The V8 is dead and gone, but the rest of the package is so much better than the 14-year-old SUV it replaces.
Two facelifts and 14 years later, the second-generation Lexus GX is finally facing the automotive guillotine. It will be replaced by this all-new GX, which Lexus says is a "Sophisticated Utility Vehicle" as opposed to the Sport Utility Vehicles we're used to. It's not as pretentious as BMW insisting its SUVs are actually SAVs (Sports Activity Vehicles), but it's borderline.
Lexus may be on to something; the GX has always been the default SUV for those who want comfort and genuine off-road ability. Its main rivals offer nothing more than all-wheel-drive and some electronic trickery, while the GX has the bones of a proper 4x4.
That's still the case, as the TNGA-F platform is the same as you'll find under the Tacoma, Tundra, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, and LX. The body is smaller, but it still has three rows of seating. The biggest departure from the old model, however, is the V8 is gone, replaced by a twin-turbo V6.
Eventually, the GX will be available with two powertrains, but the hybrid will only be introduced in the USA later.
For now, the twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 motor is the only engine available, producing 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, impressive gains over the V8's 301 hp and 329 lb-ft. With the hybrid system included, this V6 can produce 437 hp and a 583 lb-ft in other products, but the GX's final hybrid outputs remain unknown for now.
Premium, Premium +, and Overtrail models with the standard tow hitch can now tow up to 8,000 pounds - 1,500 more than the old model, making it more competitive against what we see as its main rival, the Land Rover Defender.
The GX rides on the same platform as the LX. It's a lightweight ladder frame with key features to provide traction in tough conditions and a refined ride while cruising through the suburbs. It has a double-wishbone setup at the front and a multi-link system at the rear. Adaptive Variable Suspension that constantly changes the damping depending on the surface will be available.
A full-time four-wheel-drive system is standard, equipped with a lockable Torsen limited-slip center differential. Lexus says the switch between 4hi and 4lo is faster than ever, thanks to enhancements on the electronic transfer case. Overtrail models gain an additional electronic locking differential at the rear. We would have liked to see another on the front, as Toyota included it as standard on the new Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.
With body-on-frame construction, the GX also has healthy approach/breakover/departure angles of 26/24/22 degrees in Overtrail and Overtrail+ guises.
Not everyone in the CarBuzz office is sold on the new design, but that's to be expected; styling is subjective. The new GX design has signature Lexus touches like the spindle grille, Nike-like LED daytime running lights, and an L-shaped light bar at the rear. Even so, the GX looks like it would have been more comfortable wearing a Toyota badge, and there's a good reason for this. In other parts of the world, the Lexus badges will be pried off to make room for Land Cruiser Prado insignia.
The new GX is bigger in every direction, including five inches longer, but the big news is the addition of new Overtrail and Overtrail + trims, which are essentially overland-ready straight from the factory. These models can be ordered with a bi-tone exterior and come standard with 33-inch tires on 18-inch wheels, black accented over-fenders, and an aluminum skid plate.
The parts sharing with Toyota is most apparent on the inside. If you look at the interior of the GX and the Sequoia side-by-side, you can see the similarities and notable differences where Lexus added a layer of luxury. The materials are more upmarket, and the design is much more minimalist. The outgoing GX is from an era when a button-festooned center console was the ultimate showcase of wealth. Thankfully, the world has moved on.
All driving controls are situated neatly near the shifter, while the rest is operated via the 14-inch Multimedia Touchscreen Display with a Lexus operating system. Standard infotainment features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, various illuminated charging and media ports, and a 10-speaker premium sound system, which can be upgraded to a 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system.
On the left of the touchscreen, you'll note a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which replaces the old-school analog dials.
The GX has seating for up to seven, but the six-seat configuration is the best. Instead of a 60:40 split second-row bench, the six-seater has two captain's chairs.
Heated and ventilated seats are standard for the driver and front passenger, and the standard earth-tone interior complements nature. The GX is also available with semi-aniline leather and NuLuxe trimmed interior in Black, Dapple Gray, or Saddle Tan. The interior trim is available in black or dark brown grained wood. Depending on the trim, other niceties include wireless charging, 12 cupholders, a digital key, a cool box, a head-up display, and traffic jam assist.
The Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 is standard. It includes all of the necessary driver-assist features, such as pre-collision warning and intervention, active cruise control, and a proactive driving assistant, to name just a few.
The new GX is available in six grades: Premium, Premium+, Luxury, Luxury+, and Overtrail and Overtrail+. Pricing has yet to be made available and will likely only be published closer to the on-sale date. The GX is expected to arrive in the US in early 2024.
The official model designation across the trim levels is GX550, which suggests the hybrid will carry the same GX600h nomenclature as its bigger brother.
As this is an all-new car, we expect it to cost roughly $10,000 to $15,000 more than the current GX, which still undercuts the Land Rover Defender and other quasi-off-roaders like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.
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