I’ve lengthy been enamored with Lexus SUVs, discovering the GX and LX to be distinctive in that they’re a few of the most dependable automobiles on the street, standing the take a look at of time. Usually sufficient, due to the sturdiness of the GX and LX, you discover a lot of them being modified to carry out hardcore off-roading duties. Such a notion has been observed by Lexus, and their reply to it’s automobiles like the brand new GX 550 Overtrail+, which I had a full week to take a look at.
The brand new Lexus GX is already a winner in my ebook, as I reviewed it final 12 months in its Luxurious+ trim. Strolling away, I used to be happy to discover a well-designed successor to the outgoing GX. With the whole redesign, the brand new GX goes about issues to pave a relatively distinctive path, one that will compete straight with automobiles like the brand new Land Rover Defender, however Lexus seemingly does their very own factor with the long-touted reliability facet – far past any Land Rover can dream.
So far as styling goes, the brand new Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ tends to show extra heads than I believed. Wearing its nice Nori Inexperienced Pearl paint, my take a look at car and its tall stature had some in new Defenders questioning in the event that they made the fallacious alternative as they have been on the best way to the service heart – once more. Lexus appears to have gotten issues proper for the boxy and nonetheless upright stature of the brand new GX.
Efficiency and Driving Character
Powering the brand new Lexus GX stays to be a singular process for the model’s new 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. That energy is distributed via a easy and smartly-shifting 10-speed automated transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive setup with a a two-speed switch case all through all trim ranges. Nonetheless, for the Overtrail+ trim in my possession this week it will get not solely a Torsen heart locking differential but in addition a rear locking differential, an digital kinetic dynamic suspension system (E-KDSS) that’s lifted 1 inch over different trims, and 33-inch all-terrain tires wrapping 18-inch wheels, giving it an edge for its off-roading prowess. Moreover, the Overtrail+ trim will get utility roof rails, making it straightforward to connect my take a look at car’s optionally available off-road roof rack, which occurs to supply an abundance of wind noise, and the choice of getting the facet rock rails as an possibility – additionally discovered on my take a look at car.
When it comes to efficiency on the street, the Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ does effectively in balancing its off-roading skills, but it provides you a easy and refined trip high quality whilst a body-on-frame SUV. A 0-60 mph run takes about 6.5 seconds, whereas the GX feels very effectively damped in its physique rigidity and steering really feel. Although that properly weighted feeling doesn’t translate effectively to its lateral dealing with, because the GX tends to roll about in laborious turns at pace, it seemingly has a properly tuned stability administration system to maintain issues principally in test when the all-terrain tires lose grip. The numerous drive modes and off-roading administration tech do wonders to assist conquer free terrain or adapt to your most well-liked trip high quality. Nonetheless, Consolation mode tends to place the E-KDSS in an excessively smooth setting the place the physique might drift round to the purpose of concern. In Regular mode, it feels excellent, and within the Sport mode or Custom-made mode to set the dampers within the agency Sport setting, issues tighten up, however to not the purpose of being jarring. In all, the GX 550 Overtrail+ is properly suited to delicately stability on the road of being a easy road-going SUV and one that may deal with some critical off-roading terrain with out being shy in carrying its luxurious badge.
Gasoline Financial system
Gasoline economic system is available in a bit wanting expectations, however after giving it a second thought, the EPA estimates of 15 mpg metropolis, 21 mpg freeway, and 17 mpg mixed make sense for the GX 550 Overtrail+ and its off-roading disposition. In spite of everything, you may have 33-inch knobby all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and that wind-noise-producing off-road roof rack to cope with. The 21.1-gallon gas tank stuffed with beneficial premium unleaded will yield a freeway cruising vary of about 443 miles.
Inside and Know-how
Contained in the cabin is usually what you anticipate out of a brand new Lexus, with the right refinement, together with impeccable match and end. The one small disappointment was that the higher door trim surfaces gave the impression to be tougher than they need to be for such a car. Nonetheless, the Lexus high quality exhibits via with the central focus being on the most recent 14-inch infotainment touchscreen that’s confirmed to be very easy in its operation, with a brief studying curve to beat.
The digital gauge cluster continues to be considerably of a complicated feat, however when you get issues arrange, you’re good to go. The seating areas are cozy, because the entrance heating, air flow, and massaging seats not solely look good with their many accents but in addition really feel good on lengthy journeys with out setting in fatigue. The one subject I’ve up entrance is the leg tunnel being considerably slim, and taller of us like myself, who’re effectively over 6 ft tall, find yourself with my legs hitting either side of the tunnel with no further room to unfold out. In any other case, the two-row setup on the Overtrail+ omits the third row, has good area, and a big cargo space amounting to only over 45 cubic ft with the rear seatbacks in place. Fold them down and also you’ll have simply over 90 cubic ft of storage. Additionally, you get to tow as a lot as 9,063 kilos within the GX 550 Overtrail+.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration might be paired up wirelessly or via a USB connection. I do like how Lexus (and Toyota) permit for the infotainment’s core features to be rapidly accessed on a set of perform icons on the left whereas Apple CarPlay is loaded – or you possibly can merely go fully full display screen for CarPlay. There’s a handy wi-fi smartphone charger as effectively simply behind the standard gear shifter lever.
Security
Security stays paramount for Lexus as they embrace all the anticipated lively security options, together with lane departure warning, lane hold help, blind spot monitoring, ahead collision warning/emergency braking, rear cross-path detection/emergency braking, adaptive cruise management, and even a ahead cross-path warning system that always turns into an annoyance whenever you’re an astute driver to start with. As soon as once more, I do benefit from the trick 360-degree encompass view digital camera system that information and overlays what’s beneath the car.
Pricing
The totality of what the brand new Lexus GX is all about retains with the custom of a body-on-frame midsized luxurious SUV that serves many functions, and within the Overtrail+ trim, can conquer less-traveled trails with luxurious appointments as well. With such, you’ll anticipate to pay slightly further, and that you just do with my take a look at car coming in at $86,365, which features a $1,450 supply, processing, and dealing with payment. Although a base GX 550 with the identical powertrain minus the additional locking rear differential and a number of different luxurious gear begins at $66,185 earlier than any charges or choices.
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Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of Automotive Addicts, a trusted voice within the automotive media world for over 20 years. With 20+ years of hands-on expertise overlaying the business, Malcolm has constructed a fame for delivering sincere critiques, sharp insights, and in-depth protection of every little thing from new automotive debuts to high-performance take a look at drives. Passionate in regards to the evolving automotive tradition and staying forward of the curve, Malcolm continues to steer Automotive Addicts as a go-to vacation spot for lovers and business insiders alike.
