There’s an all-new generation of Lexus GX on the way for 2024 and it features an off-road trim. Here’s what you need to know.
When Lexus was founded back in 1983 by the Toyota Motor Corporation it was a luxury division of the brand to meet the growing demand for high-quality vehicles in places like the United States and other international markets. Officially launched in 1989,the new luxury arm of the Toyota family has given European brands like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz firm competition in the luxury sector for decades, and its offerings have expanded beyond pure luxury vehicles to include sports cars and even SUVs.
The SUV category has grown dramatically in the last decade or so becoming a firm favorite of consumers in the last few years, and Lexus has catered to the widening demand with a full range of vehicles on offer in 2023 and beyond. The brand currently offers a choice of five SUVs, from the NX, UX, and RX luxury crossovers, up to the larger, more luxurious LX and GX models, and 2024 brings an all-new, fresh edition of the latter to the market with an exciting off-roading package in tow.
The 2024 Lexus GX is the first totally fresh version of the nameplate since 2010 and brings the vehicle into its third generation, but what is the Overtrail off-road trim that Lexus is promising, and will it actually make this comfortable luxury SUV a capable machine on rough and rugged terrain? Here’s what we know.
Performance:
Engine Type | Twin-Turbo 3.4-liter V6 |
Transmission | 10-Speed Automatic |
Torque | 479 lb-ft |
Horsepower | 349 hp |
Towing Capacity | 8,000 lbs (Overtrail) |
Fuel Economy | 17 mpg |
We’ll start with the exterior design, because, boy, has that had an upgrade! Modern, angular, and purposeful, the new GX seems to have taken a leaf out of the Land Rover Defender’s playbook in terms of its look with its Tonka toy-like shape and feel. The front of the vehicle is dominated by its large grille, similar to the Toyota Land Cruiser, and its sharp headlights, shaped like two pistols pointing toward the grille, complete the design nicely. From the back, Lexus has gone simpler, but the slightly sparse styling is effective. One single light bar stretches right across the tailgate with the Lexus name displayed prominently above it.
It’s all different under the hood too. From launch, the new GX will only be available with a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 engine producing 349 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. This compares favorably to the larger 4.6-liter V8 in the previous generation which put out 301 hp and 329 lb-ft of torque respectively. This torque increase, especially, is a massive step-up for the car. It is also capable of towing more in every specification with a maximum capacity ranging from 6,780 lbs, all the way up to 8,000 for the Premium and Overtrail trims. This is up from the 6,500 lbs maximum towing capacity of the previous GX460 model.
The GX’s cabin has had a large-scale overhaul as well, and while the designers focused on ensuring a more purposeful and capable look with the exterior, luxury, and comfort are the main themes in the cabin. There’s an all-new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster to replace the analog gauges of before. There’s also a 14-inch infotainment screen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with specific dials for controlling audio volume and temperature and, in terms of materials, all owners can expect semi-aniline leather, with those who opt for the Overtrail getting a choice of a mix of either Black and Olive, or Chateau and Olive.
The GX’s cabin has had a large-scale overhaul as well, and while the designers focused on ensuring a more purposeful and capable look with the exterior, luxury, and comfort are the main themes in the cabin. There’s an all-new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster to replace the analog gauges of before. There’s also a 14-inch infotainment screen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with specific dials for controlling audio volume and temperature and, in terms of materials, all owners can expect semi-aniline leather, with those who opt for the Overtrail getting a choice of a mix of either Black and Olive, or Chateau and Olive.
What Is The Overtrail Package?
The Overtrail package is the off-road-focused trim package for the brand-new Lexus GX, and it looks like it comes with everything you might need to go on a trailing adventure. The off-road upgrades have been metered out across the board on the GX, with modifications coming throughout the car. Of course, there are a few styling bits — as mentioned previously, the trim package comes with some different color options for the interior upholstery, but there are also some black accents on the fenders as well.
Other upgrades that can be spotted but also serve a purpose when it comes to off-roading include an aluminum skid plate, chunky 18-inch wheels, magnificent 33-inch tires, and, in the Overtrail+ model, special seats with a massage function and a power-extending cushion.
In addition to this, the Overtrail also comes with a downhill assist, crawl control, and a 3D multi-terrain monitor. There is also an advanced Electronic-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension system for better off-road performance, stability, and additional wheel articulation. Those who are looking to purchase the Overtrail should not worry. In previous discussions regarding the GX and specifically the Overtrail package, a Lexus spokesperson confirmed that these vehicles would arrive at the same time as other trim levels.
Pricing
Model | Starting MSRP |
2022 Lexus GX | $57,200 |
2023 Lexus GX | $59,775 |
As of the time of writing, an estimate of pricing for the 2024 Lexus GX in any of its trim levels is mere speculation, but we can use the previous model years to make our best guess. Back in 2022, the Lexus GX started at $57,200, the kind of figure you would expect of a luxury full-sized SUV from this quality manufacturer. The story was similar in 2023. Though there was a slight rise due to changes in the global economy, the 2023 Lexus GX had a starting price of $59,775, just under that $60,000 figure.
While 2024 will bring an all-new model of the Lexus GX to the market, and the new car, with its attractive design and impressive performance upgrades, represents a large increase in quality from previous years, we expect Lexus to hold firm on their price point. We believe that the Lexus GX will start at around $60,000 in its Premium trim package, a cleverly disguised base-level trim. From there, we think it’s likely that prices will rise all the way up to around $80,000 for the top-of-the-range Overtrail+ model that combines the comfort of the Luxury model with the off-roading capabilities of the Overtrail.
We think the Overtrail model itself is likely to cost just a bit less than this at around $75,000. It’s no small change, but when you compare it to other vehicles of a similar caliber, for example, the high-end Land Rover Defender 110 V8 at $118,000, or the long-wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography, which starts at $161,600, it begins to look like quite a steal.