The latest generation is anything but bland, but handles curvy roads, has power, and the interior cockpit design is user-friendly.

By Keith Griffin

It’s not uncommon for an SUV to look rugged, but it is only capable of tackling gravel roads. Such is the case with the Lexus GX 550. It can handle almost any challenges while delivering a high level of luxury.

The GX 550 was completely redesigned for 2024 from the ground up. It was long overdue. The GX was first introduced in 2002 and never really broke out from the Lexus design philosophy of bland being beautiful.

Not so with the latest generation. The first thing worth noting is the SUV’s looks. While driving the GX 550 for this review at the end of the 2024 model year, I was stopped by a number of people who wanted to photograph it inside and out. The GX 550 has the sharp exterior lines of a Defender combined with probably the nicest interior this side of a Bentley Bentayga.

The GX shares the GA-F platform introduced on the current-generation LX 600. This strong and lightweight ladder frame increases body rigidity and improves on-road handling. The combination sometimes doesn’t work, but that’s not true with the GX. It confidently handled curvy roads.

A newly developed double-wishbone front suspension is paired with a multi-link rear suspension to achieve both a high level of off-road driving performance and on-road prowess. An available adaptive variable suspension constantly adjusts damping forces based on changing road conditions. GX also features electronic power steering, providing enhanced steering feel on and off-road.

2025 Lexus GX Overtrail. Courtesy photo

Performance

The GX also doesn’t lack power. It comes in two powertrain options. The standard GX model has a competent and efficient twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed direct shift automatic transmission, with an improved EPA-estimated highway fuel economy rating of 21 MPG.

The twin-turbo V6 produces 349 horsepower, outperforming the previous generation V8’s 301 horsepower, and torque output also rises to a massive 479 lb.-ft. The twin turbochargers deliver steady and consistent acceleration, allowing for easy control of power delivery in both on- and off-road scenarios. Towing capacity has increased to up to 9,063 lbs. for Premium and Premium+ grades and 9,096 lbs. for the Overtrail grade with the standard tow hitch.

2025 Lexus GX Overtrail. Courtesy photo

Interior

As Lexus puts it, “The all-new GX presents customers with the duality required of a [midsize] luxury SUV – a rugged, capable exterior with the luxurious interior elements that help to create a road-trip oasis.” Featuring the driver-focused cockpit design also seen in the all-new RX, the all-new GX exhibits thoughtful elements that allow the driver the confidence to focus on the journey ahead.

A substantial improvement over the last-generation model is the all-new, lower horizontal instrument panel design, which extends into the dash for a simplified driver and passenger seat experience, providing excellent front and side visibility. It provides a clean, open space that connects the available head-up display to the center, where the standard 14-inch multimedia touchscreen display with Lexus Interface technology is located.

Physical dials for frequently used controls, such as air conditioning and audio volume, remain, and all available off-road controls are concentrated near the gear shifter to help minimize potential driver distraction. Maybe it’s my age, but I really appreciate physical dials. They are so much easier to use while driving.

2025 Lexus GX Premium. Courtesy photo

Safety

All GX models come standard with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, an integrated suite of active safety equipment and convenience features.

Among the most significant is the pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. It is designed to help detect a vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist and provide an audio/visual forward collision warning under certain circumstances. If the driver does not react, the system is designed to provide automatic emergency braking at speeds between approximately 7 and 110 mph. The system uses a camera and millimeter-wave radar for enhanced performance and reliability.

MSRP

The base-level 2025 Lexus GX 550 has a starting price of $65,585.

Longtime West Hartford resident Keith Griffin is a veteran auto journalist whose work has been published in U.S. News & World Report, The Boston Globe and online for various New York Times companies. He is a past president of the New England Motor Press Association.

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