The 2026 Lexus GX may just be the best of both worlds when it comes to SUVs. Want a classy, luxurious SUV that looks good at the country club and just about guarantees front-row valet parking? The GX fits the role perfectly. But what if you want an SUV that can tackle the Rubicon Trail if you dare to venture there? The same GX can handle that task as well. Delivering tough off-road performance while providing on-road luxury is what the Lexus GX is all about.
Out from 2024, today's GX features a rugged, square-body profile with an aggressive stance - a far cry from the ancient, but much-loved GX it replaced. It continues to share its platform with the 4Runner (as well as the Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX), which means it uses a body-on-frame platform. The GX is considered a mid-size SUV, sitting right under the flagship Lexus LX.
Inside the GX, occupants find themselves swarmed in a warm and luxurious experience. For the passengers up front, they are treated to nothing short of what they would expect to find in a Lexus vehicle: lots of leather and suede-like material. And there are plenty of features nestled into the luxurious cabin. Of course, there is the standard stuff like power seats with heaters and cooling vents, three-zone automatic climate control, moonroof and a power tilt & telescopic heated steering wheel. If you're an audiophile, you'll appreciate the optional Mark Levinson sound system. This audio system is so good you ll find yourself sneaking out to the garage and into the GX just to hear your favorite music.
Depending on trim level, the GX can seat seven or five people. The base Premium provides a third-row, for seven passenger seating, as well as 20-inch wheels and a power liftgate. The Premium+ makes the third-row seat power operated, and also adds in a surround view camera. The Luxury ups the wheel size to 22s and adds in massaging front seats and second-row window shades. Not enough? Go with the Luxury+ for power deployable running boards and that Mark Levinson sound system. Off-roaders will look more at the Overtrail which gets 18-inch all-terrain tires and lots of off-road goodies like a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension, locking rear differential, off-road crawl control, electronically controlled adjustable suspension and an onboard air compressor. If you want to add some luxury to the Overtrail, there is the Overtrail+ which adds in heated second-row seats, massaging front seats and the sunshades. The Overtrail and Overtrail+ only allow for five-passenger seating (no third-row seat is offered).
Despite all the trim levels and how you can get the GX fitted, there is only one powertrain offered, but it is stout. A twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 making 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
If the need arises to go off-road, the GX550 is more than fully capable of doing so. Every GX continues to use a full-time four-wheel drive system with a two-speed transfer case allowing for both high-range and low-range gears, something that is needed for true off-roading. But even more impressive is the Overtrail's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) that optimally adjusts the front and rear stabilizers based on a set of hydraulic cylinders. This system, which is fully mechanical, can even disengage the stabilizer bars - something that serious off-roaders do when attempting to conquer the most treacherous terrain.
So far, I haven't had my test vehicle, an Overtrail+, off-road, but on-road, I can say is that the GX550 feels punchy off the line, translating into a 0-60 time in about 6.3 seconds. Even at highway speeds, there is an abundance of passing power, thanks in part to those two turbos. The steering feels crisp and responsive, giving you a very comfortable and confident feel behind the wheel. But this is a tall, boxy SUV, so don't get too confident as you'll discover there is plenty of body roll.
Since its inception in 2002, the Lexus GX has always been one of my favorite SUV's. It's sized just right, and while it's a luxurious treat, it s not all show and no go - this thing has the off-road goods to back it up. Pricing for the GX550 starts at $67,735 for the Premium model, with my Overtrail+ carrying a price tag of $89,779. Pricy? Yes, but you get a lot for your bucks.
Still, when it comes to the Lexus reputation for quality and resale value, as well as the off-road abilities that it has to offer, the dual personality of the GX550 makes it one of the best mid-size luxury SUVs available.