2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ Evaluation & Check Drive : Automotive Addicts
I’ve lengthy been enamored with Lexus SUVs, discovering the GX and LX to be distinctive in that they’re a few of the most dependable automobiles on the street, standing the take a look at of time. Usually sufficient, due to the sturdiness of the GX and LX, you discover a lot of them being modified to carry out hardcore off-roading duties. Such a notion has been observed by Lexus, and their reply to it’s automobiles like the brand new GX 550 Overtrail+, which I had a full week to take a look at.
The brand new Lexus GX is already a winner in my guide, as I reviewed it final yr in its Luxurious+ trim. Strolling away, I used to be happy to discover a well-designed successor to the outgoing GX. With the entire redesign, the brand new GX goes about issues to pave a quite distinctive path, one that will compete immediately with automobiles like the brand new Land Rover Defender, however Lexus seemingly does their very own factor with the long-touted reliability facet – far past any Land Rover can dream.
So far as styling goes, the brand new Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ tends to show extra heads than I assumed. Wearing its nice Nori Inexperienced Pearl paint, my take a look at automobile and its tall stature had some in new Defenders questioning in the event that they made the incorrect alternative as they have been on the way in which to the service middle – once more. Lexus appears to have gotten issues proper for the boxy and nonetheless upright stature of the brand new GX.
Efficiency and Driving Character
Powering the brand new Lexus GX stays to be a singular activity for the model’s new 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. That energy is distributed by means of a clean and smartly-shifting 10-speed automated transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive setup with a a two-speed switch case all through all trim ranges. Nonetheless, for the Overtrail+ trim in my possession this week it will get not solely a Torsen middle locking differential but additionally a rear locking differential, an digital kinetic dynamic suspension system (E-KDSS) that’s lifted 1 inch over different trims, and 33-inch all-terrain tires wrapping 18-inch wheels, giving it an edge for its off-roading prowess. Moreover, the Overtrail+ trim will get utility roof rails, making it simple to connect my take a look at automobile’s non-compulsory off-road roof rack, which occurs to provide an abundance of wind noise, and the choice of getting the facet rock rails as an choice – additionally discovered on my take a look at automobile.
By way of efficiency on the street, the Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ does effectively in balancing its off-roading skills, but it offers you a clean and refined experience high quality whilst a body-on-frame SUV. A 0-60 mph run takes about 6.5 seconds, whereas the GX feels very effectively damped in its physique rigidity and steering really feel. Although that properly weighted feeling doesn’t translate effectively to its lateral dealing with, because the GX tends to roll about in laborious turns at velocity, it seemingly has a properly tuned stability administration system to maintain issues largely in examine when the all-terrain tires lose grip. The numerous drive modes and off-roading administration tech do wonders to assist conquer unfastened terrain or adapt to your most well-liked experience high quality. Nonetheless, Consolation mode tends to place the E-KDSS in an excessively delicate setting the place the physique might drift round to the purpose of concern. In Regular mode, it feels excellent, and within the Sport mode or Custom-made mode to set the dampers within the agency Sport setting, issues tighten up, however to not the purpose of being jarring. In all, the GX 550 Overtrail+ is properly suited to delicately steadiness on the road of being a clean road-going SUV and one that may deal with some critical off-roading terrain with out being shy in sporting its luxurious badge.
Gas Economic system
Gas financial system is available in a bit wanting expectations, however after giving it a second thought, the EPA estimates of 15 mpg metropolis, 21 mpg freeway, and 17 mpg mixed make sense for the GX 550 Overtrail+ and its off-roading disposition. In spite of everything, you have got 33-inch knobby all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and that wind-noise-producing off-road roof rack to deal with. The 21.1-gallon gasoline tank stuffed with really helpful premium unleaded will yield a freeway cruising vary of about 443 miles.
Inside and Know-how
Contained in the cabin is usually what you anticipate out of a brand new Lexus, with the right refinement, together with impeccable match and end. The one small disappointment was that the higher door trim surfaces appeared to be tougher than they need to be for such a automobile. Nonetheless, the Lexus high quality exhibits by means of with the central focus being on the newest 14-inch infotainment touchscreen that’s confirmed to be very simple in its operation, with a brief studying curve to beat.
The digital gauge cluster continues to be considerably of a complicated feat, however when you get issues arrange, you’re good to go. The seating areas are comfortable, because the entrance heating, air flow, and massaging seats not solely look good with their many accents but additionally really feel good on lengthy journeys with out setting in fatigue. The one subject I’ve up entrance is the leg tunnel being considerably slender, and taller of us like myself, who’re effectively over 6 ft tall, find yourself with my legs hitting each side of the tunnel with no additional room to unfold out. In any other case, the two-row setup on the Overtrail+ omits the third row, has good area, and a big cargo space amounting to only over 45 cubic ft with the rear seatbacks in place. Fold them down and also you’ll have simply over 90 cubic ft of storage. Additionally, you get to tow as a lot as 9,063 kilos within the GX 550 Overtrail+.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration might be paired up wirelessly or by means of a USB connection. I do like how Lexus (and Toyota) permit for the infotainment’s core capabilities to be rapidly accessed on a set of operate icons on the left whereas Apple CarPlay is loaded – or you may merely go utterly full display for CarPlay. There’s a handy wi-fi smartphone charger as effectively simply behind the standard gear shifter lever.
Security
Security stays paramount for Lexus as they embrace all the anticipated lively security options, together with lane departure warning, lane hold help, blind spot monitoring, ahead collision warning/emergency braking, rear cross-path detection/emergency braking, adaptive cruise management, and even a ahead cross-path warning system that usually turns into an annoyance if you’re an astute driver to start with. As soon as once more, I do benefit from the trick 360-degree encompass view digicam system that information and overlays what’s beneath the automobile.
Pricing
The totality of what the brand new Lexus GX is all about retains with the custom of a body-on-frame midsized luxurious SUV that serves many functions, and within the Overtrail+ trim, can conquer less-traveled trails with luxurious appointments as well. With such, you’ll anticipate to pay a bit additional, and that you simply do with my take a look at automobile coming in at $86,365, which features a $1,450 supply, processing, and dealing with payment. Although a base GX 550 with the identical powertrain minus the additional locking rear differential and a whole lot of different luxurious tools begins at $66,185 earlier than any charges or choices.
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Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of Automotive Addicts, a trusted voice within the automotive media world for over 20 years. With 20+ years of hands-on expertise overlaying the business, Malcolm has constructed a fame for delivering trustworthy evaluations, sharp insights, and in-depth protection of all the things from new automobile debuts to high-performance take a look at drives. Passionate in regards to the evolving automobile tradition and staying forward of the curve, Malcolm continues to steer Automotive Addicts as a go-to vacation spot for fanatics and business insiders alike.
