The 2024 Lexus GX 550: Polished and Posh With a Rugged Old Soul

The thing about the Lexus GX is and always has been that is meets us where we are. Whether you’re hitting the back country, sneaking in a pedicure during lunch break, or loading it down with a carpool full of kids and sports equipment, the GX 550 caters to you.

See how the 2024 Lexus GX compares to the prior model design.

It’s a many-layered, multi-faceted luxury SUV, but it’s not confused about its core identity as a luxury badged off-roading machine. Sure, we may never need the ability to rumble along the trail or crawl a rock face. It’s fine if we’re content with a posh driving experience on the way to the store. But there’s something particularly compelling about a 3-row luxury SUV with seriously capable 4WD and intentional design – regardless of whether you are driving to the mall or to the mountains.

The GX has about 45 cubic feet of space in the Overtrail cargo area, about 40 cubic feet behind the 2nd row in the 3-row model and about 10 cubic feet behind the 3rd row.

The Lexus GX 550 comes in 6 flavors: Premium, Luxury and Overtrail, each with a  “+” edition that adds more features and options. This new Lexus SUV costs between $64,250 – $81,250, which aligns with competitors in the segment. See more on what’s new in our first look video.

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For more adventure and deeper tracks, opt for the new Overtrail edition. You’ll need to stick to 5 passengers in that trim; it is not (yet) offered in a 3-row configuration. The Overtrail and Overtrail+ attract buyers who are into serious off-roading. There’s a factory skid plate (also available on other trims), an off-road tuned suspension, chunky 33″ all-terrain tires wrapped around 18″ alloy wheels. Plus, the GX 550 Overtrail features locking rear and center differentials, Multi-Terrain Select off-road drive modes and Crawl Control for off-road cruise control.

A Girls Guide to Cars and Connie Peters put the Overtrail trim to the test on a course and trails at the White Stallion Ranch in Tucson. The GX did not disappoint: “I’m taken aback at how one car, a luxury family SUV, can feel so abundantly luxurious and cocoon-like and yet perform off-road the way it does.”

Watch some articulation and hill climb and descent in our video.

The Lexus GX 550 is for the off-roading family that plans to put that 4 wheel drive to good use. It boasts plenty of features oriented specifically toward off-road driving in addition to top notch luxury for the long haul.

Things like a lever shifter, centrally located off-road controls and grab bars still feel very “GX.” But the new multimedia touch screen with a static climate control panel that is simple to locate and use gives a modern feel, as do the radio volume and temperature controls are actual dials so they can be quickly accessed. 

Overall, controls sit lower on the dashboard for better visibility and a clear view of the road, something both driver and passengers will definitely notice.

The classic feel is certainly maintained by the lever gear selector that fits nicely in your hand; no push buttons here. Four wheel drive controls sit just below the gear shifter, and drive mode controls, which include normal, eco and sport, are on an angled panel above. Tap “MTS” and the dial switches to off-road modes. Tap DAC for crawl control, essentially cruise control for off-roading.

Is the new 2024 Lexus GX 550 a safe SUV? Crash test results for this new off-roader aren’t up on the IIHS for this model year yet. That said, every model comes loaded with standard with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 with:

• Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and intersection support
• Road sign assist (displays traffic signs)
• Lane-keeping
• Adaptive cruise control by radar, including curve speed management
• Lane departure warning and steering assist
• Intelligent high beams
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert

Available for $620 USD, drivers on city streets might appreciate the optional Traffic Jam Assist, which includes front cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and driver attention monitoring.

Most would likely say that the Premium or Luxury models have plenty to offer – even as off-roaders. But where their interest truly lie is in catering to comfort for daily driving.

Related: Lexus LX 600 Luxury SUV: Go Big and Go Fancy 

The Premium model features full time 4WD, leatherette seating for 7, 6 USB ports and an household outlet, running boards, power lift gate, moonroof, tow hitch, tow mode, the 14” touch screen multimedia system, 12” driver display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, premium sound, 20” wheels and the full Lexus Safety System suite of driver assist and safety features, is priced from $64,250.

Premium + adds a power 3rd row, power steering wheel, heated second row outboard seats, ambient lighting, power rear gate motion sensor, and a wireless phone charger, is priced from $69,250

The Luxury GX 550 model has leather seating, massaging front seats, second row sun shades, illuminated door sills, puddle lamps, 22” wheels, and has a 7,800 lbs. tow capacity, is priced from $77,250

Luxury + gives the new GX a panoramic sun roof, cool box console, Mark Levinson premium sound system, digital rear view mirror, automatic running boards and adaptive suspension starts at $81,250

Related: Road Test: 2024 Lexus GX 550 Is Still the Classic We’ve Always Loved

Leather seating and interior trim feels great and even extends to the covers over the two lower anchor LATCHes; they are covered by a leather (or leatherette) panel with a velcro closure. Outboard seats are 19” deep and 22” wide; the middle seat is 14” wide. This means making the center bench roomy for most, and kids car seats should fit nicely.

Related Video: The 2024 Lexus GX 550 Luxury+ in Incognito

The large center row bench should also easily fit 3 seats across (provided they are properly sized). One or two rear-facing car seats should also fit. Seat back-to-seat back measurements came to 32” behind the driver’s seat when it was set for a someone who is 5’8” tall. This means a rear facing seat should fit easily behind the passenger’s seat with the middle seat being a possible option as well. Forward facing car seats will fit in all seats but keep in mind two things: Center row seats fold and tumble for 3rd row access, which makes having a car seat in that seat a challenge; and there are two full sets of LATCH anchors and tethers in the GX, both in the center row.

In our 2024 Lexus GX 550 review, we note that “the middle seat in the center row bench is really only suited for small passengers, perhaps in a car seat or booster. The center console covers part of the transmission tunnel, leaving no foot space for a middle seat passenger.”

GX’s full time 4 wheel drive (which is standard on all models), 349 HP and 479 lb.-ft of torque under foot is produced by a V6 twin turbo engine. All that power is what moves you so quickly, and it makes you feel strong and confident. Losing the V8 is a big change, but we didn’t find ourselves missing it one bit.

To make room for your gear, the GX 550 Overtrail model isn’t equipped with a 3rd row, though it’s available on all the other models in the lineup. The cargo area has about 40 cubic feet of space, plenty of room for luggage and gear if you go camping. Need to make room in your budget for gear and customization? This 2024 Lexus GX 550 iteration is comparatively well priced at $69,250, which is only $5K over the base version.

Depending on how many are climbing into this capable crawler, it’s an excellent choice for a wide range of families shopping for a luxury SUV. With safety features stacked, off-road options, and the choice between 2 and 3 rows, the all-new 2024 GX 550 Overtrail and its counterparts can get y’all where you need to go – even if there’s no road to get there. Just remember that the Overtrail model only comes as a 2 row SUV, so you might have to be picky about who you choose to bring along.