First Drive: 2024 Lexus GX 550 — A Complete Makeover

 Not long ago, Lexus buyers had a single utility vehicle to choose from: the time-tested RX. Today, the Japanese luxury brand has one of the broadest portfolios of SUVs and CUVs on the market. That includes the Lexus GX which, for 2024, gets a ground-up makeover. There’s a new chassis, a new engine, a more classic exterior design and a more high-tech interior. There’s also the all-new Overtrail trim package which adds more rugged features that, as its name suggests, will allow for more serious off-road adventures. Headlight.News headed down to Tucson, Arizona to test out the 2024 Lexus GX.

Things were definitely not as I expected, heading out from my hotel for a day of wandering through the Sonoran Mountains. The normally scrubby desert was surprisingly verdant, flowers and grass rising out of the sandy soil, the saguaro cacti plumped up from all the recent rain.

While the most rugged parts of the trail I’d planned to follow were still washed out, I nonetheless found plenty of ways to test the merits of the 2024 Lexus GX 550.

During my stay I got the opportunity to switch between the three-row Premium+, the most luxurious and feature-laden trim package, as well as the brand new, two-row Overtrail edition which is likely to be the model of choice for those seeking more rugged outdoor opportunities.

A flexible, ground up redesign

Slotting into the lineup just below

the flagship LX, the Lexus GX 550 was revealed last autumn alongside the all-new, three-row TX — the latter model replacing the now-abandoned Lexus RXL. The GX is slightly larger, and more of a classic SUV in design. It is, in fact, the only body-on-frame offering in a segment that pits it against the likes of the BMW X5 and X7 utility vehicles, the Mercedes-Benz GLE and the reborn Land Rover Defender.

That said, the new GA-F platform is surprisingly flexible. As I would quickly discover, the Premium+ package delivered a luxuriously car-like ride on the highway while the Overtrail edition was more than capable of handling the moguls and water-filled ruts I experienced while exploring the vast White Stallion Ranch.

More rugged look — better visibility

Where the new TX adopts a softer, more car-like shape, the 2024 Lexus GX opts for a classic SUV vibe in keeping with its body-on-frame platform. It’s more upright and rugged-looking, with A-pillars moved further forward while standing more upright. The beltline has been lowered and there’s a scoop cut into the center of the hood.

“Visibility is really key to this vehicle,” explained Mackenzie Richter, the GX marketing chief, as I got ready to head out for the day. And that proved more than a good advertising slogan. For a driver, the new GX provides a better view of the road. For passengers, that translates into a better look at passing scenery.

Unlike the TX which is offered only in a three-row configuration, the new GX offers a choice. There’s seating for at least six in the Premium, Premium+, Luxury and Luxury+ packages, while the Overtrail and Overtrail+ trims are available only with two rows.

New Overtrail and Overtrail+

Even before COVID struck, automotive marketers noticed a growing trend among SUV buyers who were actually using their vehicles for some off-road wandering. With pandemic lockdowns, motorists became even more eager to find safe but challenging ways to get out of the house. The two Overtrail models come as the Lexus response.

Among other things, those who choose either of those two packages can opt out of the GX’s otherwise standard panoramic roof to permit the use of rooftop tents.

Both models feature rugged 33-inch all-purpose tires mounted on 18-inch wheels. The wheel track has also been widened by 0.39 inches. Ground clearance is increased by 0.2 inches, to 8.9 inches. The approach and departure angles have also been improved.

Powertrain

All versions of the 2024 Lexus GX are powered by a new 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6 making 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The old 4.6-liter V-8, despite its bigger displacement, managed to deliver just 301 hp and 329 lb-ft. The new SUV puts power through a 10-speed automatic before sending it to all four wheels. The old GX relied on a dated 6-speed gearbox.

During my day behind the wheel I discovered this paid off in a variety of ways. On paved roads, power came on quickly and smoothly, making for quick launches and easy highway-speed passes. Off-road there’s plenty of grunt when and where you need it — especially when shifting into 4Low with the Overtrail models.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the opportunity to hitch up to a trailer but newly released test results show various versions of the 2024 Lexus GX capable of towing up to 9,096 pounds, up from a maximum 8,000 pounds with the outgoing SUV. The new model also adds features to enhance towing safety, including a integrated trailer brake controller and trailer sway control.

