2024 Lexus GX Review: Back On The Scene - And Better Than Ever
The second-gen Lexus GX had been with us for 12 years, but it received only mild updates that saw it fall behind the competition over time. Luckily, the mid-size SUV has finally been fully redesigned, with larger dimensions, bolder styling, and more features. Of course, the engine has been upgraded to a twin-turbo V6 that develops 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft. This gives the hefty vehicle a lot more oomph and the power to take on the likes of other plush-yet-rough SUVs like the Land Rover Defender 110. And with a similar modus operandi to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, it offers similar capability and comfort at about half the price. Lexus is extremely confident in the new model, going so far as to call it a Sophisticated Utility Vehicle (SUV), and from our time spent with it, we think that confidence is warranted.
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New for 2024
The Lexus GX SUV is all-new for 2024, which includes a brand new platform, completely overhauled styling, more power from a twin-turbo V6 engine, and the option of a hybrid powertrain, albeit at a later date in the USA.
2024 Lexus GX Price: Which One to Buy
The price of the 2024 Lexus GX is quite a bit higher than it was last year, thanks to its extensive redesign. Now, the base-model 550 Premium will cost you $62,900, while the Premium+ sells for $67,900. The Overtrail and Overtrail+ have sticker prices of $67,900 and $75,900, respectively, while the Luxury and Luxury+ go for $75,900 and $79,900. Luckily, there aren't a lot of options or packages to worry about, but you will have to factor in the $1,350 destination charge.
The Premium is already a lot of car for the money, especially with all the extra goodies Lexus has thrown in this year, but if you really want to upgrade, we wouldn't go above the Premium+ unless you really have cash to spare. It adds some nice-to-haves like a panoramic-view monitor and LED foglights, but the Luxury trims are simply too expensive in a market that includes the Genesis GV80 and European alternatives. But, if you plan to take your GX off-road, there is now the more purposed Overtrail model with an electronic kinetic dynamic suspension system and crawl control, and it doesn't cost much more than the regular Premium.
GX 550 Premium | GX 550 Overtrail | GX 550 Luxury |
---|---|---|
Base | Off Road | Most Plush |
$ 62900 | $ 67900 | $ 75900 |
3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 (349 hp/479 lb-ft) | Based on the features of the Premium, plus: | Based on the features of the Premium+, plus: |
20-inch allow wheels | Adaptive variable suspension | 22-inch alloy wheels |
Eight-way power front seats | Electronic kinetic dynamic suspension system | Side mirrors with puddle lamps |
Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert | Crawl control and downhill assist | Semi-aniline leather upholstery |
14-inch touchscreen display | Multi-terrain select | Massaging front seats |
Five-seat configuration only | Illuminated door sills |
Interior and Features
There is a distinct lack of soft curves inside, with the GX favoring rugged bulky surfaces contrasted by high-tech screens and a lack of physical buttons.
Lexus has given the GX an interior that juxtaposes the rugged exterior perfectly, with upscale materials and truly modern styling. The dashboard is especially sharp, with angular air vents, a large touchscreen display, and a minimalist central console. There are some chunky elements, though, like the driver-info display and the three-point steering wheel, where some additional controls are located. Of course, with three rows of seats, there is enough interior space for up to seven passengers, and there are a lot of standard features to keep everyone happy, including a power moonroof to help the cabin feel airier than it already is.
Space
Having grown in size for its new generation, the GX has a bit more room to spare for passengers. The seats are not all level, which means those in the front and back have less headroom than those in the middle, and the rear-most seats are actually quite accommodating for taller folks. Legroom follows a contrasting pattern, with the front row offering the most and the middle row giving the least room - there is an extra inch in the third row. The Overtrail trims are built for five only.
Since it is a luxury model, the GX comes with power-adjustable front seats that are both heated and ventilated, and large windows provide great sight lines. A one-motion tumble system for the second row makes it easy for third-row passengers to get inside.
