundra and Sequia, as well as the recently redesigned full-size Lexus LX 600.
Lexus touts this as a huge advantage because even though the on-road ride might be stiffer, the off-road performance will be loads better. Though I haven't taken the newest Defender off-road, I can attest to GX being an excellent off-roader.
We had the opportunity to evaluate the GX in deep mud, which it tackled with ease. I was additionally impressed with the truck's ability to smooth over some seriously rutted unpaved roads.
Ride and Handling
In terms of on-road manners, the GX 550 is both smooth and peppy. A lot of people are poo-pooing the new truck's standard 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, as they lament the demise of the old GX's tried and true V8.
Engines
But I mostly want to say those people should get over it. This turbo V6 delivers a hearty 347 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, that's 46 more horsepower and 50 pounds more torque than the outgoing engine-If you care about that kind of thing.
Thanks in part to the power bump, maximum towing capacity rises to 9,096 pounds on the Overtrail model, and 9,063 for the Premium versions. That's a whopping 2,500-pound increase in towing capacity over the previous generation.
Power and Performance
While the V-6 does deliver exceptional power, I will point out there is a small amount of turbo lag (a brief delay in power delivery) under hard acceleration from a stop-even when engaging sport mode.
Overtrail
The Overtrail trims fall under what Lexus calls the "Overtrail Project," which is intended to inspire customers to explore nature. The Overtrail and Overtrail+ thus have some extra features to allow owners to head off road with confidence. This includes locking rear and center differentials. The Overtrail trims also have a special suspension that provides on-road and off-road driving balance, as well as the brand's Multi-Terrain Select system. Also included is low-speed Crawl Control, which works in forward and reverse gears, and a camera system that shows what's around and underneath the vehicle at low speeds.
Visually, the Overtrail trims are set apart by bitone color combinations with black fender-flare cladding and a black roof, as well as a unique "Earth" paint color.
Prices and Trim Levels
Available in addition to the off-road-focused Overtrail trim level are Premium and Luxury trims, both with "+" variants that include additional features.
Pricing for each trim (including the $1,350 destination fee) is as follows:
* Premium: $64,250
* Premium+: $69,250
* Luxury: $77,250
* Luxury+: $81,250
* Overtrail: $69,250
* Overtrail+: $77,250
Review
Overall, I think the 2024 Lexus GX 550 is really well done. It looks great, has amazing standard safety tech features, and is a comfortable cruiser. While there were a couple of misses, there is nothing here that is a dealbreaker.
The new GX is assembled in Japan, and it is expected to arrive in dealerships early in the second quarter, which means we're looking at April-ish. This review originally appeared on the Consumer Guide Automotive website.
Jill Ciminillo
Jill has been writing about cars for more than 20 years, representing the female point of view amongst her predominantly male colleagues. And since something like 80 percent of all car-buying decisions are either made by or influenced by women, that's nothing to sneeze at. Formerly the online automotive editor for the Chicago Sun-Times, the print auto editor for Pioneer Press Newspapers and the automotive editor for the Sinclair Broadcast Group, this 5th percentile (aka petite) female tells it like it is from the fun to the functional. She is now a syndicated automotive writer, podcast co-host, TikTok influencer and YouTube personality as well as the managing editor for the Pickup Truck + SUV Talk website. Jill is a past president for the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and currently sits on the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) Jury.
