2024 Lexus GX Knows What It’s Supposed to Be
Lexus has finally shown the brand-new GX midsize SUV for 2024 and it’s leaning hard into its status as an off-road vehicle. Whereas the previous generation offered something a little more brutish looking than your typical Lexus utility vehicle, the new model is about as butch as luxury vehicles come. The only way the manufacturer could have been more clear about what this vehicle was about would be if it put a giant decal on the side that read “BODY-ON FRAME 4X4 FOR DIRT PLEASE.”
The premium brick will be launched as the GX550 offering a 3.4-liter,
twin-turbo V6 with 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. Though a hybrid variant is supposed to come later on, presumably akin to the powertrain found in the Sequoia iForce Max — which uses the same V6 and pairs it with an all-electric motor to produce a combined 437 hp and 583 pound-feet of torque.
Odds are good it’ll offer better fuel efficiency and presumably the ability to drive the SUV as a battery-only automobile for short distances. We’d imagine reliability on the hybrid won't be quite so bulletproof as the unaided V6. But with the company suggesting just 17 mpg (combined), some drivers might be inclined to go with the hybrid. Regardless, we’ll have to see what Toyota’s luxury arm cooks up and how much it’s going to cost.
All-wheel drive is predictably obligatory and the GX likewise comes with a center-locking differential and adaptive dampers. Independent front suspension and a solid rear axle are likewise standard, with Lexus featuring its Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) that’s now electronically controllable.
The 2024 GX will be offered in six trims: Premium, Premium Plus, Luxury, Luxury Plus, and the all-new Overtrail and Overtrail Plus.
Customers hoping to tackle the gnarliest of trails will undoubtedly be browsing the Overtrail models, as they bake in the most hardcore features for a would-be ORV. However, Lexus hasn’t yet issued the full details on the differences between trims.
While the next-generation GX is already 3.74 inches wider than the previous model, the Overland pushes the wheels out almost another inch, and features a rear locking differential, hardcore skid plates, and 18-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch all-terrain tires.
Customers will also be happy to learn that Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control (DAC), and 3D Multi-Terrain Monitor systems are standard on all GX Overtrail models.
Though even the base GX is supposed to be a better offroader than its predecessor. The A-pillar has been pulled back for increased visibility and the front overhang has been decreased by 0.78 inches for improved clearance. Still, it’s a larger vehicle overall and that could make it a little harder to get down particularly narrow trails with low-hanging tree limbs.
The interior showcases even bigger changes. However, this is undoubtedly due to just how long the old GX had been around. There's a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’ll be used to handle most tasks. But some physical controls have been retained. For example, the HVAC system seems to use knobs and (touch-sensitive) buttons. Most of the terrain management features (including differentials) also seem to have dedicated buttons of their own.
We’d like to have seen more physical ways to interface with the GX. But we don’t yet know how Lexus has everything set up and the company is claiming that its voice command has been improved significantly.
Towing capacity has increased to 8,000 pounds for Premium, Premium+, and Overtrail grades with the standard tow hitch. The rest of the GX line should be just shy of 7,000 pounds. There should also be a fair bit of customizability between trims, with the Overtrail coming with plenty of unique touches the others lack.
For 2024, the Lexus Safety System Plus 3.0 comes standard on every GX sold. That means owners will get Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection, All-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Road Sign Assist (RSA) and Proactive Driving Assist (PDA).
Pricing is TBD until Lexus says otherwise. The previous generation started just below $60,000 and we’d love to see that remain the case. But we’re under the impression that’s wishful thinking. With manufacturers raising prices almost everywhere, we’d be shocked if Lexus introduced the imported GX for the same rates as the outgoing model.
[Images: Toyota/Lexus]
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Consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulations. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, he has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed about the automotive sector by national broadcasts, participated in a few amateur rallying events, and driven more rental cars than anyone ever should. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and learned to drive by twelve. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer and motorcycles.
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The wheel openings look too much like those on a GMC Sierra HD pickup.
They spent millions of dollars to design a new engine and it doesn't really get any better fuel mileage than than the previous engine? Whats the matter with Toyota engineers? Of course, the idiots had to make it bigger and heavier, when the thing was already too big for serious off road use. SMH.