Cargo
There is more overall space inside the 2024 GX, but since much of this goes toward making things more comfortable for the passengers, there is actually a little less standard cargo space than in the out going model. The trunk offers 10.3 cubic feet with all the seats in place, or 40.2 cubes with the final row folded down. However, if you fold down everything but the front row, there is 76.9 cubes of space for stuff, which is around 10 cubes more than the last generation.
For smaller items, there are a total of 12 cupholders around the cabin, a tray in the center console with a sliding cover, and a decently-sized armrest cubby. Four sizable door pockets and a glove compartment can accommodate slightly larger items.
Lexus GX | Mercedes-Benz G-Class | Land Rover Defender 110 | |
---|---|---|---|
Seating | 5/7 Seater | 5 Seater | 5/7 Seater |
Headroom | 39.4 - 40.3 in. front 41.9 - 43.2 in middle 35.3 - 35.5 in. rear | 41.9 in. front 40.5 in. rear | 40.6 in. front 40.4 in. rear |
Legroom | 41.2 in. front 36.71 in. middle 37.9 in. rear | 38.7 in. front 39.5 in. rear | 39.1 in. front (5 seats) 38.4 in. front (7 seats) 36.6 in. rear (5 seats) |
Cargo | 10.3 - 76.9 ft³ | 38.1 - 68.6 ft³ | 10.7 - 78.8 ft³ |
Materials and Colors
The Premium comes with NuLuxe upholstery as standard, with interior colors including Dappled Gray or Black with Black Grained trim, and Saddle Tan with Brown Grained trim. While the palette doesn't change when you upgrade to the Luxury trims, you do get plusher semi-aniline leather instead. The Overtrail shares its NuLuxe interior with the Premium, but it has very distinct colors that set it apart, namely Black with Olive Ultrasuede or Chateau with the same inserts. Both sets of materials are extremely high-quality, and the overall build quality of the cabin is excellent, with soft-touch materials hiding any potential hard plastics.
Features and Infotainment
Loads of features come standard even at the Premium level, such as eight-way power front seats with heating and ventilation, dual-zone climate control, a power tilt-and-slide moonroof, a 12.3-inch diver-information display, and a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen. This comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in-car Wi-Fi, navigation, and a ten-speaker sound system. The Premium+ turns up the comfort a bit with heated second-row seats, power-folding third-row seats, a heated steering wheel, and a wireless phone charger.
However, it is at the Luxury level that things really get exciting. Additional features include ten-way power front seats with massage functions, second-row sunshades, and illuminated door sills, but you do have to opt for the Luxury+ to get the digital rearview mirror and 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. Options include a color head-up display, a Digital Key, and second-row captain's chairs.
GX 550 Premium | GX 550 Luxury | GX 550 Overtrail | |
---|---|---|---|
Power-adjustable front seats | S | S | S |
Heated and ventilated front seats | S | S | S |
Power tilt-and-slide moonroof | S | S | S |
14-inch touchscreen and ten speakers | S | S | S |
21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system | N/A | O | N/A |
Performance
While not the quickest SUV, the GX is very confident, both on- and off-road, especially in Overtrail guise with its E-special mechanicals.
Until such time as the hybrid is introduced, there is just one engine for the Lexus GX. This 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 develops 349 hp and 479 lb-ft for a full-time four-wheel drivetrain. Every model gets a ten-speed automatic transmission, but the Overtail gets a unique suspension system for off-roading mastery. The automaker claims that this new powertrain launches the hefty SUV from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and it can hit a top speed of 109 mph.
However, performance is not where the GX shines. This is a luxury SUV, after all. The suspension is tuned for comfort, but the Luxury and Overtrail trims boast an adaptive variable suspension that is even more adept at eating up bumps. Whereas most of the trims feel super at home on the highway or around town, the Overtrail comes with multi-terrain select and an electronic kinetic dynamic suspension system to help the large vehicle keep its footing over sandy or uneven surfaces. It's also the trim to get if trailering is important to you - the Overtrail can tow up to 9,096 pounds when correctly equipped, while other trims manage less. A minimum of 7,800 lbs is possible, however.
