After skipping our annual Yarkony Camping road trip last year, we went big for 2024 with a destination on the north shore of Lake Superior, and the new 2024 Lexus GX 550 in heavy duty and ultra-luxurious Overtrail+ trim. I had high hopes for this luxury branded off-roader based on the rugged Toyota Land Cruiser, but during the trip I discovered that what I really needed was a soft-roader, not a full bore SUV. While I had visions of crawling over the rugged Canadian Shield landscape, the Ontario Provincial Park system along the Trans-Canada Highway is well maintained and downright civilized, with hardly the need for locking differentials or 33-inch all-terrain tires. That being said, the GX certainly looked the part, but we spent all our time hiking, canoeing, and on the beach, and did not venture out to the trails that the GX would have loved for its vacation. Sorry, GX.
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It should be noted that I was not alone in thinking that the GX is a good-looking vehicle that fit the scenery, and perhaps it is the fresh return of the Land Cruiser and this spinoff, but I was fielding questions at gas stations and saw passersby doing full walkarounds checking it out and clearly telling their significant others that this is the glorious return of a hardcore Toyota off-roader. This Overtrail+ trim is on trend too, in a desert-camo shade called “Earth” with two-tone black roof and black grille and wheel arches making for good contrast and a dramatically square profile maximizing practicality for the footprint.
Lexus GX 550 Engine and Driving Impressions
- 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6; 349 hp, 479 lb-ft of torque
- 10-speed automatic transmission
Lexus did not hold back when equipping the GX 550 engine, the 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 pumping out 349 horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 479 lb-ft of torque at 2,000-3,600 rpm. The torquey V6 is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and routed through four-wheel drive with locking centre and rear differentials, and specific Drive settings for Deep Snow, Mud, Sand, and Dirt, Crawl mode, plus on-road settings for the Sport, Comfort, and Eco modes. It would take months or years of ownerships to find a need for all the variations of capability the GX 550 offers, but we put on over a thousand kilometres on paved and gravel roads, so we got a thorough taste of its strengths and weaknesses in more average driving conditions.
With that much torque and a 10-speed automatic, the GX gets going quickly in any situation, and the power and chassis are rated for up to 4,110 kg (9,063 pounds) in this Overtrail, Signature, and Premium trims (Luxury and Executive trims are limited to 3638 kg/8,020 lb and 3,448 kg/7601 lb respectively). Building up to highway speeds is effortless with nothing but camping payload, and the engine settle into a nice purr at any speed. For the ride north, we used our waterproof roof bag to add storage, but that resulted in dreadful wind noise, so we packed all our gear in a bit tighter for the trip home, which yielded a much quieter highway cruise, though the big knobby tires. The adaptive cruise was a great relief for the long haul up to Lake Superior, but this fully loaded model also had Traffic Jam Assist that helped ease the stress in city driving.
In an urban landscape, and even on some winding country roads, the GX 550 showed its off-road compromises, with significant body lean in turns and curves despite the adaptive suspensions and Lexus’s Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (eKDSS). Although the trick suspension enables massive wheel articulation off-road and improves cornering on paved surfaces, there is no getting around the physics of a tall, heavy vehicle on 33-inch all-terrain tires. For more on the Overtrail’s off-road chops and stats, check out Brian Harper’s Lexus GX 550 First Drive.
Lexus GX 550 Fuel Efficiency
- City/Highway/Combined 15.2 / 11.2 / 13.5 L/100 km
- 13.2 L/100 km combined in mostly highway driving
It should surprise no one to hear that the Lexus GX 550 is not an efficiency-first proposition. Its shape, mission, tires, and powerful engine all contribute to a more traditional SUV fuel consumption rating. Natural Resources Canada estimates its efficiency at 15.2 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 11.2 L/100 km on the highway, and 13.5 L/100 km combined. The American EPA rating is 15 miles per gallon city, 21 highway, 17 combined.
With the majority of our driving on highways, we did come in below the combined rating, finishing at 13.2 L/100 km after a couple of weeks, and the first trip north with a roof bag overhead had us at a slightly worse 13.5. No doubt more city driving and/or towing would significantly increase that fuel consumption.
Lexus GX 550 Interior and Practicality
- Cargo space behind 2nd row: 1,291 L (45.6 cu. ft.); max cargo space: 2,563 L (90.5 cu. ft.)
- 14-inch touchscreen infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
With the exception of the wind noise caused by the roof bag and some tire noise, the Lexus GX 550 cabin was an oasis of comfort on the long haul up to Lake Superior and back. The tall, boxy design means there is plenty of headroom, legroom, and hiproom and excellent visibility for first- and second-row passengers. While most trims feature a pretty cramped third row, the Overtrail did not, and so its minimum cargo capacity was 1,291 litres (45.6 cubic feet), and up to 2,563 L (90.5 cu. ft.) if both side of the split 60/40 second row are folded down.
