The SHOCKING Truth About What Makes Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ So Unstoppable Off Road

We've looked at countless SUVs but nothing quite prepared me for this. Today we're putting the 2024 Lexus GX550 Overtrail Plus to the ultimate test. No, we're not at the mall, we're going off-road. What's it like? Buckle up my friends, let's go for a drive. I'm your host Brian Maxx, racer, lover of driving fast, fun things, and on this channel you get reviews for drivers from drivers. Now this Lexus GX550, especially in this Overtrail Plus specification, is definitely unique. Some of us will recognize its lineage to the all-new Land Cruiser in this part of the world, but there's a lot more going on here. And before we get into what it's like to drive, let's have a look at this in a little more depth. Mechanically, this starts with body-on-frame construction, or as Lexus calls it, a ladder frame. But keep in mind, this is related to the Land Cruiser, it's related to the Lexus LX, and it's also related to the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma, which is a good thing because all of those machines have excellent off-road capabilities. This is not exactly a badge-engineered Land Cruiser. Starting with the engine, that's a 3.4-liter V6 with two turbos on it. Makes 349 horsepower at 5,600 RPM and 479 pounds of torque from 2,000 to 4,400 RPM. The transmission's a 10-speed automatic. It is permanent four-wheel drive with a two-speed electronic transfer case. There's a locking center diff and a locking Torsen limited-slip diff in the back, active anti-roll bars, or as Lexus calls it, EKDSS. There are multiple terrain modes and drive modes. Steering is electrically assisted. Suspensions, double wishbones at the front, four-link at the rear with adaptive dampers, four piston calipers up front, single at the rear, as well as 13.9-inch rotors at the front, 13.1-inch rotors at the back. Wheels are 18s, and no, they're not mud-colored, they're more like a gunmetal finish. Tires are from Toyo. They're 33-inch Open Country All-Terrain. What's specific to the Overtrail is the active anti-roll bar is the 18s with the 33-inch tires, skid plates, and some other trim. Keep in mind the Overtrail is a two-row SUV only. The other trims have three rows. Towing capacity of the GX550 runs from 7,800 to 9,000 pounds, depending on trim, and curb weight of this Overtrail Plus is 5,666 pounds. Did you know that 80% of you are not subscribed? Yes, it's true. 80% of you are not subscribed. I checked the data, so if you like the content on this channel, do me a solid. Hit that subscribe button, make sure you like this, and if you want to support the channel, please hit up our merch store. Links here, links below. Lots of great stuff for driving enthusiasts like us, including our very popular line of Save the Manuals merch. Now back to your regularly scheduled episode. Some say that luxury SUVs are a bit of a status symbol, but in the case of this Lexus, it's got a lot more utility and capability than for just going to the mall. Funny thing is, here in the driver's seat is that you'd be hard-pressed to tell that this has anything to do with the Land Cruiser. Because we drove it recently, we know that this is definitely related, but here it is all Lexus, and it's a completely distinct design in terms of its interior. There's really no carryover parts other than maybe the glass and a couple of other small details, but here it is all Lexus, which is a good thing, especially this Overtrail Plus is full jam, as they say, with every possible option and feature, which is something you'd expect with a Lexus, but I really appreciate all of the features of this Overtrail Plus. What this means to you and me, of course, is that these seats have a heating and cooling function. They're exceptionally comfortable. They're very supportive, and even over a long drive, because I have taken this on a fairly long drive, they're very, very comfortable over long distances. The fundamental seating position is fantastic as well. Lots of adjustment in the seat, as well as the steering column, and you're seated so high off the road, you've got incredible visibility. The steering wheel's got a great shape to it as well. Nice leather finish on it. It's got shift paddles in case you do need to control the gearbox manually, but otherwise very happy with my setup here as a driver. There's a digital instrument cluster here, as well as a heads-up display. You can see these in all kinds of lighting conditions, and even though we're in lower light, I've got my polarized sunglasses on, I can still see the heads-up display clearly. The big infotainment screen is the one Lexus likes using in their latest vehicles, and it works just fine. I primarily use it on Apple CarPlay, and that is where it shines. The rest of the system, in terms of navigating, especially with radio functions, because I do listen to satellite radio from time to time, that interface is not great, and jumping from channel to channel can be a challenge from time to time, but with Apple CarPlay, that is a spectacular rendering here, and it works brilliantly. Ergonomically, it's a mix of traditional as well as modern Lexus, so the modern side. Climate controls are all built into this infotainment screen. Some people like it, some people don't. I don't mind it because I just run climate control on automatic, set it, and forget it. After that, it's very traditional Lexus. All of the switches are ergonomically designed in exactly where you want them. Plus, the fit and finish in here is that modern Lexus mix that we've come to expect. Lots of high-quality finishes in here, as well as finishes that are very durable. Every switch, button, dial, whatever the case is, feels like it's going to last a million years. In terms of spaciousness, I'm very happy here in the driver's seat. I did sit in the passenger seat for a little