Lexus goes all in on Australia, rolling out what seems like an infinite stream of latest fashions to cater for each phase.
Not solely is it bringing new folks into the model, it’s additionally slowly decreasing the model’s common proprietor age as youthful individuals are focused with small, family-friendly SUVs.
The newest cab off the rank is the all-new 2024 Lexus GX, which shares a platform with the bigger Lexus LX, Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and the upcoming Toyota LandCruiser Prado – however gives a decidedly Lexus take.
How a lot does the Lexus GX value?
Pricing for the Lexus GX is but to be introduced for the Australian market.
As we’ve previously reported, pricing is anticipated to kick off from round $110,000 earlier than on-road prices for the entry-level Luxurious variant.
What’s the Lexus GX like on the within?
The inside of the GX is completely different to some other Lexus we’ve seen earlier than – and that’s not a foul factor.
As an alternative of going to city with woodgrain and the kinds of stuff you’d discover in Lexuses of yesteryear, Lexus has gone down the utilitarian path – straight traces, soft-touch plastics and a utilitarian vibe is the order of occasions contained in the cabin.
However you’ll nonetheless discover a lot of luxuries. The highest-spec Sports activities Luxurious model we examined included an electrically charged roof that may seamlessly transfer between opaque and clear nearly immediately on the push of a button. Likewise a set of facet steps fold out from the underside of the door to make entry and exit simpler.
Then after all there’s issues like a fridge, heated and cooled seats and a litany of four-wheel drive controls that I’ll run you thru shortly.
The GX can even be included within the Lexus Encore program (though this system degree is but to be confirmed) with advantages that stretch past simply possession of the automobile.
Central to the cabin is a 14-inch infotainment system – it contains wi-fi smartphone mirroring, together with AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio. Relying on specification, patrons can go for a 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, with normal audio coming within the type of a 10-speaker Panasonic sound system decrease down within the vary.
There’s even the choice of a noise cancellation system that makes use of three microphones mounted inside the cabin and performs audio that cancels out undesirable frequencies through a separate amplifier. Issues like street noise and engine noise will be subdued with the system energetic.
Forward of the motive force is a customisable show that doubles as a four-wheel drive info display whilst you’re off-roading. Lastly there’s a big 10-inch head-up show for extra journey, velocity and navigation info.
Let’s discuss house. The entrance row is spacious – stacks of room to stretch out with very cozy seats. There are a variety of color choices accessible to select from too, making the inside fairly customisable.
Second row house is sweet too for adults. Knee and toe room is sweet, likewise head room. You’ll discover creature comforts like USB-C connectivity and heated seats for the outboard positions, together with privateness blinds and privateness glass.
Relying on the specification, the automobile will be configured from the manufacturing unit as a five-, six- or seven-seat automobile. The six-seater gives a detachable centre cup holder part to permit simple move via to the third row.
The third row alternatively isn’t nearly as good. And this appears to be a standard trait of automobiles on the TNGA-F platform – we’ve noticed the identical situation with the LX and 300 Collection – the place it’s fairly cramped again there.
Getting in is troublesome for adults, as is discovering a cushty place. The second row solely folds and tumbles and doesn’t slide on rails to permit extra house, which in the end compromises the usability of the third row for adults.
Youngsters alternatively received’t have any points, and to be frank, youngsters are those most certainly to be utilizing the third row. Again there you’ll discover USB connectivity together with cup holders and air vents.
The boot has a intelligent twin-opening association. The glass door part opens, together with the total cargo door. Below the cargo flooring you’ll discover extra storage with a full-sized spare situated underneath the rear of the automobile.
Within the boot you’ll additionally discover a 400W energy outlet for powering auxiliary units.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
All Lexus GX 550 variants are powered by the identical 3.4-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine, which produces a claimed 260kW of energy and 650Nm of torque – representing will increase of 110kW and 150Nm over the upcoming Prado’s 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with 48V mild-hybrid help.
Drive is distributed to all 4 wheels via a 10-speed automated transmission, which options low-range gearing and a locking centre Torsen differential. Overtrail variants additionally decide up a rear differential lock.
Whereas the Lexus GX 550 Luxurious and Overtrail boast a 3500kg braked towing capability, the Sports activities Luxurious has a lowered capability of 3130kg. It’s a bit complicated as a result of the identical automobiles characteristic a 4000kg braked and 3500kg braked towing capability for the North American market.
It’s price noting that each one GX variants, no matter spec, include an built-in tow receiver and brake controller, which is situated simply beneath the steering wheel. It means you don’t have to spend cash on a expensive brake controller for those who determine you wish to tow down the monitor.
