In what used to be often described as a relentless pursuit of perfection, Lexus has kept such a trend alive, even though their slogan has changed, evident in the completely redesigned Lexus GX. This week I was more intrigued in how my experience with the redesigned Lexus GX would go, and now I walk away knowing that the GX is certainly a valid attempt at perfection.
Receiving more of a boxy design that retains the truck-like stature and off-roading abilities, the new Lexus GX 550 embodies a delicate mix of luxury and ruggedness. Such a mix is played well to take the Lexus GX to literal new heights after a long, successful run with its outgoing generation. With a modern look and feel, the GX comes out of the gates with its game face on, ready to compete in an area where not many have dared to go that approaches more to run with vehicles like the Land Rover Defender. Only this time, being a Lexus, the GX is poised to have the upper hand in receiving the brand’s long-touted reliability and off-roading chops of a body-on-frame SUV that keeps in mind the aspects of pampering its precious cargo in the lap of luxury.
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The new Lexus GX 550, being completely redesigned, brings us a new powertrain using the brand’s 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that’s good for 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. Power is directed through a 10-speed automatic transmission that feels more tamed than in other Lexus vehicles, as it seems to hold onto gears a little more, preventing unnecessary hunting. This allows the twin-turbo V6 to show off with its ample torque through a broad rev range.
There’s also a full-time four-wheel-drive with a two-speed transfer case setup on all Lexus GX trim levels, which includes the gamut of the GX Premium, Premium Plus, Luxury, Luxury+, Overtrail, and Overtrail+. My GX 550 Luxury+ test vehicle arrives in a sweet spot for having more of a road-going attitude with its adaptive variable suspension that provides a firm but decent ride quality that adapts to different road conditions. The Overtrail trims get an extension of the adaptive setup with a versatile E-KDSS (kinetic dynamic suspension system) setup along with its 33-inch tires to better suit the GX for off-roading adventures.
The driving character of the new Lexus GX 550 Luxury+ feels buttoned down and somewhat lively, considering the steering is surprisingly crisp for a body-on-frame SUV. There’s also a welcomed weightiness to the steering rack, giving you, as the driver, confidence in driving and maneuvering the GX in tight spaces. Handling is good for a tall SUV, eliminating the sloppiness of the outgoing GX. The braking feel is good, as is the acceleration from the twin-turbo V6, where the GX hits 60 mph in a respected 6.2 seconds. Overall, the GX is improved in every area and can tow up to 9,096 pounds in the base Premium trim configuration, while my GX 550 Luxury+ test vehicle can tow up to 7,601 pounds.
While the new GX has improved in just about every way, the fuel consumption hasn’t improved much. However, having the added power and performance makes up for the MPG numbers, which land at the EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined. I saw these exact figures in the real world and eventually settled on 17.5 mpg overall for a mix of highway and city driving over the course of a couple hundred miles of driving. Thankfully, the fuel tank is just large enough, at 21.1 gallons, to give you a highway cruising range of about 443 miles.
Configured as either a 7-passenger or 5-passenger SUV, the new Lexus GX 550 offers several trim levels to suit many. Inside, the cabin is somewhat plush with its many soft-touch surfaces throughout.
Upgraded leather upholstery is available if you opt for the higher trim levels, in addition to a variety of color options. There’s even a seat massage function for the front heated and ventilated seats in the Luxury trims, which is something I wish Lexus would share with many other models. The seats prove to be very comfy with the properly expected power adjustments, while the second-row captain’s chairs have heating, are also comfy, and have a good amount of legroom.
The third-row seats are also mostly accommodating, with good legroom and headroom. However, the compromise lies within the cargo area, where you only have 10.3 cubic feet of storage behind the third row when the seatbacks are up in place. Power fold the third-row seats back down, and you have 40.2 cubic feet of storage.
Lexus brings their typical tech to the table in the new GX featuring the latest 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which proves to be user-friendly and has the welcoming update of core functions listed on the screen when you utilize the wireless (or USB-connected) Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration. The updated layout of the GX’s interior places functions within easy reach, including the drive modes, which are expanded in the Overtrail trims for a bit more off-roading abilities.
The GX offers up a variety of active safety features that are expected, featuring the highlights of the optional digital rearview mirror and a trick 360-degree surround view camera system that records and overlays what is underneath the vehicle. Otherwise, you get the typical blind-spot monitor, lane departure warning/keeping assist, lane centering, road sign assist, automatic emergency braking/forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and a proactive driving assist system.
As with most new vehicles, pricing has gone up considerably, which the new GX follows suit in having a starting price that is now at $64,250 for the base Premium trim. My test vehicle’s Luxury+ trim adds on several desirable features, which then brings the total to $83,895, which includes a processing and handling fee of $1,350.