Overall, the SUV remains sure-footed no matter the road conditions, and the cabin does a great job of keeping unwanted noise outside. The steering wheel has a good amount of heft to it for a premium vehicle, but there is also enough electronic assistance to ensure you will be able to make any turn you need to. The built-in crawl control on the Overtrail helps to manage your speed while you focus on the task of steering.
Fuel Efficiency
Lexus claims that the new GX offers better gas mileage than ever before, and this seems to be the case, if only slightly. With the twin-turbo V6, the Lexus GX gets 15/21/17 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles.
Fuel capacity is just 21 gallons, though, so the SUV can only cover up to 357 miles in mixed driving scenarios. The hybrid option, due later this year, should be significantly more efficient.
4.6L V8 Gas 6-Speed Automatic 4X4 | |
---|---|
Power | 349 hp |
Top speed | 109 mph |
MPG | 15/21/17 mpg |
0-60 | 6.5 sec |
Towing Capacity *dependent on seating configuration | 9,014 - 9,063 lbs (Premium & Premium+) 7,601 - 8,020 lbs (Luxury & Luxury+) 9,063 - 9,069 lbs (Overtrail & Overtrail+) |
Safety
High-end luxury cars are seldom crash-tested, so there's no official rating for the GX yet. However, the Lexus GX has an extremely generous standard safety suite.
Unfortunately, as new as it is, the Lexus GX has not received a proper safety review. However, even the outgoing generation wasn't properly tested, so this is nothing new for the luxury SUV. The long list of standard safety features should be sufficient to put most drivers and their passengers at ease. These include Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 with pre-collision assist, pedestrian detection, intersection support, dynamic cruise control, lane departure alert, lane tracing assist, steering assist, road sign assist, parking assist with auto braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Upper trims gain access to a panoramic view monitor, intuitive parking assist with rear pedestrian detection, and a multi-terrain monitor for the off-road models.
GX 550 Premium | GX 550 Luxury | GX 550 Overtrail | |
---|---|---|---|
Forward collision avoidance | S | S | S |
Lane tracing assist | S | S | S |
Blind-spot monitor | S | S | S |
Rear cross-traffic alert | S | S | S |
Intuitive parkin assist with pedestrian detection | N/A | S | N/A |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Reliability
Seeing as it has only just hit the market, there isn't a comprehensive consumer survey for the 2024 Lexus GX, and the previous model's score of 89 out of 100 from JD Power probably won't be accurate, seeing as the car has a brand-new platform. Luckily, there are no recalls yet to say otherwise, and the warranty for the 2024 Lexus GX covers basic concerns for four years/50,000 miles and powertrain repairs for six years/70,000 miles.
Design
The most extensive change to the new Lexus is definitely its exterior design. The rounded curves of the old model are long gone, leaving much chunkier straight lines that are more reminiscent of the Land Rover Defender than the outgoing GX. The enormous spindle grille has been replaced with a blockier trapezoidal version that fits the dimensions of the front fascia better. A pair of thin, rectangular headlights slot into the thinnest part of the grille, and they are underlined by LED daytime running lights that end in an arrow, drawing further attention to the new grille. As with most SUVs, the rear end is less exciting, but there is a rooftop spoiler, and the brake lights extend across the entire width of the trunk.
The base model gets 20-inch alloy wheels, while the Luxury trims upgrade to 22-inch items, and the Overtrail uses more appropriate 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. It also boasts better ground clearance and improved breakover and departure angles. The liftgate is power-operated as standard, but you have to upgrade to the Premium+ to get LED foglights.
Verdict: Is The 2024 Lexus GX A Good SUV?
It's a little early to tell if the new Lexus GX will be a hit with buyers, but based on first impressions, things are looking good - we've certainly got high hopes. The SUV's styling is already turning heads and making people reach for their wallets, and the added power gives the GX what it needs to keep up with its established rivals. It also has a more up-to-date interior that suits its rugged character while still coming with all the modern features you'd expect from a luxury vehicle. Now more confident than ever off-road, it is a genuine alternative to some of the biggest names in the segment and an appealing one with its lower price tag. All of this combines to make it an extremely compelling option in one of the most competitive markets.