Whereas the engine is identical capability and options a lot of the similar elements because the bigger Lexus LX, it has been detuned to distinguish itself from its bigger sibling.
Gas consumption figures are but to be confirmed for any market, however we anticipate the GX to be pretty thirsty given it’s a non-hybridised twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine. Utilizing the LX as a information, we anticipate gas financial system to sit down someplace between 11-12 litres of gas per 100km.
How does the Lexus GX drive?
Earlier than we run via how the GX drives, it’s price mentioning what lives beneath the pores and skin.
The GX sits on a ladder-frame chassis. Up entrance it makes use of impartial suspension with double wishbones, whereas the rear differs from rivals just like the Land Rover Defender by utilising a dwell axle as a substitute of impartial rear suspension.
This setup permits extra wheel articulation over the previous-generation GX, in addition to the fitment of wheels as much as 22-inches in diameter and tyres as much as 33-inches in measurement.
Whereas the bottom specification makes use of passive damping, Overtrail and Sports activities Luxurious variants include adaptive damping. The Overtrail additionally makes use of e-KDSS (a brand new electronically managed model of the earlier era automobile’s kinetic dynamic suspension system setup that gives an additional 83mm of wheel articulation).
Kick the engine over and there’s a pleasant thrum because it sits idle. There’s even a lightweight exhaust observe at idle that alerts there’s one thing happening underneath the bonnet – it’s not loopy, however it’s a nice shock.
The ten-speed automated transmission is a intelligent gearbox too. It was designed to be totally locked up as typically as attainable all through its rev band – this totally locked-up state makes the automobile really feel extra responsive and extra like a guide automobile, with the engine straight driving the driveline with no slip.
In Sport mode that is amplified even additional the place the automobile forces itself to stay totally locked at speeds above 3km/h. So in Sport mode, there’s a direct connection between the throttle and chassis really feel – it’s fairly a rewarding expertise and makes the automobile really feel fairly sporty.
Low-speed driving is quiet and cozy. Even the non-adaptive entry-level variant gives a cushty trip on 20-inch alloy wheels – it soaks up bumps properly and isn’t too fussed by potholes and cobblestoned roads.
It’s price noting our take a look at route across the roads exterior of Tucson in Arizona had been pretty clean and there weren’t quite a lot of corners to push the GX anyplace close to its limits.
Street noise is subdued, even on the Overtrail specification – which rides on all-terrain tyres, that may be fairly noisy on the freeway.
Visibility is great, particularly when it’s paired with the digital rear view mirror. The driving place is commanding and the oblong wing mirrors supply respectable imaginative and prescient down the edges of the automobile, with a blind-spot monitor built-in.
We did discover the motive force distraction monitor fairly annoying. It will typically attempt to remind us to maintain our eyes on the street, even when our eyes had been glued to the street. It additionally sometimes got here up with messages asking us to sit down up – although our seating place hadn’t moved.
Of the corners we did discover, the GX remained pretty flat, however once more the decrease velocity limits and huge sweeping bends weren’t actually an correct illustration of the number of roads you’ll discover throughout Australia.
Variations of the GX with larger 22-inch wheels and low-profile tyres additionally rode properly. The adaptive damping system has a lot of modes to select from that each one fluctuate the trip high quality ultimately.
We discovered the Consolation setting fairly good, however we wish to see the way it fares on the proving floor once we get the GX in Australia. We’ve skilled dealing with points beforehand with LX and 300 Collection variants fitted with each KDSS and adaptive damping, so it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if the GX fares the identical approach.
One factor you’ll love is how a lot punch is on supply from the V6 petrol engine. The gearbox is fast to answer inputs and the slab of torque on supply from the drivetrain is addictive.
It feels a lot extra thrilling to drive than a diesel and for those who’re joyful to pay a bit further to cowl the gas value, it’s a ripper drivetrain for this platform.
Let’s chat about off-road driving, one thing that GX house owners are anticipated to do in the event that they go down the trail of the Overtrail variant.
The numbers are spectacular – strategy angle is available in at 26 levels, departure at 23 levels (or 21 for the Overtrail as a result of bigger spare tyre beneath the rear). Floor clearance is 220mm (or 225mm for the Overtrail) and wading depth is 700mm.
Normal digital tools contains crawl management, centre differential lock (Torsen), rear differential lock on Overtrail and low-range gearing on all variants.
We had the possibility to pattern GX throughout a lot of purpose-built obstacles on the launch. These included an offset mogul to push articulation to its limits, steep gravel climbs to check crawl management, together with a lot of obstacles designed to check the digital camera methods.
Color-coded traces are displayed on the display to point out wheel journey, together with digital camera reminiscence to supply synthetic imaginative and prescient of what’s beneath the automobile. All of those views are fairly helpful for varied terrain.
