Car Review: The Lexus GX is a gas-guzzling beast that is built to last
Sitting in my big, boxy Lexus SUV, I felt like the king of the suburbs.
In my driveway, a Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ dwarfs the rest of the car, painted in metallic forest green with "scary-big" multi-section tires. (Do I need them to drive around town?) Of course not. But they look cool! In addition, in the shadows, the paint looks close to black, and in direct sunlight, the paint bursts green and even takes on yellow metallic flakes.
I hope you like the blocky design. The car is very boxy and can be easily reproduced with Lego bricks, and it gives off a distinctly Mercedes G-Wagen vibe.
If you're looking for a car that will function year after year, look no further than this one. This all-new model is not the kind of mid-size car that pretends to be a posturing and posturing. It is a genuine truck with a body and mechanics attached to a full frame for strength and durability.
Of course, it can be like a truck when driving on the road, prone to bumps while driving.
Then there's the tricky issue of fuel economy. My dashboard readings showed that my average fuel burn was 13 miles per gallon, and the label inside the tank cap called for premium fuel. I can only hope that the fuel consumption was some kind of mistake because the previous driver left the truck driving and then stopped for a day or so.
At least the fuel is put to good use, as the twin-turbo V6 engine produces plenty of power, especially in the low end. This Overtrail+ also comes with heavy-duty four-wheel drive, designed to distribute power evenly between the front and rear wheels "to help provide excellent control in low-grip situations," Lexus said.
After I climbed on the pedals and got into the car, it was very luxurious, which was to be expected. The black and tan seats (with a hint of green here) look very beautiful. I was very impressed with the map light, which can be turned on by simply touching the shade without buttons or clicks. The center console is equipped with a "cooler" to keep items cold. Seat heating, and more importantly ventilation, is always pleasant.
This Overtrail+ has two rows of seats, which is probably the best option as the third row of seats can be very crowded. However, Lexus says the GX Premium and Luxury models have three rows of seats.
The GX starts at $64,250 (shipping is not included). The off-road version of the Overtrail+ starts at $77,250. Buyers should plan to keep these cars for a while, as Lexus is at the top of JD Power's 2024 U.S. Automotive Reliability Study. When calculating your monthly payments, there is also a significant amount of gas to consider.
The Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+, painted in Metallic Forest Green and equipped with multi-section tires, is ready to go. (WTOP/John Allen)
The Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ has an incredibly boxy form factor that could probably be replicated with Lego bricks.
The Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ is a genuine truck with body and mechanics attached to the entire frame for strength and durability. (WTOP/John Allen)
The Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ tires can be described as "frighteningly big."
This Overtrail+ has two rows of seats, which is probably the best option as the third row of seats can be very crowded.
The interior of the car is luxurious, and as expected, there are black and tan seats and map lights that can be opened by simply touching the lampshade without buttons or clicks.
The all-new Lexus SUV model isn't the kind of pretentious, posturing midsize car.