28-01-2025
2024 Lexus GX 550 review: A fresh new life
The 14-year wait for Lexus to finally redesign its aging GX luxury off-roader was excessive. It wasn't one of those vehicles whose design stood the test of time.
The giant spindle grille that was slapped on in 2014 to extend the GX's life only added to the ungainly look of the model. The GX's two biggest bragging rights were its ladder-frame construction and burly V8 engine.
While it was off-road capable, most buyers didn't stray far from suburban errands and the occasional gravel driveway. They were status symbols for the most part, with a handful of owners actually taking them off the beaten path.
What the brand did with the 2024 GX 550 is nothing short of remarkable, and it doesn't stop with the aesthetics. Even the 2024 GX 550's trim levels are all-new. There are six trims available now: Premium, Luxury, Overtrail and '+' versions of each one, which add equipment and features. As different as the new GX 550 is visually from its predecessor, the essentials remain: rugged body-on-frame construction, three rows, four-wheel drive, a locking center differential, and a two-speed transfer case. Lesser luxury SUVs need not apply, and Lexus made sure it didn't alienate the GX first thing you notice about the new GX is that it looks like (almost) nothing else on the road, nor does it resemble its predecessor, thankfully... It's boxy, angular, heavily creased, rugged-looking, and very distinct. It looks quite literally, nothing like the 2nd-gen GX. Only the Toyota Land Cruiser looks close. Ironically, the GX 550 carries the rugged luxury legacy forward better than its cousin. The new GX loses the old SUV's sloped hood, awkward-looking headlights, and the strange aftermarket appearance taillights whose silver inserts echoed those found on the original IS sports sedan.
The all-new GX looks rough-and-ready with a truck-like spindle grille and thin LED daytime running lights which sit above slab-like panels flanking the grille. The notched outer edges of the grille and light clusters add a little busyness to the look, but the notched and creased clamshell hood adds character to the mix. Angular wheel arches, a boxy greenhouse, and notched side windows give the GX a very original look.
Likewise, the cabin is nothing like the old GX. It's properly 21st century, and it manages to look and feel better without the intrusiveness of glossy wood or piano black trim.
The massive 14-inch touchscreen is impossible to ignore, but we like Lexus's inclusion of switchgear for easy operation of climate and audio settings. The wide center console employs a traditional shift knob and ample quality is solid and ergonomics impress. While it's not as special as the cabin of the Land Rover Defender, it is easily more user-friendly and functionally a great match for the way Lexus hopes GX buyers will use their mountain goat of an SUV.
The GX's new engine is following the trend of downsizing. The 4.6-liter V8 with 309 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque in the old GX has been replaced by a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that delivers 349 horsepower and 379 lb-ft of torque. Now, all of that torque is available at 2,000 rpm instead 3,500 in the old GX. You feel it, too. Throttle response is solid, and the GX moves with some palpable urgency.
There's a weight increase, but the added power and responsiveness from the engine and transmission make it feel lighter under acceleration. The 2024 GX 550 hits 60 from a standstill in just a smidge over 6 seconds, an entire second quicker than the old one.
To boot, updated steering makes it feel smaller than it is with decently quick turn-in and precision, Much of the old car's vagueness has been dispelled, which comes as a bit of a surprise because it's now an electric power setup versus the old mechanical rack and pinion.
The redesigned GX should please the faithful with full-time four-wheel drive and a lockable Torsen center differential housed within the low-range transfer case. The two Overtrail models permit the use of low-range gears without locking the center differential for tight off-road switchbacks. The GX Overtrail and Overtrail+ also get the Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) providing the ability to disconnect the front or rear anti-roll bars independently for greater off-road stability.
Try not to balk at the 8.7-inch ground clearance (8.9 for the Overtrail models). The approach/breakover/departure angles are more geared toward light off-roading at 26/24/22, respectively.
The GX now has more pull, as well, moving 9,096 pounds compared to the old GX's rather pedestrian 6,500 pounds. Overlanding with a trailer should be a cinch. The GX 550 also gets a fuel economy bump from 19 highway /16 combined to 21 and 17 combined, with no change to the 15 mpg city.
The almost interminable wait for the new GX 550 results in an epic redesign that puts the SUV back on the premium off-road map with rugged style and functionality. Looking and feeling nothing like its predecessor, the new GX 550 provides immense capability, comfort, and utility while remaining composed on more conventional surfaces. Its ladder frame construction and off-road componentry and tech place it at the front of the pack. While it doesn't have the prestige or power of top dog Defenders, it gives you just about everything you need and nothing you don't.
Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
