You wished the brand new Lexus GX to be good. I wished the brand new Lexus GX to be good. And folk, it’s good.
The attraction of a Toyota truck has all the time been nice off-road functionality combined with the sense it’ll outlast us all. Who doesn’t need that? Lately, it appears everybody purchased in. The Lexus GX, beforehand a distinct segment luxurious model of the small Land Cruiser, the Prado, has risen in profile to match the larger Land Cruisers, 4Runners, Tacomas, and different rugged Toyotas.
Toyota of late has grow to be remarkably good at delivering precisely what fans need, and when Lexus dropped a brawny-looking off-roader with Land Cruiser bones and optionally available 33s, everybody type of misplaced their minds. So we needed to take it off-roading.
Northeast Off-Highway Adventures (NORA) within the quaint Catskills city of Ellenville, New York was the best venue. Only a two hours from Motor1’s New York Metropolis workplace, NORA considers itself a “coaching heart” moderately than a public community of trails—the 75-acre wooded property options tons of difficult terrain to pit in opposition to the Lexus.
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
That is the Overtrail model of the GX550, essentially the most centered off-road trim accessible. (An Overtrail+ with additional luxuries can also be accessible). Like all GX fashions, the Overtrail will get full-time four-wheel drive with a low-range gearbox and a locking heart differential, but additionally provides a rear locker to the celebration. It will get Toyota’s intelligent Multi-Terrain Choose (MTS) system, too, which optimizes traction for all types of various surfaces. There’s additionally Crawl Management, a form of off-road cruise management, and E-KDSS, which might successfully disconnect the sway bars for larger suspension articulation. An array of cameras for surveying the path floor are additionally normal. Plus, 33-inch Toyo mud-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels, and skid plates.
With method, breakover, and departure angles of 26, 24, and 22 levels, respectively, this isn’t the most-capable off roader you’ll see on paper. A Land Rover Defender on its air suspension has higher angles. However the GX ably conquered every part requested of it, and we requested so much.
Alex Trager, our equally succesful path information, took us on terrain he described as higher-level intermediate to low-level superior, and the GX by no means missed a beat. We by no means even aired the tires down, simply to see how the factor handled low-grip eventualities.
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Professionals: Glorious Off Highway, Glorious On Highway, Promise Of Toyota-Truck Dependability
Interact the MTS system and traction is hardly a difficulty. It’s essential to give the computer systems a little bit of time to determine what they’re coping with, however after a second or two, they get it and begin pulling numerous levers to get the truck transferring. You’ll be able to really feel the system grabbing brakes, modulating engine torque, performing tips to ease you ahead.
On a couple of events, we needed to do issues the old style manner. A bit little bit of left-foot braking helps stop the truck from rocking backwards and forwards when wheels are off the bottom, and driver error on my half meant having to interrupt out traction boards after getting excessive sided on a rock. However loads of the time, I simply had MTS and Crawl Management engaged. All I needed to do was steer.
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Within the woods, you’re actually aware of the GX’s 197.0-inch size—Ok-turns had been a bit extra sophisticated on this than NORA’s two-door Wrangler, available as backup—however the Lexus’s 83.2-inch width is extra manageable. Do keep in mind, nevertheless, that the pronounced edges of the hood aren’t really the corners of the truck; the fenders stick out a couple of inches extra.
Gone is the GX’s beautiful previous V-8 and in its stead sits a brand new 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6. I believed I’d miss the V-8, however the V-6 has extra horsepower (349 vs 301) and far more torque (479 vs 329 pound-feet). The brand new mill additionally works properly with the GX’s 10-speed automated. The powertrain is calibrated properly for off-road driving, permitting the driving force to be tremendous exact with how a lot torque they’re sending to the wheels.
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
All through our day off-road, I fell deeper in love with the GX. It’s most likely too massive to be referred to as a mountain goat, however I couldn’t assist however draw the comparisons because the truck scrambled up no matter terrain we threw at it. Rocks, steep hills, 30-degree grades, and naturally, mud.
It’s additionally the correct mix of new- and old-school. MTS, E-KDSS, and Crawl Management do loads of intelligent work to make off-roading approachable even for a relative novice like myself, however on the finish of the day, the techniques merely praise the fundamental energy of this ladder-chassis, big-tired SUV.
Actually, the restrict was me. NORA’s “rock river” acquired my coronary heart pumping fairly a bit, looking for the most effective line, then committing to it. The GX’s digital camera system helps so much, however I typically needed to inform myself to not drive by means of the display screen and look out at the true world. Not like myself, although, the GX was inside its consolation zone.
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Cons: Trip Is Generally Unsettled, Poor Gasoline Economic system, Transmission Often Sluggish
I can’t assist questioning if the GX’s greatest celebration trick is revealed on the pavement. For all its functionality and toughness, it’s so refined. At low speeds, smaller road-surface imperfections are felt by means of the cabin as to be anticipated with a body-on-frame car, however in all different eventualities, the GX550 may be very luxurious.
In both Consolation or Regular mode, the adaptive dampers give a luxurious journey, and the massive torque and smoothness of the V-6 make you overlook all in regards to the previous Toyota V-8. Ten ahead gears might be too many, although, as you could be left hanging ready for the transmission to pick the precise ratio throughout a downshift, but gasoline economic system nonetheless isn’t nice. Good luck getting past 20 mpg. (A hybrid model is coming).
The GX is remarkably quiet for one thing of this form and dimension, and even the tread noise from the mud-terrain tires is suppressed. Inside supplies and construct high quality are wonderful as you’d count on from a Lexus, and whereas I do assume Toyota’s new digital gauge cluster is overcomplicated, the infotainment system is something however. Greatest is the low beltline, which gives nice visibility, and an ideal spot to relaxation your arm with the home windows down. A uncommon factor in trendy vehicles.
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Even the steering is sweet, well-weighted, and exact, with the correct amount of self-centering. On the finish of our off-roading enjoyable, I hustled the GX up a mountain street to catch the sundown and it dealt with remarkably properly. The unibody Land Rover Defender is likely to be a bit nicer as a street automobile, however there’s much less in it than you’d assume. Then there’s the Toyota-ness of all of it. This platform and drivetrain are comparatively new, however we additionally know that Toyota builds its vehicles to a very excessive normal.
Possibly essentially the most compelling argument in opposition to the GX is the brand new, upcoming Land Cruiser. It begins at $57,345 to the GX’s $64,250 and presents a hybrid drivetrain. However, the mid-grade Land Cruiser prices $63,345 and isn’t too dissimilar to the bottom GX by way of gear. And as of proper now, Toyota has no equal to Lexus’s Overtrail trim.
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1
This tester price a bit below $72,000, and whereas that’s some huge cash, it’s across the identical as equal Defenders and better trims of Jeep Grand Cherokee. I feel the selection right here is apparent.
The GX550 Overtrail isn’t simply good, it’s one of the full vehicles on sale right this moment. It’s precisely what we wished.
Photograph: DW Burnett for Motor1