2024 Lexus GX Overtrail new car review
The latest off-road machine from one of Australia’s most trusted car brands sets a new benchmark in ability and luxury that others can’t match.
Luxury
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It’s more than a little unnerving when the view out of the windscreen is all sky and no earth. But this new Lexus GX off-roader dispatches our ridiculously steep climb in the middle of the Arizona desert like it’s a walk in the park.
It already had two wheels off the ground for most of the time we’ve spent completing a daunting man-made 4WD course. On several occasions, it felt like we’d tip over but the GX ploughed on unperturbed.
This is no show-pony SUV. It’s a genuine rival for the vehicle Lexus has in its sights: Land Rover’s legendary Defender 110.
Americans have been able to buy Lexus’s most capable off-roader for decades, but Australians will get their first taste of the GX in the middle of the year.
Based on the new Toyota Prado, which will also arrive this year, the GX trades on a unique blend of ruggedness and civility.
The new generation has taken its off-road ability to another level with a new model called the Overtrail.
It sits between the more bitumen-focused Luxury and Sports Luxury models in the GX line-up and has a unique exterior design that includes macho off-road cues such as a black grille, black mirror caps and door handles, 18-inch wheels with chunky all-terrain tyres, an optional black roof and heavy duty roof racks that can support a tent.
But the differences aren’t just skin-deep. Under the imposing sheet metal is some heavy duty off-road hardware, including locking rear and centre differentials and an electronically controlled suspension set-up that can disengage the front and rear anti-roll bars for maximum wheel articulation when tackling the rough stuff.
Drivers can choose from different terrain settings specifically tuned for mud, snow, sand or rocks, which change the throttle sensitivity and traction control to give you the best purchase on slippery surfaces. Other off-road specific hardware includes low-speed cruise control, a crawl function for particularly tough terrain and downhill assist control.
There are also some clever off-road specific goodies in the cabin.
Four cameras placed around the vehicle help you navigate tricky terrain, while sensors monitor the car’s pitch and sideways lean angles.
All the details are displayed in a dedicated off-road menu on the centre screen. Lines overlaid on the camera image tell you exactly where your wheels, side mirrors and front bumper are in relation to the surrounding terrain, while another camera helps you to “see” under the bonnet and spot hazards on the ground below.
The Overtrail also has a larger alternator than the other models to run ancillaries. Much like the Land Rover it will compete with, the Lexus is capable but cosseting.
The interior is typically well screwed together, with quality materials and crisp, clear graphics on its two big screens and large head-up display. The cabin doesn’t have the wow factor of a Mercedes-Benz or Audi, but it’s comfortable and commendably quiet. All the expected luxuries are included, as are the latest crash avoidance aids.
The Luxury has synthetic leather, 20-inch alloys, wireless smartphone mirroring and charging, tri-zone airconditioning and a powered tailgate, while the Sports Luxury brings 22-inch alloys, adaptive variable suspension, a sunroof, massaging seats, ambient lighting, higher grade leather, a digital rear view mirror, a refrigerated cool box and a 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.
The Luxury and Sports Luxury have seven seats, while the Overtrail has just five. Lexus says Overtrail buyers will typically want the extra load area for camping gear.
On the bitumen, the GX makes a strong impression for a vehicle that is so capable off it. We spent time in the Luxury model and it delivered a comfy ride combined with predictable steering and cornering responses.
There’s some pitch and roll – and the big rims and narrow rubber can pitter patter over broken road surfaces – but overall it’s a fuss-free experience.
The 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, mated to a 10-speed auto, is a willing companion on the freeway, delivering impressive thrust when called upon to overtake, With 260kW and 650Nm on tap, it should handle the GX’s maximum 3.5-tonne towing capacity.
Owners are likely to be on first-name terms with the local servo staff, though. In our short highway test drive, we saw roughly 15L/100km.
Lexus hasn’t revealed pricing for the GX but it is expected to start at about $110,000. If the brand manages to get the pricing right, it could be blue skies ahead for the new off-roader on the block.
LEXUS GX550 OVERTRAIL
PRICE: From about $110,000 plus on-roads (estimate)
WARRANTY: Five years, unlimited km,
SAFETY: 9 airbags, auto emergency braking, blind spot monitor, lane departure warning and assist, rear cross-traffic alert, overspeed alert
ENGINE: 3.5-litre twin turbo V6 petrol, 260kW/650Nm
THIRST: About 15L/100km (on test)
Originally published as 2024 Lexus GX Overtrail new car review
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