Here's What You Need to Know About the All-New Lexus GX

TUCSON, ARIZONA: If there’s one thing Lexus’ Paul Williamsen wants people to know about the all-new GX, it’s that it has a dual character. The global manager of education at Lexus International spoke at length about the exciting new features of Lexus’ SUV, but at its core, what he wants people to take away is that the GX is a top choice for both on- and off-road driving. 

“The GX has been a popular model in the U.S., which people have enjoyed through the decades,” he tells me during a lull in the driving activities for participants of a special media drive for the new GX here. “But what I want people to know is that it’s a great on-road, city vehicle, and it’s a an amazingly capable off-road vehicle, too. And so the key thing in this new one is that it’s gotten better in both senses. It’s better in the highways and in the city than it used to be, and it’s even better off-road than it was before.” 

The Lexus GX in the desert plains of Arizona

Photo by PJ Cana.

Indeed, the Lexus engineers who developed the third iteration of the GX were so confident about its features they assembled media from all over the world to try it out for themselves on the desert plains of Arizona. (Our comprehensive review of the car plus the drive is coming soon in another story).

Meantime, we’ll go through some of the major improvements of what is sure to be another global hit for the Japanese luxury brand.

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Looks and body

First off, one glance at the new GX and you can tell this is unlike the versions that have come before. More rugged and angular, with sharp lines and corners, it’s a proper SUV in looks and styling. Think of a car that would exist in an 8-bit world. It actually has a lot in common with Toyota’s large SUVs and trucks, like the Land Cruiser, perhaps because it’s built on that platform. But make no mistake, the GX is its own, capable vehicle. 

This is the third generation of Lexus' full-size SUV

Photo by Lexus.

Slightly smaller than the LX and TX, but slightly bigger than the popular RX, the GX was developed with one core principle in mind: combine the best features of an off-roader with the refined details of an on-road SUV. Lexus GX chief engineer Koji Tsukasaki said so himself; when asked during a short audience with global media whether design or engineering came first, he did not hesitate to answer that it was the latter that was above everything else.

While the GX comes in the Premium and Luxury variants, the groundbreaking model that ought to be on everyone’s wish list is the first-ever Overtrail edition. Featuring increased ground clearance, 33-inch tires, and a truly impressive suite of off-roading technologies, the new trim was thoroughly tested to meet the driving conditions on almost every kind of terrain. There are even automatic settings to switch between driving modes: dirt, sand, mud, or snow. All three variants come in plus editions as well.

Interior and engine

From the previous 4.6-liter V8, the new Lexus GX is now powered by a 3.4 twin-turbo V6 engine, capable of churning out 349 horsepower with 479 lb-ft of torque. There’s a 10-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission, and, depending on the variant you pick, can seat five or seven people.

This being a Lexus, the interiors are a dream. There’s a 14-inch touchscreen multi-media display that’s idiot-proof, a horizontally oriented instrument panel, and design cues that help make everything easier for occupants, including things like multiple Type C ports for effortless charging, an inclined phone stand with automatic stoppers, drivers and front passenger seats with a built-in massage function, and access to the rear through a conventional liftgate with kick sensor plus a lift window so you don’t need to open the whole thing if you’re only reaching for something smaller in the boot.

The interior cockpit of the GX

Photo by Lexus.

One neat addition: an automatic board that materializes when you open the door that acts as an additional step to help you climb inside the vehicle, then folds away as soon as you’re inside and you close the door.

We’ll go over the technology and just how well it performs in a specially designed track that mimics tough off-road conditions in another story. Meanwhile, Williamsen highlights the improvements in the GX on normal driving conditions.

“The improvements on the new GX makes it more civilized as an on-road vehicle for highway handling, and makes it easier for families to live with,” he said. “There’s more interior space, more cargo space, more flexibility in seating, for a family that needs something in town, it’s improved over the previous model as well.

Handy buttons for all of the off-roading tech in the GX

Photo by Lexus.

“Based on the Premium model, we also created the all-new Overtrail grade, which is a special vehicle designed for people who really do need to go off the paved roads,” he added. “Maybe they’ve got a summer home at the beach, or in the mountains where the roads aren’t so great, and they want to be able to get there for the weekend and really enjoy it. The Overtrail has a whole range of those offroad options.

“And then finally, there’s the limited top of-the-line Limited grade, that makes this vehicle almost like a mini LX 600. This makes it a luxurious family vehicle with available three-row seating and all kinds of great options including our Mark Levinson premium audio, as well as all our most advanced active safety features.”

Esquire Philippines is one of the first Philippine media to be able to drive the all-new GX in Arizona, USA

Photo by Lexus.

Those safety features include a pre-collision with pedestrian detection and intersection support system, lane tracing and lane departure alert, and intelligent high beams that revert to low beams when it senses oncoming vehicles, among many others. 

The GX is packed with so much features and key points that it’s already attracted quite the demand not just in North America but in other markets, including in the Philippines. The local Lexus dealer says demand has been consistent and strong since the all-new version was first announced and unveiled last year. Now that we’ve seen it with our own eyes and driven it ourselves, we can understand the excitement and hype. Lexus’s latest SUV is staking a serious claim to the title of best off-roader that’s also great on paved roads and it’s a claim we can actually get behind.