From a physique perspective, the Toyota Land Cruiser and 2024 Lexus GX are principally the identical automobile. The variations are largely beauty. That applies inside, too, as seating positions and underlying hard-point issues like air vent positions are the identical. However! You’ll observe that the Land Cruiser is simply obtainable with two rows and subsequently a five-passenger capability, whereas the GX will be had with both a two- or three-row configuration.
There are completely different causes for these configurations, nevertheless. The GX Premium and Luxurious trims come customary as a three-row, whereas the Overtrail is two-row as a result of Lexus decided that trim could be most fascinating for overlanders who would worth an additional 5 cubic toes of cargo house over a third-row seat. Lexus had already heard protests about this determination again in January once we drove the GX for the primary time. A 3-row Overtrail possibility looks as if a sure-thing for the longer term. The Land Cruiser, however, is two-row solely as a result of there fairly merely is not room within the again for a 3rd row. Its customary hybrid powertrain negates it as a result of the battery has to go someplace and that someplace is precisely the place the third row would go. (For the very same cause, you will not be capable to get a three-row 2025 Toyota 4Runner with a hybrid powertrain.)
Above left is the Land Cruiser. Above proper is the GX Premium+ with its third row eliminated.
You need to be capable to see that the 2 areas usually are not the identical.
As you possibly can see above, the battery raises the ground by 4 inches. This ends in a type of stage-like answer.
The GX Premium’s third row additionally raises the load ground over the two-row Overtrail (above proper), nevertheless it’s rather a lot more durable to inform. Word that the load sill is angled like a ramp, as is the trailing fringe of the carpet past. The Overtrail’s sill is flat and even with the ground past. The Land Cruiser’s sill appears to be the identical piece because the Overtrail’s, however will get the extra abrupt stage-like ground as a substitute.
So which loss is bigger? The GX ramp or the Land Cruiser stage?
I feel the numbers inform that story. The three-row GX has 40.2 cubic-feet of cargo house behind its second row. The Land Cruiser has 37.5. Benefit ramp.
At the very least the stage permits for this skinny little bit of coated storage. I do not assume it is particularly helpful, nevertheless it does exist.
OK, now let’s get the baggage in right here.
As with each Baggage Take a look at, I exploit two midsize curler suitcases that might should be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 large, 11 deep), two black roll-aboard suitcases that simply barely match within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller inexperienced roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally embody my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).
Yeah, I do know, this is not useful. There is a cause I normally do not do baggage checks with two-row midsize SUVs — I haven’t got sufficient stuff to constantly fill them up.
If something, I might say the abrupt fringe of the stage made it simpler to maintain the inexperienced bag in place, whereas it was tipping a bit within the GX. However actually, that is all I bought. Each have actually large cargo areas behind the second row.
Their tailgates additionally each have flip-up glass parts for longer objects to poke out or, as I found with the GX, accessing stuff within the cargo space whenever you’ve mounted a motorcycle to the trailer hitch.
And yet another factor. Though the Land Cruiser doesn’t have a 3rd row, it nonetheless has cup- and machine holders, USB-C ports, and seize handles to assist hoist your self again there, and latches within the second-row seat again to slip it ahead. That is what you name vestigial.