bit of a drive, and it's very comfortable as well. Lots of room here in this front row, and lots of storage. This one, because it's the Overtrail Plus, has a cooling box in the armrest, which you can switch on or off, and I actually used it for good reason the other day, and it works exceptionally well. It does get very cold in here. In the second row, it's okay. It's not voluminous, but I can sit comfortably behind myself. It's definitely more two-people oriented in that second row more than anything else, and as you know, Overtrail Plus is a two-row GX550 only. The third row is not available in this particular trim. On the other hand, that also means there's lots of room under the hatch for all of your stuff and all of your gear. I don't think I'd ever have the need to put anything on the roof of this Overtrail Plus simply because there's so much room in the back. One of the things I do appreciate here is this combination mode selector, so you can go between drive modes as well as the terrain modes, and it works very, very well here. On the road, you can switch from eco modes all the way to an individual modes. Not much differentiation there, but there's a big difference between Sport Plus that we're driving in now and eco, but that's a separate thing. When it comes to off-road modes, they're different as well, and we have used them as you're seeing in this episode. At the moment, though, we're actually driving through Drake's neighborhood to test out its on-road capabilities, and hopefully we don't get shot. Sure, this isn't exactly a rocket ship, but that's not the entire story here. The twin-turbo V6 makes this quick enough, and it's got a nice throaty noise to it, which I really appreciate. Zero to 60 happens in about six and a half seconds, and that's quick enough, but again, that's not the real story. The real story is how much torque this engine makes and how well-made it is to the automatic, and it just is a wonderful combination in terms of a drivetrain. This engine makes peak torque from very low in the rev range through the meaty part of the rev range, so to ask it to accelerate once you're on the move is an easy thing. Just lean into the throttle, and you've got maximum torque available. The other thing that I have to highlight is how well calibrated the automatic is for this engine. It just is a wonderful combination. If you're having fun on the road, accelerating quickly, it shifts smoothly up the box, and it's always operating perfectly in the background. Just like in a Land Cruiser, it's got a two-speed electronic transfer case. It's very easy to switch between four high and four low, and of course, you can lock the center and rear diffs. We did try this off-road just for fun, not that we were in any kind of terrain that was actually going to tax the tires and the four-wheel drive system. Still, I am very impressed by how much traction this truck has in some of the muddy stuff that we were driving in. There was some recent rain. Those puddles are exceptionally deep, and the bottom of those puddles were very, very muddy, and this truck had no trouble just crawling through that deep water. No trouble at all, no complaints, and it did it brilliantly, and certainly a lot of the credit goes to these 33-inch all-terrain tires, which seem to be just the perfect tire. Fun fact, did you know this GX550 can float? No, I'm just kidding, but it can go through some very deep water, about 27 inches of water, and we didn't come close to that during this test, but yeah, this can wade through some very, very deep water. It's easy to stereotype SUV buyers as being a little extra, but this GX550 takes that to a whole new level. Beyond the engine, I think the biggest difference between this GX550 and the Land Cruiser is the suspension. The active anti-roll bars are just incredible, and that really defines the driving experience here. I could completely cut this corner, drive over someone's lawn, drive over the curbs, drive over some of their plantings, and really piss them off, but if I didn't want to wait in this line of traffic, I could totally do that with this GX550. That's sort of one of the bonuses of this suspension. You can kind of drive over everything and not have to worry. The tires certainly help, but this suspension is incredible, and the active anti-roll bars transform on-road driving as well. When we're off-road, they allow each wheel to articulate more freely, keeping that tire in contact with the road, which is something you definitely need when off-road driving, and as far as I'm concerned, I haven't found any shortcomings in the way the suspension is supposed to work. When we're just driving along normally, steering wheels pointed straight, the suspension soaks up every road imperfection, and the roads around Toronto are horrific, and between the 33-inch all-terrain tire and the sophistication in the suspension, it just soaks it all up. The ride in this GX is so comfortable. It's kind of like riding around on a cloud on a lazy Sunday afternoon, except that you've got a powerful twin-turbo V6 and a suspension and tire combination that can pretty much take you anywhere off-road. The great thing about the steering is that it is very clear and direct and lighter in parking situations, so it's a breeze to park, but when it comes to feel or feedback, there's not much that's going on here. We are talking about a big body-on-frame SUV combined with electrically-assisted steering, so not a lot of feel or feedback here, but at least it is very direct and very clear in terms of translating your inputs into steering angle. Very happy with the steering there. Now, we are going to turn into a corner here, just so I can remind myself how flat this corner is, and this corner is flatter than any SUV should, and the suspension is just magic. There's really a minimal amount of body roll here, and I'd actually expect a fair bit more for a