In addition to the comfort conferred by the forgiving offroad-oriented suspension, the seats themselves were heated and cooled, supportive and easily adjusted, with massage function to provide some muscle relief between breaks. The second-row seats also had fore/aft adjustability and reclining seatback, plus heating and USB ports to keep devices charged and the kids quiet and peaceful. When the kids weren’t zoned out on their devices, the spectacular 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system had us all singing along to our road trip playlist (to help drown out that wind noise especially). The controls for audio and other infotainment functions were via 14-inch touchscreen that was so good barely even noticed it. Didn’t hurt that the wireless Apple Carplay connection was solid, but on a couple occasions where our cell reception dropped, we used the native navigation system and it was easily accessed and deciphered. Lexus was wise to abandon the poorly conceived and frustrating trackpad control system in previous generations.
When it came time for snacks, we dipped into the armrest cooler box between the front seats, and I was surprised to find that it had almost frozen my chocolate bars, so it would also keep your cold beverages at an ideal temperature. While the cool box lived up to its intended function, it eats up that centre armrest storage that is normally used for purses and other bulky items, and overall the GX did not have as many cabin storage spaces as many other SUVs, but it did have the cool little tray over the glove box that is great for glasses, or keys, or a wallet.
2024 GX 550 Canadian Pricing
With such a specific mission and all the capability bestowed on the 2024 Lexus GX 550, it is no surprise that its sticker creeps over a hundred grand at the top end. GX Canadian pricing for the base ‘Signature’ trim starts at $85,805 ($83,500 MSRP plus $100 A/C Tax, $2,205.00 Freight & PDI) plus whatever regional taxes and fees might be added. For an extra $9,000, you can step up to the Premium or Overtrail packages, the former offering more luxury and comfort amenities (memory seats, steering wheel, and mirrors, Head-Up Display, heated rear seats, acoustic glass, 64-colour ambient illumination, extra USB ports, Parking Assist with auto braking and rear pedestrian detection, power tailgate with kick sensor) and the latter deleting the third row and adding all sorts of off-roading goodies and tech (33″ all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels, 2-Zone automatic climate control, Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (eKDSS), Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select and Drive Mode Select, DAC (Downhill Assist Control), Crawl Control with turn assist, terrain monitor with underfloor view, skid plates, roof rails, and front tow hooks); Overtrail trims also increase ground Clearance by 5 millimetres to 225 mm (8.9 in.) and increase breakover angle to 24 degrees, though approach and departure angles of 26 and 21 are the same for all trims.
Similarly, the Luxury and Overtrail+ packages clock in at an $18,350 increase over base ($104,555) and Overtrail+ gets most of the amenities from the Premium package and all the off-roading goodies, while the Luxury ramps up amenities with 22-inch forged alloy wheels, 10-way power driver and passenger seats, rear window sunshades, leather seats, massage seats, lane change assist, Traffic Jam Assist, driver monitor camera, 21 Speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system, illuminated scuff plates, Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA). Finally, Executive tops them all with digital rearview mirror panoramic moonroof with dimming feature, power-adjustable second-row captain’s chairs and power running boards for $22,350 ($108,555 total).
Lexus GX Competitors
It might seem like the Lexus GX is in a pretty lonely category with its heavy duty off-road capability and Toyota Land Cruiser roots, but it competes with a few iconic off-roaders. The top trim of the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee sits at $85,270, right where the Lexus GX starts, and the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk trim is well equipped to tackle trails as challenging as the famed Rubicon. From the other side of the pond, Land Rover Defenders come in two-door or four-door models, up to three rows of seating and priced from $72,700 up to $191,000 for the 110 OCTA Edition One P635 with 626-hp twin-turbo V8, specialized off-road driving mode and ‘6D Dynamics’ suspension. If you’re looking for something a little more traditional and rare, the Ineos Grenadier has massive off-road chops, boutique brand exclusivity, and the appeal of being the only one of its kind in the valet parking queue (unlike the me-too Mercedes G-Wagen or Range Rover).
The Lexus GX was a niche vehicle that has maintained a loyal following from those that wanted the previous generation’s off-road chops or three-row versatility, but the 2024 model makes a giant leap forward in quality and daily livability with this generation, with a lineup set up for the premium off-roading and overlanding crowd or the suburban family that might like to get a little muddy every once in a while. Those not planning to do any serious off-roading are advised to steer clear of the Overtrail models and stick with the roadgoing wheel and tire packages. While it was not the ideal choice for my long road trip and more conventional camping adventure, the Lexus GX 550 still impressed with its comfort, power, and luxury, and its bold, boxy styling stands out from the jelly bean crossover crowd.
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