2024 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail Review: Commanding Looks, Capability, and Comfort

The Lexus GX has always been one of those vehicles that stood out from the rest of its brand’s softer, more luxury-oriented lineup. In its latest incarnation, the 2024 GX 550, it’s the best it’s ever been. The body-on-frame SUV is as capable off-road as it is in providing everyday comfort. Automakers have recently returned to boxy designs to signify ruggedness. Between the Lexus GX, the Land Rover Defender, the Toyota Land Cruiser, and the Hyundai Santa Fe, I think the GX is the best executed of the bunch.

The GX 550 comes in six grades: Premium/Premium+, Overtrail/Overtrail+, and Luxury/Luxury+. The Premium is the base model, while the Overtrail is the most off-road-oriented, and the Luxury is the most upscale in terms of materials and features. After spending some time with the Overtrail+ at the media launch, I had a whole week to enjoy the GX 550 Overtrail. Its commanding looks impress from every angle, with a crisp, chiseled body and sharp angles on its grille, headlights, lower body cladding, and boxy mirrors. Adding to its rugged good looks and capability are 18-inch alloy wheels with 33-inch all-terrain tires, providing greater sidewall protection than the tires on the other trims.

Just because you can make an SUV look substantial doesn’t necessarily mean it is. Fortunately, Lexus and its sister company, Toyota, know a thing or two about making substantial and durable vehicles. The latest GX is built on the TNGA-F platform, which is shared by the latest incarnations of the Lexus LX, Toyota Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tacoma, and 4Runner. Its steel frame is built for hard work and longevity, giving the GX the best chances at a long life of adventure.

Under the hood of every GX 550 is a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft. of torque. Working with a 10-speed automatic transmission, it offers plenty of get-up-and-go, sending power to all four wheels as needed via a full-time all-wheel-drive system. A 0-to-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds is impressive for a vehicle of this size and weight. Towing capacity is rated at a mighty 9096 pounds. Fuel economy is about what you’d expect – 15 mpg in the City, 21 mpg on the highway, 17 mpg combined. Note that Toyota’s twin-turbo V6 has been the subject of a recall notice for some 2022 and 2023 Tacoma and LX models, but it has not been extended to the 2024 GX as of this writing.

I’ve driven the GX in various conditions, from smooth highways to rocky trails to deeply rutted and muddy dirt roads. The drivetrain handled each environment with aplomb, sending power to each wheel as needed and never getting stuck, even when things got sketchy. In addition to several modes for daily driving, the GX Overtrail offers a Multi-terrain Select feature, which offers modes for deep snow, mud, sand, and dirt. You can also leave it in auto mode, and the system will adjust torque distribution to provide the best traction regardless of conditions.

Another place where the Overtrail grades get a leg up over other GX 550s (and Land Cruisers) is the Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS), which can automatically disconnect the sway bars while off-roading, providing up to 25 inches of wheel articulation. This is a fantastic feature when riding on rocky or rutted terrain and gives this SUV the best shot at keeping all four wheels on the ground. There’s also a Torsen limited-slip locking center differential and an electronic rear locker, which comes exclusively on the Overtrail and Overtrail+. The Adaptive Variable Suspension provides increased ride comfort in everyday driving and can also stiffen things up and reduce body roll in Sport + mode. Plus, you get Crawl Control, which is basically a low-speed cruise control system that takes care of throttle and brake application so you can focus on steering when negotiating tricky trails.

We’ve come to expect a quiet and comfortable environment inside Lexus vehicles, and the GX continues with this tradition. Road noise and vibrations are banished from the cabin, and the only sounds you hear are the engine doing its job and a bit of wind noise from the big mirrors when you reach highway speeds. The cabin’s design is cleaner and more utilitarian than some luxury vehicles, but the materials are premium, and the build quality is solid. The upright seating position and skinny A-pillars are great for forward visibility, as is the smartly designed concave hood.

The wide and supportive front seats provide great comfort when riding on rough terrain or potholes. While the Luxury grade gets fancy semi-aniline leather seats, the Overtrail’s seats are wrapped in NuLuxe, a very nice synthetic leather that’s easy to clean if you get mud on its surface. The seats are heated and ventilated, with 10-way power adjustability and adjustable headrests. The Overtrail+ adds a massage feature. Our SUV came equipped with a very good 10-speaker Lexus audio system, but the awe-inspiring 21-speaker Mark Levinson system that comes standard on the Luxury+ and optional for the Luxury and Overtrail+ models is worth the $1140 price of admission.

For storage, there are long pockets in the doors, a dashboard shelf for front seat passengers, an ample glovebox, and a bin in the center armrest. In our case, this was fitted with the well-priced ($170) cool box option, which is great for keeping soda cans chilled and candy bars from melting on sunny days. Front and center on the dashboard is a 14-inch touchscreen for accessing the Lexus Multimedia system. I like how modern and responsive this interface is, and its design organizes features well. Climate controls are always accessible at the bottom of the screen, accompanied by physical dials for temperature and radio volume. In addition to its built-in navigation and “Hey, Lexus” voice assistant, it’s compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A wireless phone charger comes standard on all grades except the Premium and Overtrail, which offer it as an option.

While the Premium and Luxury versions of the GX 550 include three rows of seats, the Overtrail grades come exclusively in a two-row configuration. Given how cramped third rows can be, I didn’t miss this at all, and I only would if I frequently needed to transport a bunch of kids. You can’t get the plush second-row captain’s chairs in the Overtrail either, but the bench seat offers plenty of comfort along with exceptional legroom and headroom. Second-row passengers also get their own vents and USB-C charging ports. The Premium+, Overtrail+, Luxury, and Luxury+ models also add heat to the outboard second-row seats.

Without a third row to stow, the GX 550 Overtrail grades enjoy the most cargo space – an impressive 90.5 cubic feet with the second row folded up. In comparison, the other trims have 76.9 cubic feet. Even with the second row in use, you get more space in the Overtrail – 45.6 cubic feet versus 40.2 cubic feet. One side-effect of the missing third row is that there are still cupholders and phone cubbies over the wheel wells. It’s quirky, but the storage space can come in handy if you go overlanding and use the capacious rear of the GX as a sleeping area.

The old Lexus GX had a rear gate that opened to one side, a vestigial remnant of the days when SUVs had a spare tire mounted on the back. Lexus has moved away from this with the GX 550, opting for a conventional liftgate that opens upwards. That makes accessing cargo easier and doesn’t require as much space to open in your garage or when parallel parked.

Lexus was kind enough to retain the opening rear window glass, which is great for quickly tossing in backpacks or grabbing gear without opening the entire liftgate. Just push the button in the bottom left corner to open it. Even if there is no rear door tire mount, a full-size spare tire is mounted beneath the GX in case you get into trouble on the trails.

From the first time I set my eyes on the Lexus GX 550, I fell in love with its boxy and confident looks. Having driven it twice now, I’m equally enamored with its capabilities and comforts. Pricing for the 2024 GX 550 starts at $64,250 for the Premium grade, $69,250 for the Premium+, $69,250 for the Overtrail, $77,250 for the Overtrail+ or Luxury, and $81,250 for the top-of-the-line Luxury+. The GX I tested here had an MSRP of $71,620, including processing and handling fees. I think the Overtrail is the best deal of the bunch, thanks to its upgraded suspension, off-road wheels and tires, and extra cargo space. The Overtrail+ does add a few things, including massage seats, ambient lighting, heated second-row seats, a power tailgate, and a wireless phone charger, but I’m not sure those features are worth the extra $8000.