tall, full-size SUV like this, and they've managed to keep the cornering attitude of this SUV, this GX 550, fairly flat. And of course, this truck is capable of cornering much quicker, but the all-terrain tires aren't exactly suited to maximum grip in the corners. On the other hand, they work exceptionally well off-road, and that's what this Overtrail is all about. Speaking of which, the dampers do a great job controlling body and wheel movement as well. The ride is never overly harsh, and the suspension just soaks up every kind of bump you can throw at it. Then, when it comes to controlling body and wheel movement, they do an exceptional job, and this is not exactly a lightweight SUV, so kudos to Lexus Dynamics engineers who've done a great job with the suspension, but these dampers are calibrated perfectly for this task. Braking is also very, very strong, and there's even less dive than I was anticipating. Plus, body and wheel motion is very well controlled under braking, and that has to do with the adaptive dampers. They just do a fantastic job, but braking is very strong. Control and modulation top-notch. Maybe I could use a little bit more feel, but the way the brake pedal responds is perfect for me, and love the power of these brakes. Very happy with this braking system. How do you spec yours? Well, that is an interesting question. It depends, I suppose, on how off-road you actually want to take your GX 550. What you are looking at is earth paint with a black roof, and on the inside it's called Chateau Nulux. In the U.S., this is an Overtrail Plus with all of the option boxes ticked. In Canada, the Overtrail Plus comes only one way, and that is fully equipped. You do need to know that the Overtrail is the legit off-road trim, and the Plus adds all of the luxury features. Also, keep in mind the Overtrail is two-row only, and the other trims have three rows. As much as this earth paint is my choice, I really like the Fetching Nori Green Pearl Pink they have on offer. Base price in the U.S. is $64,250, and as tested, this is $80,065. In Canada, base price is $83,500, and as tested, this is $102,250, and these prices are before freight and local taxes. In terms of speccing yours, I really dig this. In this color, in this specification, I like all of this that we get with this particular model. All the off-road bits, all the off-road tech, and then all of the luxuries that we come to expect from Lexus. My verdict? Well, we often start this segment with fuel consumption, so we'll get that out of the way. I'm averaging 15 miles per gallon, or about 15 liters per 100 kilometers, for my Canadian friends, and that is in mixed city, highway, and off-road driving. I would appreciate if some GX550 owners chime in and let me know what kind of mileage you're getting, but it's a trade-off I'm willing to accept for an incredibly capable vehicle like this GX550 Overtrail Plus. Really dig this, the way it works, and if you have a need for going off-road and want a luxury SUV driving experience, well, this kind of ticks all the boxes. There are very few things I don't like. This makes a very compelling case for a number of arguments, starting with the Land Cruiser haters who think that the hybrid system is a bit of a detraction. Well, this is fundamentally the same vehicle with all of the Lexus touches and finishings, but with a twin-turbo V6 and no hybrid, so there you go, my friends. As well, this makes a very clear argument in favor of this versus something like a Land Rover Defender, and that's what's really surprised me. Thinking about the intended market here and what else is premium in this size, well, the Land Rover Defender, which we love on this channel for a lot of reasons, but this GX550 Overtrail is a compelling argument in favor of this over the Defender for a lot of people, I think. Still, the number of buyers of luxury SUVs who intend to go off-road has got to be a pretty small number, and it's got to be a very small market, but this is definitely at the top of my list. It is fully equipped. It's got everything I could ever want in a luxury SUV, and then incredible off-road capability. Plus, it's doing a great job of navigating the speed bumps here in Drake's neighborhood. Thankfully, we have yet to get shot. Really don't want to get shot, but we're going to get out of here soon enough, but nonetheless, if you're looking for an SUV that can handle both the red carpet and the rugged wilderness, well, you're looking at it right here. This is an exceptionally well-rounded luxury SUV that can go deep off-road, and if you've got a need for something like this, you should look at this Lexus. Thanks for hanging out with me today and having a look at this 2024 Lexus GX550 Overtrail. Plus, hope you like this episode, and if you did, you're not new, you know what to do. Smash the subscribe button, turn on your notifications like this, and as always, sharing is caring, so please share this with your friends, especially on Reddit, because on Reddit, they really need to see reviews for drivers from drivers. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments below. I'll get back to you as soon as I can, and if you want to support the channel, please hit up our merch store. Links here, links below. Lots of great stuff for driving enthusiasts like us, including a very popular line of Save the Manuals merch. Thanks again for watching. We'll see you again next time, and remember, cars don't understeer by themselves, not even Lexus GXs. And since you've hung around this long, well, go straight to the link for our 2024 Land Cruiser episode. I think it's a great comparison. These are fundamentally the same with some fundamental differences, and it's interesting to look at them back-to-back, and I've nearly driven them back-to-back anyway. The links here, links below. Please enjoy that Land Cruiser episode. If you haven't seen it, we'll see you again next time.