2024 Lexus GX Is A BOLD New Take On The Luxury Off

With blocky styling, a posh cabin, and a potent V-6 heart, the third-gen GX is now more capable than ever before and a far cry over its predecessor

Lexus sure took their sweet time with overhauling its immensely capable GX from the ground up. The outgoing generation had a production run from 2010 to 2023, and 13 years in automotive terms feels like forever. Being a 13-year-old car, however, means it no longer suffers from production issues or software glitches in its electronics. Therefore, the Lexus GX is pretty much bulletproof and reliable at this point and the only thing that could break it is if an idiot were to fill its gas engine with diesel fuel.

But the GX can't live unchanged forever. It has to keep up with the times, and also with stricter emissions regulations. It also needs to be able to attract buyers who would otherwise choose something newer and more sophisticated even if it wouldn't be as reliable. Thankfully, Lexus knew this, and they've unveiled an all-new 2024 Lexus GX.

Related: 2023 Lexus GX 460 Review: A Competent Off-Road SUV Workhorse

Now in its third generation, the new 2024 Lexus GX will be offered in six different trims:

The new GX has been redesigned from the ground up, now riding on the TNGA-F platform that the Toyota Sequoia, Tundra, Tacoma, and Lexus LX utilize. Riding on top of that body-on-frame chassis is a boxy and rugged sheet metal that manages to blend sophisticated looks with a rugged demeanor--again keeping with the times as Americans have become so attracted to rugged SUVs.

The Spindle Grille is ever present in the GX, and surprisingly it isn't as tall as the LX's because the lower portion has become the lower air intake. Slim LED headlights, sleek lines, and a tall roof somehow make the GX a true competitor to the Land Rover Defender as well.

Lastly, the rear of the 2024 Lexus GX adopts the full-width LED taillight motif that the Japanese luxury automaker has been adopting lately to its models, and once again, the "LEXUS" nameplate is written across the tailgate as opposed to having the signature "L" badge.

Further building on the rugged aspect of the GX is the new Overtrail grades. This version comes with blacked-out fender flares, more pronounced silver skid plates, black door handles, and a black contrasting roof.

The Overtrail models also come with exclusive paint finishes including

Of course, it wouldn't deserve the Overtrail designation if it didn't come with 33-inch all-terrain tires with 18-inch wheels, which also helps in raising the GX's ground clearance over the Premium and Luxury grades.

Yes, the 2024 Lexus GX now looks more rugged than ever, but the interior manages to blend sumptuous build quality and exquisite materials with the ruggedness expected from an off-roader. That's especially true once again with the Overtrail models, with their "earth tones" that give the interior a nature-inspired aesthetic.

This was achieved through the use of a Chateau with Olive Ultrasuede accents that have been combined with Black with Ultrasuede accents dotted around the interior. Of course, with a more rugged driving experience comes the need for an increased amount of comfort, which is why the Overtrail+ model will come with an exclusive seat design with a massage and cushion extender function that was developed specifically for comfortable off-roading.

Tech plays a major role in the GX as well, as all grades come as standard with a 12.3-inch fully-digital gauge cluster, a 14-inch Lexus Interface touch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated and cooled front seats, a 120V AC inverter at the rear, and a 10-speaker premium surround sound system. Optional extras include a 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, a head-up display, heated rear seats, and power-folding third-row seats, just to name a few.

Related: Lexus GX 460: The Mid-Size Luxury SUV That Nobody Is Talking About

The headline news for the 2024 Lexus GX is its new 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6 gasoline engine, replacing the 4.6-liter non-turbo V-8. Designated as GX 550, it's the same engine found in the flagship LX 600 SUV but detuned slightly to produce 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, an improvement over the V-8's 301 horses.

This is sent through a permanent four-wheel drive (4WD) system via a 10-speed automatic transmission. If you also want the trims with the highest towing capacities, opt for the Premium, Premium+, and Overtrail as these are capable of pulling up to 8,000 pounds. As for gas mileage, Lexus estimates 17 mpg combined.

A hybrid drivetrain will also be offered in the near future, but Lexus did not reveal any details about this electrified drivetrain. We assume that this will be the same i-Force Max found in the Sequoia or the Tundra instead of the four-cylinder version of the Tacoma.

As it migrated to the TNGA-F platform, the full-time 4WD system also inherited a Torsen limited-slip differential with locking capabilities. The full-time 4WD has been developed to also improve the GX's on-road handling, differential optimally distributes the driving force according to the load on the rear left and right wheels to achieve a high level of controlled performance.

The GX wasn't meant to be a sporty SUV, but Lexus has also opted to offer an optional Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) to the body-on-frame SUV as well. In straight-line driving, it responds faster to changes in road conditions while switching between 4-Hi and 4-Low has also been sped up due to the new electronic transfer case.

Opting for the Overtrail models also allows you to add optional features such as Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control (DAC), 3D Multi-Terrain Monitor, and the famous Electronic-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) electronic disconnecting sway bars for improved wheel articulation. However, the electronic locking rear differential is exclusive only to the Overtrail models.

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The GX may look tough, but it's also mindful of the people inside and surrounding the vehicle. The comprehensive suite of active safety equipment provided by the standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 gives the GX features such as Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection, All-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA with SA), Road Sign Assist (RSA) and Proactive Driving Assist (PDA). Traffic Jam Assist is an optional extra that you can get for the GX, but this will require you to have an active Drive Connect trial or subscription with Lexus.

But if you want one of these rugged luxury SUVs, you will have to wait a bit more for it. The 2024 Lexus GX will be assembled at the Tahara plant in Japan, with the vehicle expected to go on sale in early 2024. You can, however, register your interest already at your nearest Lexus dealer, and hopefully, when it launches, it won't suffer from dealer markups that have plagued the auto industry during the pandemic. Pricing and specifications for each trim have also not yet been announced, so we assume these will only be available closer to its on-sale date.

The Lexus GX is also a preview of what the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado could look like. Though it probably won't arrive in the United States, those living in markets served by the Prado can expect a next-generation model to most likely debut before the end of the year.

Isaac Atienza is a Filipino motoring journalist who joined TopSpeed.com in 2021. He also owns a Filpino motoring website called Go Flat Out PH and is also a contributor to a local newspaper called The Manila Times. Isaac Atienza is a car enthusiast who especially thinks that wagons are the best type of vehicle, though sports cars and anything with three pedals also tickles his fancy.