2024 Lexus GX

Inside the upright dashboard is short and mounted close to the windshield. It’s functional and groups the off-road controls together for when adventure calls. The standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster can be washed out in direct sunlight, and the 14.0-inch touchscreen lacks the ability to split screen. Hope everyone likes a huge map. The controls are easier to use than the layered setup in the Land Rover Defender. It’ll take stepping up to the mid-trim Luxury model to swap synthetic leather for real cow hides.

How fast is the Lexus GX?

Compared to the old models, the latest GX is pretty darn quick. Lexus said the twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 rated at 349 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque will sprint the SUV from 0-60 mph in about 6.5 seconds. The turbo-6 hooks up to a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission.

The engine can moan at times, but it packs more punch that the old 301-hp V-8. The turbos spool quickly, but then wind down and the engine does an admirable job of staying out of the boost most of the time. Boost drinks gas.

Compared to the outgoing GX the latest iteration feels lighter on its rubber feet. The steering is light, but not over-boosted or sloppy. The GX doesn’t ride like the truck that it is despite being a body-on-frame SUV. Nobody will mistake this for a Grand Cherokee or Land Rover Defender, but the sum of its parts ride better than its truck-based siblings in Toyota’s lineup. Base Premium and Premium+ models ride on passive dampers and 20-inch wheels to deliver a comfortable and mostly controlled ride. Around corners there’s noticeable body lean. Luxury-oriented Luxury and Luxury+ models get larger 22-inch wheels and adaptive dampers that soften the ride in Comfort mode and firm things up in Sport and Sport+. Off-road Overtrail and Overtrail+ models are the most comfortable thanks to their smaller 18-inch wheels and larger 33-inch all-terrain tires paired with adaptive dampers that combine to absorb road imperfections. 

How much can the GX tow?

Originally expected to tow 8,000 pounds, Lexus recertified the GX with a tow rating of up to 9,063 pounds. Luxury+ models have the lowest tow rating at 7,601 pounds, due to their larger and heavier 22-inch wheels and more amenities adding weight. 

We’ve towed 5,000 pounds of fiberglass walleye boat with a Premium+ model rated to tow 9,041 pounds. The GX instilled confidence behind the wheel despite the load attached to the rear end. While the presence of a trailer was always felt, the GX was in control of the situation, even during most passing maneuvers. Tow Mode locked out the top two gears from the transmission to ensure the engine stayed in the power band. The powertrain managed to mostly stay out of the boost with the turbos resting the majority of the road trip except for when strong acceleration was called upon. It’s hard to imagine towing 9,000 pounds with the GX, but knowing it’s rated for such high loads instills confidence when hooking up lighter loads.

The standard bench seat is our preference despite being a bit flat. The available captain’s chairs have airplane-like flip down armrests that are harder to get a comfortable position with. The seat bottoms hug the rear axle and create a stadium-style seating arrangement. This places the second-row occupants higher than those seated in front. 

Every GX except the Overtrail model features a small third row with 32 inches of legroom. It’s hard to access and not comfortable. It’s decidedly the kid zone for short trips. 

WIth the third row folded, there’s 40.2 cubic feet of space, but it’s not completely flat. The floor slopes toward the rear of the vehicle as the third row attempts to fold itself onto the solid rear axle. With the third row up, cargo space drops to 10.3 cubic feet. The rear bumper is low, making for a nice, low, liftover height.

The cargo area no longer swings out but instead the tailgate flips up, like most other SUVs on the market. The rear glass can still pop up to put stuff in the back without opening the rear tailgate, but it’s a tall lift to get over the sheetmetal. 

Which Lexus GX should I buy?

Anyone looking to go off-road or be prepared for the worst weather will spend an extra $5,000 over the base model to jump into an Overtrail trim. This will net a locking rear differential, off-road drive modes, and downsize the wheels to 18s while wrapping them in 33-inch all-terrain rubber.

For everyone else, the Premium+ with a few cold-weather options and a 10.7-inch head-up display makes sense for $70,350. 

This still undercuts a comparable Land Rover Defender by thousands. Annoyingly, the Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio system isn’t an available option until stepping up to the $77,250 Luxury trim, where it’s a $1,140 option.

How much is a fully loaded Lexus GX?

That’ll be the GX 550 Luxury+ kitted out with leather-trimmed seats that have heating, cooling, and massaging up front, along with the a Cold Area Package, a head-up display, a tonneau cover for the rear cargo area, second-row captains chairs, and a digital key all for $83,895.