The Lexus GX trades out the flowing curves of the previous generation for a design that could have been accomplished entirely within the world of Minecraft. And while the base price leaps a significant $4,025 from the 2023 GX, the new generation features numerous significant upgrades over its antiquated predecessor.
Powertrain Specs and MPG
The 2023 Lexus GX was one of few vehicles in its class still soldiering on with a naturally aspirated V-8 engine. For 2024, the V-8 has been replaced with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6, with its 349 horsepower and 479 pounds-feet of torque positively crushing the old V-8’s 301 hp and 329 pounds-feet. A 10-speed automatic transmission replaces the old six-speed, and with full-time four-wheel drive again standard, Lexus expects fuel economy to come in at 15/21/17 mpg city/highway/combined. That’s not a huge improvement on the 2023’s EPA-rated 15/19/16 mpg, but it is an improvement. Lexus also says a hybrid powertrain is in the pipeline.
Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 Standard
Every 2024 GX 550 includes Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 as standard equipment. The advanced driver-assist suite features forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, emergency steering assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure prevention and lane-centering assist, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors are also standard across the line. Trim levels above the base Premium also include a 360-degree camera system.
The three-row 2024 Lexus GX 550 will arrive at dealerships in early 2024. Full line pricing (including $1,350 destination) is as follows:
Premium: $64,250
Premium+: $69,250
Luxury: $77,250
Luxury+: $81,250
Overtrail: $69,250
Overtrail+: $77,250
Trim Levels
If you consider ventilated front seats to be the height of luxury — which is entirely reasonable — then the base Premium trim will suffice. In addition to heated and ventilated front seats, the Premium features synthetic-leather upholstery, ambient lighting, a moonroof, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch central touchscreen with navigation, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a 10-speaker sound system. It rides on 20-inch wheels and packs a limited-slip locking center differential for greater off-road capability.
The Premium+ trim adds heated outboard second-row seats, a power-folding third row, power tilt/telescoping steering column with a heated wheel, adjustable ambient lighting, wireless phone charging, and a hands-free rear liftgate with a kick sensor.
Luxury and Luxury+ trims ride on 22-inch wheels. The Luxury also features real leather upholstery, massaging front seats and second-row window shades, and the Luxury+ adds a 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, digital rearview mirror, power running boards, panoramic moonroof and an adaptive variable suspension.
New for 2024 are the Overtrail and Overtrail+ trim levels, which seek to optimize the GX’s celebrated — but perhaps underutilized — off-road capability. They ride on smaller 18-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch all-terrain tires. Also featuring the adaptive suspension, the Overtrail trims go one step further with Lexus’s Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, which can decouple the front and rear sway bars to enable greater suspension articulation in off-road maneuvers. In addition to the locking center differential, the Overtrails also feature a locking rear diff, as well as off-road drivetrain and stability control management programming.
The Overtrail trims can be optioned without a moonroof to enhance rooftop cargo-carrying capability and are only available with seating for five occupants in two rows. Both include windshield-wiper de-icers, black roof rails and headlight washers. Highlights of the Overtrail+’s additional features over the Overtrail include heated outboard second-row seats, additional driver-seat adjustability and massaging front seats.