The more powerful engine is a key factor in that upgrade. But Lexus engineers also pulled off some neat tricks to reduce the weight of the new GX, even while making it stiffer and more rugged. Among other things, they used “tailored blanks,” sheets of steel laser-welded together in different thicknesses. That adds strength only where its needed.

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Luxury plus technology make for in an upgraded interior

Gone are the days when buyers would sacrifice creature comforts for the sort of capabilities built into the 2024 Lexus GX. Even the base Premium package is more lavishly appointed and that’s all the more so on the top-line Luxury+, with the sort of material choices — such as NuLuxe semi-aniline leather — you’d expect from a luxury sedan. That includes soft-touch material pretty much anywhere you’d contact an interior surface.

By moving the A-pillar forward and dropping the instrument panel, the new GX not only offers better visibility but also a greater sense of spaciousness, especially in the front and middle rows. In reality, its third row is still a bit of a penalty box, especially when compared to the new Lexus TX.

The overall feel is enhanced by the introduction of a new, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, as well as a widescreen 14-inch infotainment display. The GX becomes the latest Lexus model to get the brand’s updated operating system — including an Alexa-like voice assistance that lets you operate a wide range of vehicle functions simply by saying, “Hey, Lexus.”

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, though a wireless smartphone charger is optional, depending upon trim. A 10-speaker sound system is standard. The upgrade is a 21-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound package. And, depending upon the trim model, options include features such as a digital key, a head-up display, Traffic Jam Assist and a cool box for the center console.

Off-road tech

While the rains washed out the trail I’d hoped to traverse, I was still able to get a sense for the GX Overtrail’s capabilities on some other sections of the White Stallion Ranch. And what I discovered was just how much technology has enhanced the off-road version of the 2024 GX.

To start with, the Overtrail features an updated and electronically controlled version of the old SUV’s kinetic dynamic suspension system. Now known as E-KDDS, a key feature is the use of sensors to adjust the suspension, as well as the SUV’s front and rear stabilizer bars.

Also known as sway bars, they can be disconnected to increase wheel articulation. That proved useful, as some of the accompanying images illustrate, dealing with moguls and deep ruts where one or more wheel might temporarily lose contact with the ground.

And there are other welcome features, including a front swaybar disconnect and optional front locking differential. There’s hill descent control which functions as a sort of slow-speed cruise control. Add both a drive mode selector and a Multi-Terain Selector. The latter feature lets you instantly adjust a variety of vehicle functions, including steering, braking, engine and transmission, to optimum settings for situations where you might have to deal with sand, snow, mud or other tricky traction conditions.

Wrap Up

Lexus has covered a lot of ground with its growing line-up of SUVs and CUVs, from the little UX up to the newly revived LX. With the addition of the next-generation GX, there’s pretty much something for everyone.

And if my brief time behind the wheel of the 2024 makeover, it offers a lot of options, depending on whether you simply want a luxurious 3-row package, need a ute with the muscle to two a heavy trailer, or want something that can tackle all but the most aggressive of off-road trails.

If there’s one thing I was unimpressed by it was fuel economy. The 2024 GX gets an EPA-rated 15 mpg city, 21 highway, 17 combined. The good news is there’s a hybrid model in the works. It’s actually already rolling out in some overseas markets and, several Lexus insiders hinted, we could see it by the early 2025 model year. Why the U.S. delay isn’t clear though there appears to be an issue with supplying some of the components needed for the electric side of the HEV’s drivetrain.

Pricing and availability

And you get a lot for your money. The entry model, the 2024 Lexus GX 550 Premium, starts at $64,250, with the top-line GX 550 Luxury+ jumping to $81,250. The Overtrail comes in at $69,250, the Overtrail+ at $77,250 — all of these prices include $1,350 in delivery fees.

Word is that the hybrid package, once it becomes available, should start somewhere under $70,000.

The 2024 Lexus GX 550 will be built in Japan at the automaker’s Tahara plant. Look for it to start rolling into showrooms in soon.