Going off road is the specialty of vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. But, Toyota and Lexus have been leaving pavement for dirt and sand for decades with their Toyota Land Cruiser and 4Runner and their platform brother, the Lexus GX.
The Lexus GX is new for the first time in 15 years, in 2024. This redesign apes some of the more recent SUV entries like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia EV9 in that it looks like a box on wheels.
The flattened nose improves approach and departure angles (the measure for how steep an incline the vehicle can approach without scraping) to 26 and 21 degrees, respectively, which is less than the typical Wranger or Bronco, but bests most other SUVs.
The 2024 Lexus GX features the company's signature spindle-shaped grille while wide fender flares portend its off-road prowess. The overall width increases by 3.74 inches (the new Overtrail trim is 4.52 inches bigger) compared to the previous-generation GX. The new Triple-Beam LED headlamps have been raised to protect themselves from impacts.
The A-pillar has been pulled back for increased visibility and the beltline is lower, offering better views for passengers.
The updated Lexus logo is a continuation of the design introduced introduced on the 2022 NX.
In back, the GX comes with a power rear lift door with a pop-out window and an available kick sensor.
The 2024 GX will be offered in several grays and blacks, but also in an olive color called Nori Green Pearl as well as a sandy color called Earth. The new Overtrail trims come with black roofs.
There are six trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, Luxury, Luxury Plus, Overtrail and Overtrail Plus.
GX is offered with an electronically-controlled locking rear differential, activated by a console-mounted switch, that splits the power evenly between the left and right rear wheel to help the wheels turn at the same speed. The locking rear differential sends power to the wheel with traction.
They also come with the new Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) that locks and unlocks the front and rear stabilizer bars to assist when more wheel articulation is needed.
At launch the GX will have one twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine option paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It produces 349 horsepower (hp) and 479 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. That's an improvement over the outgoing model by 48 hp and 150 lb-ft.
Towing capacity is now just over 9,000 pounds.
The engine sounds smooth on startup, with a muted ignition. But when pressed the punchy V6 not only motivates the three- or two-row SUV with aplomb, but it also sounds aggressive in the cabin. It's not something Lexus is known for but is a cool addition to a semi-enthusiast vehicle. The GX has no problem out-accelerating many cars on the road, nor keeping up with highways speeds, nor passing on a two-lane.
The 10-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive make the GX nearly impervious to wet conditions or terrain, both of which were experienced in Tucson during the test drive. It was so wet, in fact, that the original off-road course Lexus designed was flooded out, necessitating a new route that was probably too easy for a chassis this tough. It basically just rolls over dips, bumps and rocks without complaints, squeaks or rattles, even at speed.
It has a ton of cameras for off-road work as well, including a few that, when digitally stitched together, make the hood disappear so the driver can see where the wheels are pointed and what's under the vehicle. It even has yellow arrows telling the driver where the wheels are going, allowing them to avoid sharp, tire-killing rocks.
The two-row Lexus GX Overtrail has excellent seats, as expected in a Lexus, that are soft and compliant, but bolstered to hold the driver in place when bouncing around off road. They all have leather trim including a black and sand color combination that looks excellent. Premium and Luxury trims have three rows of seats.
A 12.3-inch digital driver information cluster is standard and customizable, even allowing Apple CarPlay information to be displayed. It's flanked to the right by a standard 14-inch touchscreen that is well within reach while driving. There are useful physical knobs for volume and climate control on the screen, with buttons and dials below for crawl control, which controls the speed while the driver creeps over broken terrain, and four-wheel drive high and low.
It's all easy to read and access. To the right are two deep cupholders, but they can be covered to make a little shelf for more storage space. There are also cupholders in the doors and in the rear, along with six wired charging ports and a wireless charger in the center console.
In both two- and three-row configurations, the second row of the GX is spacious, especially with the captain's chairs option. There's also a three-person bench that can be folded for third-row access. The new captain's chairs flip and fold out of the way. The third row is also surprisingly useful with a raised rear roof area for extra headroom.
The branded Lexus Safety System + 3.0 is included on all 2024 GX models and comes with emergency braking in all directions including oncoming traffic, steering assist, adaptive cruise with lane tracing and keeping, blind spot warning, road sign assist and a few more. The steering assist was gentle and non-intrusive, however the driver monitor, like in the new Toyota Prius, was overly enthusiastic.
If the driver looks away for more than a second or so it beeps and puts a warning on the driver cluster, that includes when looking at scenery or looking at approaching traffic from the left or right. It seems a little too sensitive, though erring on the side of caution is better than the alternative.
The 2024 Lexus GX 550 Premium starts at $64,250 including destination and handling. The most expensive model is the Overtrail Plus at $77,250.
Lexus points to the BMW X5 and X7 as competitors, along with the Mercedes GLE 450 4Matic and Land Rover Defender. We would add the Jeep Grand Cherokee or Cherokee L to that list as both of those are now luxury-level offerings in their top respective trims.
The X7 starts at $81,900 and the GLE 450 is $70,810. In that light the Lexus looks like a good deal, especially if off-roading is on the plan. However, the Grand Cherokee is immensely capable at about $38,000 and the three-row Grand Cherokee L is the same at about $44,000 with destination and delivery fees but before options. The Lexus GX is by far the coolest and most futuristic-looking on the list, and comes with a built in fan base of overlanding experts.
Uncommon Knowledge
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About the writer
Jake Lingeman is the Managing Editor for the Autos team at Newsweek. He has previously worked for Autoweek, The Detroit ... Read more
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