This week, TFL went to Tucson to drive the all-new Lexus GX 550 and came away believing more than ever that this Lexus is now a legit, off-roading option to the current Land Rover Defender. That’s an amazing turn of events for the venerable 3-row GX, which has long been considered a stalwart off-roading platform that, unfortunately, required thousands of dollars in modifications and upgrades to pull off. With the Overtrail edition, Lexus finally delivered the factory-built, luxury off-roader everyone wanted the GX to be.
Old Lexus GX vs. New Lexus GX
The previous generation GX was around for an unbelievable 21 years since it was first introduced in Japan. It ended its run outfitted with a bombproof 4.6-liter V8 with a 6-speed automatic that sucked gas but could be expected to run strong for hundreds of thousands of miles. The new GX uses the twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 and 10-speed auto found in the full-size Tundra pick-up, which is a lot of engine. Here’s a breakdown of key changes between old and new.
| Old GX 460 | New GX 550 | |
| Horsepower | 301 hp | 349 hp |
| Torque | 329 lb-ft | 479 lb-ft |
| 4WD System | Full-time w/ 2-speed transfer case | Full-time w/ 2-speed transfer case |
| Locking Differentials | Center | Center & Rear |
| Length | 192 inches | 197 inches (4-inches longer than new Land Cruiser) |
| EPA mileage | 15 city/19 hwy | 15 city/21 hwy |
| Rear Entry | Swinggate | Liftgate |
| 3rd Row Space | Useless for adults | Tight, but serviceable for adults |
| Towing | 6,500 pounds | 9,063 pounds |
| Interior Controls | Knobs and buttons (Yay!) | Touchsceens |
| Pricing | Topped out in the $70,000s | Topping out in the mid $80,000s |
Lexus GX Overtrail Off-road Goodies
When Land Rover brought out the latest Defender, it wasn’t hard to notice that it was a luxury off-roader, not a purpose-built tractor like they once were. This opened the door for Lexus to create a viable competitor with the new GX, and from the spec sheet and looks of it, they did.
The Overtrail edition earns its off-road cred starting with the 33-inch Toyo Open Country AT tires which were designed and spec’d specifically for the GX. The new front end significantly improved the approach angle. Lexus even made the lower front bumper removable, knowing that some owners would immediately replace it with a proper skid plate.
Inside, the Overtail features more bolstered front seats to keep people in place on the trail. The 3-row seats are gone to save weight and open up the rear to more cargo space. Center and rear locking differentials coupled with Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control functions should boost off-road capability to Defender-level traction control.
All in, the Lexus GX 550 shown here starts at $75,900 and as spec’d, comes in at $79,400. In other words, it’s starting to run up against the Defender in terms of price. Is the Lexus GX now the Defender’s off-roading equal? You could argue that it is in terms of luxury. We’ll find out in the coming days if it is an off-road winner. Until then, enjoy a complete walk around of the new GX Luxury Plus and Overtrail in the videos below.