Throttle management off-road is nice, and it comes right down to the calibration supplied in every drive mode. Relying on the mode you’re in, the automobile will tailor the soundness management and throttle sensitivity to go well with the circumstances.
Over the offset mogul the quantity of wheel carry that was achieved because of the KDSS system was wonderful. It really works by utilizing hydraulics which might be pushed by load on every nook of the automobile. When there’s a wheel that falls right into a rut and reaches full extension, the system is ready to disconnect the anti-roll bar to permit the wheel to carry even additional.
With out KDSS and with an anti-roll bar, the GX would have much less articulation as a result of limitations of the anti-roll system. The system not solely works in idea, however it works in observe and delivers wonderful outcomes. When coupled with the rear differential lock, lifting a wheel off the bottom on the rear doesn’t have an effect on the automobile’s traction.
Evidently, all of it felt extremely succesful. Given these media occasions are engineered to focus on the automobile’s finest components, we’ll reserve remaining judgement for once we get the Lexus GX again dwelling in Australian take a look at circumstances.
What do you get?
GX 550 Luxurious highlights:
- 20-inch alloy wheels (with a full-size spare)
- Self-levelling LED headlights
- Rear privateness glass
- Rear spoiler
- Flush roof rails
- 8-way power-adjustable entrance seats
- Heated, ventilated entrance seats
- Heated outboard rear seats
- 60:40-split folding rear seats
- Push-button folding third-row seats
- Tri-zone local weather management
- Head-up show
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14-inch infotainment display
- Wi-fi, wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- 10-speaker sound system
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- 5 x USB-C ports
- 12-volt entrance and 220-volt rear retailers
- Energy tailgate with fold-out glass hatch
- 9 airbags
- Tyre strain monitoring system
- 360-degree digital camera
GX 550 Overtrail provides:
- Black 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres
- Wheel arch mouldings
- Distinctive bumpers
- Black trim highlights
- Bridge-type roof rails
- Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS)
- Locking rear differential
- Digital Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (eKDSS)
- Multi-Terrain Choose off-road traction management system
- Multi-Terrain Monitor
- Downhill help management
- ‘Multi-stage’ Crawl Management
- Olive inexperienced Ultrasuede entrance seat accents and stitching
- Stiffer bases, softer bolstering
- ‘Distinctive door ornamentation’
- Good key
- Refrigerated cool field
- Removes third row seats
GX 550 Sports activities Luxurious provides (over Luxurious):
- 22-inch alloy wheels
- Adaptive high-beam
- Energy-extending facet steps
- Panoramic glass roof
- Adaptive variable suspension
- 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Therapeutic massage perform for entrance seats
- Semi-aniline leather-accented trimmed seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Digital rear-view mirror
- 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system
- Palms-free energy tailgate
- Refrigerated coolbox
Is the Lexus GX secure?
Neither the brand new Lexus GX or Toyota LandCruiser Prado (250 Collection) have been crash examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
The associated Toyota LandCruiser 300 Collection does, nevertheless, wear a 2022-stamped five-star ANCAP safety rating. Given the GX and Prado share the identical TNGA-F platform, and ought to be decked out with the most recent and best security and help options Toyota has to supply, we anticipate them to realize related outcomes.
How a lot does the Lexus GX value to run?
Lexus covers its vary with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
The Lexus Encore ownership plan included at buy additionally incorporates three years of roadside help. It’s unclear whether or not the GX will get the usual Encore advantages or the posher Encore Premium plan just like the LX.
Lexus Australia hasn’t confirmed service pricing for the GX 550 but, although as a information the LX 600 with the identical twin-turbo V6 (although with the next tune) asks for $495 per go to for the primary three years or 60,000km.
It’s price noting the LX requires upkeep both six months or 10,000 kilometres – whichever comes first.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Lexus GX
I went into this take a look at considering I’d just like the GX primarily based on its fundamentals – a punchy turbocharged V6 petrol engine, stacks of normal tools, and off-road functionality significantly in Overtrail trim.
I got here away liking it lots greater than I assumed I’d. I appreciated the Luxurious and Sports activities Luxurious variations, however for me the Overtrail is properly and really the decide.
It appears sensational in particular person and comes with all of the tools it’s essential to take it off-road after you’ve pushed out of the dealership.
Within the US the GX is obtainable with a stack of ARB aftermarket equipment – and confidently we’ll see this vary of apparatus supplied in Australia down the monitor too.
For those who’re curious about one, I’d get in fast good. These are prone to promote out forward of the launch and can little doubt have prolonged wait instances – hit up our Buy a Car service to be linked with a vendor.
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