2024 Lexus GX Lands As Rugged Boxy SUV with A V6 Heart

After several teasers and rumours, the third-gen Lexus GX finally bows in, showcasing rugged-looking boxy design. Beyond its squared-up facade, the GX is packed with a slew of techs and features not only making it a feasible off-roader, but also a livable daily driver.

2024 Lexus GX Premium

Underpinning the body-on-frame GA-F platform, the next-gen GX features a double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link setup at the rear. This setup is complemented by the new electric power steering system, which Lexus claims will give better steering feel both for on-road and off-road usage. Should you find the damper setup a tad bit too harsh for your liking, there’s an optional adaptive variable suspension offered, featuring active dampers on both axles.

2024 Lexus GX Overtrail (left) & Premium (right) variants

For the American market, the GX is offered in six variants, with the off-road-centric ones being the Overtrail and Overtrail+ specs. All variants are powered by a 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 mill that spits 349 HP and 649 NM. Mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, this setup allows for up to 3,600 KG of towing. In case you want more power, a hybrid-powered version of the GX will be available later.

As for the drivetrain, the GX harnesses a full-time all-wheel drive (AWD) setup with a lockable Torsen limited-slip centre differential. The electronically-controlled transfer case shifts between AWD-High and AWD-Low quicker than the previous model. Opting for the two Overtrail variants will give you an extra locking rear differential.

The Overtrail spec (right) stands out as the more rugged, off-road-ready variant compared to the Premium (left)

Visually, the GX stands out as a rugged-looking SUV with boxy design – making it look nothing like the previous-gen GX. Up front lies the trapezoidal front grille that is flanked by the angular LED headlights, featuring L-shaped DRL inside them. The Overtrail specs get a more aggressive front bumper design, featuring rugged front skid plate finished in metal hue, as well as a slew of blacked-out parts and trims.

Aside from the skid plate, the two Overtrail variants also get more prominent roof rails, 18-inch black-hued wheels shodded in all-terrain tyres, more aggressive rear bumper design, which also features rugged skid plate, and many more.

On board, the GX cabin is laced with a bevy of tech amenities and modern equipment. Crowning above the front dash is a sizable 14-inch infotainment display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, while drivers get a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster instead of analogue one we saw on the previous-gen GX. Fortunately, the GX still employs physical buttons and controls for the aircond, while a head-up display is now offered as an option.

Elsewhere, the 2024 GX comes with either a six-seater or a seven-seater layout, with the former sporting two captain’s seats at the second row, while the latter comes with a three-seat bench instead. All the seats are wrapped in a mix of semi-aniline leather and NuLuxe upholstery, offered in a variety of colours to choose from. Special for the Overtail specs are two-tone upholstery options of Black and Olive or Chateau and Olive.

The 2024 Lexus GX comes standard in the GX550 trim, with a hybrid version set to come much later, with folks from Toyota US not giving any clues or hints of its launch date. As for now, Lexus has yet to unveil the pricing for the third-gen GX, but we can expect it to be slightly heftier than the previous-gen model’s starting price of $59,775 (RM275,742).

Unfortunately, the GX won’t likely make its way to our Malaysian shores, as this product is specifically-developed for North American and selected Eurasian markets, which are predominantly right-hand drive (RHD). However, this full-size SUV might be the precursor of the long-awaited Toyota Land Cruiser Prado successor. 

For most part of its history, the GX have been sharing most of its underbody parts and components with the Land Cruiser, which means the next-gen Land Cruiser Prado may have some close resemblance to this newly-launched GX.