The 2024 Lexus GX 550 goes for Land Rover’s throat with a compelling, capable, SUV that costs less and historically speaking will be more reliable.
We’ll just file that under things we didn’t see coming in 2024.is new. This year, the body-on-frame SUV arrives on a new platform, with fewer cylinders and more modern technology, all in a sharply creased and attractive package.on- and off-road outside Tucson, Arizona, I came to one conclusion above all others. Land Rover dealers should be nervous.An SUV. Gone are the subtle curves or any semblance of a soft edge. The GX 550 is an upright brick with throwback design cues and slab sides.
The GX won’t win any efficiency contests, but it’s better than the outgoing V-8 with estimated fuel economy ratings of 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, 17 mpg combined. In my abbreviated exposure it was hard to get a true sense of the GX’s real-world fuel economy, but it was clear that around town, if the driver keeps their foot out of the power, the turbos won’t spool often. In those situations, it seems the powertrain is capable of averaging in the mid-20s.
The most comfortable GX is the Overtrail. That’s due in part to the adaptive dampers, but mostly it’s from downsizing to 18-inch wheels and thick 33-inch Toyo Open Country tires. The tires provide a 10-mm wider track on Overtrail models. Lexus spokespeople confirmed 35s will not fit without rubbing or other issues in stock form. Despite their chunky appearance, the all-terrain tires don’t howl on dry pavement.
Every GX can wade in up to 27.56 inches of water, according to Lexus. We didn’t go anywhere nearly that deep. The most technical course we tackled was flooded out by rare rainstorms in Tucson just before my arrival. But I was able to put the GX through its paces on some articulation exercises where it was extremely composed. Engaging the 2-speed transfer case requires the flick of a switch and introduces gear whine as the reduction gears multiply the torque.
While wide second-row captain’s seats are an option, I found the bench seat to be more comfortable despite its overly flat seat bottom. The captain’s chairs have airplane-style flip down armrests that I struggled to set to a comfortable position. The second row features reclining seat backs that will be welcome on road trips. Due to the body-on-frame packaging, the second-row seats hug the rear axle.
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