Lexus… Its cars are at home in the golf club car park, but seriously, would you drive one? Now? Absolutely. Before? Hmm… The reason for the change of heart is the all-new Lexus GX550 SUV.
Sharing its underpinnings with the all-new Toyota Prado (more on that below), the GX has already won over US buyers thanks to its square-jawed good looks, serious luxury, and the kind of off-road potential you’d expect from a vehicle with ties to the tough 4x4s that helped build the Snowy River Hydro Scheme.
The GX550 is a New Look for Lexus
The GX550 previews the direction Toyota Corporation’s premium brand is headed. Gone is the odd ‘spindle grille’ styling that still plagues the front end of several aging Lexus models. Instead, there’s a chiselled face that achieves both the tough-truck look off-road buyers crave and the premium cues you’d expect. It’s properly squared-off, like a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen or INEOS Grenadier, yet brings its own flavour.
A sculpted bonnet says “power,” while the flat roof looks purpose-built to accept a heavy-duty expedition rack. The GX’s large, airy glasshouse and relatively slim pillars are nods to Toyota’s off-road legends, most of which wore a LandCruiser badge. It just looks right… and the beefier the hardware you bolt-on, the better — especially if we’re talking big US-spec wheel and tyre combos.
GX550 Performance: What’s Under the Bonnet and the Floor?
Beneath that rugged exterior lies some serious hardware. The GX550 shares a significant portion of its mechanicals with the Lexus LX and Toyota LandCruiser 300. Like the big Cruiser and all proper off-roaders, the GX550 uses body-on-frame construction and a version of the ladder-frame chassis.
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The GX550 has a unique suspension and a bespoke powertrain — a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 engine delivering a solid 260kW and 650Nm. That’s serious torque for a petrol V6, delivered low in the rev range, ideal for towing and off-road duties. Exercising the GX550’s 3500kg towing capacity should be easy work.
A 10-speed automatic transmission handles the shifting (with a manual mode if needed). Full-time four-wheel drive and a dual-range transfer case with a proper off-road reduction ratio also tick the right boxes for desert duellers. Lexus claims a 0-100km/h time of around 7 seconds on pavement and all the while, it’ll remain silky smooth and quiet — some Lexus attributes aren’t up for negotiation.
How Much Does the GX550 Cost? Well, There are 3 versions…
It’s a Lexus, so you’d expect modern luxuries and connectivity. Just a few years ago, Lexus lagged in this area, but not anymore. The GX and cars like the latest generation RX SUVs are now on point. In Australia, three GX550 versions are available, priced from around $130,000 to $145,000 driveaway.
The entry-level Luxury model is anything but basic. The top-of-the-range Sports Luxury includes an even more comprehensive equipment list, featuring some of the finest leather we’ve ever seen in a car — it even smells authentic. Both versions are seven-seaters, with a third row for the hangers-on… oops, I mean kids.
But the pick of the lineup — our choice and likely yours — is the adventure-oriented Lexus GX550 Overtrail: Equipped with Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) featuring the Aussie-developed eKDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System), an Electronic Rear Differential Lock, and a heavier-duty 240A alternator, it’s the Lexus SUV your mother warned you about. With five seats only, it rides on 18-inch alloys with proper all-terrain tyres rather than the 20-plus-inch rims of the Luxury and Sports Luxury models.
The Overtrail also gets the latest off-road tech. Lexus calls it Multi-Terrain Select, with six modes (Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, Rock, Deep Snow) to ensure even newbies don’t get stuck. There’s also Crawl Control and Downhill Assist Control for tackling steep or challenging terrain.
Is There a Cheaper Alternative to the GX550?
Perhaps the only chink in the GX550’s handsome, pearl-painted armour is its near-twin, the all-new Toyota Prado. Officially called the 250 Series, the Prado is essentially a slightly less glamorous GX550 and, for many, could be the better choice.
It’s cheaper by a margin, has similar big, brawny good looks, and a more economical turbo-diesel engine. Practical off-road tech and most of the must-have features of the GX are assured. At its heart, the new Prado is powered by an updated version of Toyota’s renowned 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, aided by a new 48V mild-hybrid system, similar to the setup in the popular HiLux.
Finally, for off-roaders with an eco-conscious bent, a proper petrol-electric hybrid option is also promised. The best of both worlds? Maybe — and the serious coin you save will surely fund the lift kit and big wheels the GX/250 Series is begging for.
