This week, I am looking at the all-new, completely redesigned 2024 Lexus GX 550. The GX came out in 2002 as the GX 470, 2009 brought the GX 460 and nothing major changed until now. All the previous models were known to be outstanding as far as quality and reliability, but they weren’t overly exciting. That has now changed with this 3rd-generation of the GX.
2024 brings a much boxier body style to the GX 550, and as many will be happy about-a toned down front grill. This new version comes in six trim levels, the Premium and Premium+, the Luxury and Luxury+, and the off-road offerings, the Overtrail and the Overtrail+.
I have the Overtrail and the only difference I can find with the plus is massaging front seats, and a tailgate that you can activate by motion. On a side note, the 2024 version is longer, wider, and taller than the previous GX.
I am really digging the new front end with LED headlights, running lamps, fog lamps, and even cornering lamps. The sideview is crisp with distinctive lines, lots of glass all around, a luggage rack, fixed running boards, beautiful 18” wheels wrapped in meaty 33” tires, and my tester has the black roof.
The rear also sports a huge glass, LED lights across the tailgate, and a cover for the trailer hitch receiver. As always, I would prefer the rear wiper tucked under the spoiler, but oh well.
Under the sculpted hood, lies an all-new power plant. Gone is the old V8, and replacing it is a 3.4-liter V6 with twin-turbos. It is putting out 349-horses, 48 more than the V8 did, and an amazing 479 pound-feet of torque. It is hooked to a 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and being this is the off-road version, it has 4-wheel drive. As in the past, the GX rides on a true truck chassis.
The changes continue as you open the door to see the beautiful Lexus interior that greets you. Soft, slightly bolstered NuLuxe seats (man-made leather) that are wide, have nice stitching, and both front passengers have full power controls, and heated and cooled seats.
As you sit behind the power adjusting and heated steering wheel, you see a 12.3” color gauge cluster that is easy to read, and it is configurable in the center. As you look up, there is a nice head-up display with sign recognition. The rearview mirror turns into a camera mirror in case people or cargo are blocking the view.
Moving over to the center of the GX 550, there is a massive 14” infotainment screen that operates the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspot, the 10-speaker Premium sound system, navigation, voice recognition, vehicle settings, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is incredibly simple and lightning fast. You’ll also find an off-road page there, a crystal clear 360-degree backup camera with overhead view, and a front-view camera that activates when you are coming to a stop, or if you are heading up a steep hill and cannot see where the road ahead is.
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Moving below the screen are your climate controls, a round knob for sound system volume, and the temperature controls for the seats. Continuing down there is a wide center console that rises to the soft-touch dash.
First you get to a knob for the drive modes. You can choose from custom, Sport S+, Sport S, Normal, Comfort, and Eco. Unlike some vehicles there are distinct differences in the way the big SUV behaves in the different modes, and it goes without saying that I spent most of my driving in Sport S+.
Also on the console are large cupholders, the electronic parking brake, Auto Hold activation, you can lock-in the front and/or rear axles, there is a button for crawl mode when you are off-roading, and there are 4 USB ports. In front of the center armrest is a wireless phone charger, then if you raise the soft center armrest you’ll find a cool box that can be turned on to keep beverages cold.
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Moving to the backseat, it is huge with lots of head and leg room. There are air conditioning vents for the rear occupants, two USB-C ports, heated seats, map pockets in the back of the front seats, and rear shades to cover the large side windows. The back seats are split, and there is a fold down armrest with cupholders, and the seats recline, but do not slide.
Utility
The GX 550 I am evaluating does not have a 3rd-row seat, so it is a five passenger SUV. A 3rd-row seat is optional for those who want it. Without it, there is a massive 90.5 cubic feet of cargo area, and there is more storage underneath the load floor. There is a 110-volt power outlet in the rear area. Be aware there are no levers to fold down the back seat, you have to do that from the rear doors, but it is quite simple to do.
Note: A feature I love, but is increasingly harder to find, is the rear glass that is built into the tailgate will open without opening the entire liftgate.
Standard Equipment and Options
The GX 500 Overtrail comes completely loaded with most everything I talked about above. It has a power moon roof with a sliding cover, but there is no panoramic moon roof. Not previously mentioned is keyless entry, front and rear defroster, power-folding mirrors, headlight washers, and ambient lighting.
Options on this one total roughly $2350, and include the black roof, cool box, head-up display, the cargo area cover, and Traffic Jam Assist, which integrates adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. By leveraging radar and camera systems, it maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead while keeping the SUV centered in its lane, even in heavy traffic conditions. This is the Lexus version of partial self-driving.
Safety
On the safety front, Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 gives you pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure alert with steering assist.
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Ride and Drive
The GX 550 drives like a dream, visibility is outstanding, it is whisper quiet inside-which was a bit of a surprise, I expected tire noise, but nothing. This is just one of those SUVs that you can tell is rock solid. I think part of that feeling is the Overtrail offers a host of unique performance features to help optimize off-road functionality, but without sacrificing comfort on the pavement.
Power trumps fuel economy in this 5,600 pound SUV that will tow 9,000 pounds. It is rated at 15 in town, 21 on the highway, and 17 overall, but I’m not sure I am doing that well: but it is so enjoyable, I just figure it is the price of admission.
Verdict
This SUV is a pre-production prototype model, so there could be some minor changes in equipment, and Lexus is estimating the MSRP to be $71,620-which is a lot less than I expected it to be given its off-road capabilities and level of equipment.
On the pavement or off, this is an exceptional SUV that is certain to be a huge hit for Lexus. If you think you may want one, start early at one of our Car Pro Lexus Dealers, I suspect these will be hard to come by for the foreseeable future.
What I liked most: Pretty much everything but the value, the ride and drive, and quality are standouts.
What I would change: I would like to see a panoramic moon roof available.
MSRP: Base price $67,900 as equipped $71,620 with transportation (estimated).
Fuel Economy: 15 city/21 highway/17 overall.
Official Color: Atomic Silver with a Black Onyx roof.
Weight: 5,666 pounds/GVWR 7,165 pounds.
Spare Tire: Full-sized spare mounted underneath.
Length-Width-Height: 197” long/78.74” wide/76.18” high.
Fuel Tank Capacity: 21.4 gallons with the filler on the passenger side.
2024 GX 550 in a few words: A wonderful SUV that is a joy to drive, incredibly well built, great pricing. It was well worth the wait for a wonderful off-road luxury SUV that doubles as a sweet daily driver.
Warranty: 4-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper, 6-year/70,000 mile power train, 4-years of roadside assistance, and the first two scheduled maintenance visits are free.
Final Assembly Location: Tahara, Japan.
Manufacturer's website: Lexus