2024 Lexus GX and TX Revealed at Lexus #DoubleFeature

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Written by Paul Strauss | June 8, 2023
2024 Lexus GX and TX Revealed at Lexus #DoubleFeature

Lexus invited me down to Austin, Texas, for the reveal of two new SUVs for the 2024 model year. The GX 550 represents a complete redesign of the current GX 460, riding on a new platform with a new powertrain and a new off-road focus. The TX 350, TX 500h, and TX 550h+ are family-friendly everyday SUVs that share a platform with the Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander.

The trusty old Lexus GX has been in need of a revamp for more than a decade, and the new model is changed in almost every way. The GX 460 nameplate has been replaced by GX 550, and the SUV has a bold and boxy new look that’s sure to divide some opinions. Personally, I love it, and I think it does a good job communicating its sense of adventure and utility, and it will definitely get cross-shopped with the Land Rover Defender now.

Six GX grades are available, including Premium/Premium+, Luxury/Luxury+, and brand-new Overtrail and Overtrail+ grades. The rugged off-road trim has 33″ all-terrain tires and 18″ wheels, along with wider fender flares and an electronically-locking rear differential for improved traction and stability when off-roading. The Premium and Luxury versions roll on 20″ or 22″ alloy rims.

The new GX is wider and longer than the prior generation, with a 3.74″ to 4.52″ increase in width, a 2.75″ increase in length, and a 2.36 increase in wheelbase. It’s also got more ground clearance this time, though Lexus hasn’t provided that figure yet. The Overtrail model has the best approach, breakover, and departure angles at 26º, 24º, and 22º, respectively.

Lexus says the GX will come in two powertrains, but we only have details on the first one, a 3.4L twin-turbo V6 that makes 349 hp and 479 lb-ft. of torque, paired with a 10-speed, direct-shift automatic transmission. This offers more power than the outgoing V8 and should also have slightly better fuel economy. A yet-to-be-announced hybrid model is coming in the near future.

Full-time 4-wheel drive comes standard, and Overtrail grades get features like Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control, 3D Multiterrain Monitoring, and an Electronic-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. Towing capacity is quoted at 8000 pounds for the Premium/Premium+ and Overtrail/Overtrail+ and 6780 to 6990 pounds for the Luxury+ and Luxury variants.

The GX 550 can seat up to seven passengers and offers good cargo capacity when the third row is folded. Lexus also added storage space under the cargo deck, offering an optional cooler box and cold package storage area. A 120-volt AC inverter comes standard.

The GX rocks plenty of modern tech too. It’s got a 12.3″ digital instrument display and a 14″ multimedia touchscreen that packs the new Lexus Interface, a dramatic upgrade from the old system. It’s also got wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 comes standard and includes Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, Proactive Driver Assist, and more. A 10-speaker surround sound system comes standard, while a 20-speaker Mark Levinson sound system is available as an upgrade. It’ll be worth every penny if it sounds as good as the other Lexus-Levinson collabs. Other options include Traffic Jam Assist and a head-up display.

The 2024 Lexus TX is a horse of a different color, having more in common with the Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander than with the rugged GX 550. It’s definitely more conservative in its styling, even toning down the trademark Lexus spindle grille with its body-color crossbars.

Lexus is aiming for the family-friendly, 3-row market with the TX, with plentiful space for people and cargo, along with a quiet and comfortable ride. Its maker does say the TX will embrace the Lexus Driving Signature that it’s been talking about for the last couple of years. However, I suspect it won’t be particularly sporty in anything but the F SPORT Performance. The TX will come in Standard, Premium, Luxury, and F SPORT Performance grades.

Depending on the model, you’ll get one of three different powertrains. The TX 350 has a 2.4L turbo engine with 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft. of torque. The TX 500h hybrid adds an electric motor to that engine, resulting in 366 horsepower and 409 lb-ft. of torque.

Last but not least, the TX 550h+ is a plug-in hybrid with a bigger 3.5L V6 engine that produces 406 horsepower and an as-yet-unspecified amount of torque. The TX 350 comes in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive variants, while you can only get the hybrid and PHEV as all-wheel drive. Lexus will also offer its Dynamic Rear Steering capability on the TX 500h, which, like the system in the new RX, will improve handling and turning radius.

The interior of the TX doesn’t look quite as fancy as some other Lexus models, but it’s certainly well-equipped with technology. Like the GX, you’ll get a 12.3″ multi-information display and an available 14″ multimedia touchscreen. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 also comes standard, and there are optional convenience features like parallel and perpendicular parking assist and Traffic Jam Assist.

There’s no shortage of space here, with a cabin designed to seat up to seven passengers comfortably. Depending on trim, you’ll get either a split-folding second-row bench or a pair of comfy captain’s chairs. If it’s anything like the Grand Highlander, the third row should offer enough space for adults and offers easy access thanks to tilt-and-slide second-row seats. And if you’ve got cargo to haul, there’s enough room for seven roller suitcases behind the third row of seats. Drop the third row, and space jumps from 20.1 cubic feet to 57.4 cubic feet. And with no passengers in either of the back rows, you’ll have 97 cubic feet to work with – plenty of room for a whole load of home furnishings from an IKEA run.

Lexus hasn’t offered up pricing or exact release dates for either the GX or TX, but the GX 550 is expected to go on sale in early 2024. The TX 350 and TX 500 arrive a little earlier – in Fall 2023, though the TX 550h+ won’t arrive until later. I hope the new GX is priced similarly to the current-gen model. It could give the Defender a serious run for its money if it is. On the other hand, if the TX is too similar to the Grand Highlander, I’d be concerned about how much more Lexus could charge for their version – though they do have the advantage of slightly more powerful drivetrains and an available PHEV variant.

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