Tested: The 2024 Lexus GX550 Luxury+ Is a Modern On-Road Off-Roader

Lexus is trying to have it both ways with the 2024 GX550 Luxury+, the most expensive and upscale version of its recently redesigned GX SUV lineup. Decked out with 22-inch wheels, semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats, and an 1,800-watt Mark Levinson sound system, this version of the GX aims to balance the luxurious appointments that have made Lexus a household name with the GX’s rugged, body-on-frame-based off-road ability. But does it end up being a compromise as a result?

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Is the GX550 Luxury+ Good to Drive?

Like all versions of the 2024 Lexus GX550, the Luxury+ trim is powered by a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6 developing 349 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission connects to a full-time four-wheel-drive system, enabling a 0–60-mph sprint of 6.9 seconds—a number that’s 0.6 second quicker than a prior-generation 2022 Lexus GX 460 we tested. But this GX550 isn’t quite as spritely as other trims of the new GX currently on offer: The Overtrail+ manages 6.4 seconds, and the Premium drops another tenth for a 6.3-second dash. We suspect the Luxury+ trim’s large, heavy wheels and its slightly heavier weight than the other models we tested were largely to blame.

Even so, this GX550 Luxury+ feels powerful and understressed as it wafts off the line in more relaxed, daily driving scenarios. The gobs of torque are plenty to motivate the 5,641-pound SUV away from a stoplight to get ahead of traffic. Under load, the GX emits a distinctly trucklike sound. While the throaty induction note is burly and rich, some will find its emphasis (thanks in part to a piped-in audio feature) a smidge excessive.

Generally, the steering is well weighted and provides good feedback around town and on winding roads. The wheel transmits road texture to your hands, further contributing to the GX’s rough-and-tumble character. Hit the brakes hard at 60 mph, and the GX comes to a stop in 125 feet, a solid stat for an SUV this heavy. There's more than a little nosedive under heavy braking, but the Lexus tracks straight and there’s no cause for alarm otherwise. During more typical stops, the pedal feel and modulation are drama free.

With street tires, an adaptive suspension setup, and a Sport+ drive mode at your disposal, the GX550 Luxury+ has all the hardware necessary to encourage a spirited drive through a canyon. When it's enlisted to do so, this GX displays enough poise and stability to provoke a big smile on the face of any driving enthusiast. Although its grip on the skidpad and figure-eight test track lap time aren’t spectacular—we noted an average of 0.71 g of lateral acceleration and looped our circuit in an unremarkable 28.9 seconds—this is one of those special SUVs that delivers an experience that surpasses what the data suggests. Its controlled body roll enables predictable handling, and its paddle shifters allow you to keep the V-6’s rpm right in the powerband. Imperfect as the GX is in the on-road dynamics department, it exudes just enough of an old-school personality to keep you entertained.

In the GX’s Comfort drive mode, its dampers soften to allow for a gentler ride, although thanks to those huge wheels and its body-on-frame construction, the GX exhibits some of the typical pitfalls of forgoing a unibody architecture. Despite the slight compromise in general ride quality as a result, it's still more than cushy enough for typical highway cruising and traversing most rough roads. It helps that the GX550 Luxury+ has incredible build quality. Even over the poorest surfaces found on our test route, there wasn’t a squeak or rattle to be heard inside the cabin. The GX’s solidity is an aspect that’s sure to enamor returning buyers or shoppers who have always wanted an off-road-capable Lexus of their own.

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How Comfortable Is the Interior of the GX550 Luxury+?

The solidity of the 2024 Lexus GX550 Luxury+ is reinforced by the substantialthunk its doors make when closed. This sound, which is similar to that of the G-Wagen’s signature latching noise, suggests quality and exudes expensiveness. That said, a GX550 goes for about half the price of its Mercedes-Benz rival. We appreciate the Luxury+ model’s powered running boards, which deploy when the vehicle is unlocked and retract when it’s time to drive, for easing ingress and egress to the tall SUV.

Once you’re snug inside the cabin, you notice that soft surfaces abound, from its handsome two-tone seats to the attractive textiles for the door inserts. The seating position is refreshingly upright when so many modern luxury vehicles encourage a loungelike posture. Looking over the wide, flat hood, you have a commanding view of the road or trail ahead. The GX’s low windowsill position serves as a comfortable perch for an elbow while making it easier to see what’s below, a useful trait for off-roading. A panoramic glass roof, part of the Luxury+ trim level’s standard equipment, helps keep the cabin feeling open and spacious. Heated and ventilated front-row seats with massagers provide Lexus-appropriate comfort and relaxation.

Does the GX550 Luxury+ Have Useful Tech and Packaging?

While the 2024 GX550’s retro-futuristic design harkens back to the boxy SUVs of yore, its high-tech equipment is decidedly modern. The central touchscreen measures 14.0 inches, sitting alongside a 12.3-inch instrument cluster display. An optional head-up display provides even more information while keeping the driver’s eyes on the road.

Lexus outfits the GX SUV with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility but doesn’t cede control of every vehicular feature and setting to the digital realm. Instead, there’s a healthy smattering of buttons and knobs supporting the main display, with frequently used functions such as the exterior camera view, temperature control, audio volume adjustment, and drive modes all getting analog controls. It’s a user-friendly scheme that should be familiar to returning Lexus drivers but won’t appear stale to those new to the brand. The second row is well appointed with optional heated seats, USB-C charging ports, and air conditioning vents, but legroom is somewhat cramped. The third row is even tighter.

Aside from these quibbles, Lexus nailed its execution of the GX550’s interior materials and layout, which feel appropriately bourgeois for this Luxury+ trim. Less impressive is the overall intrusive active driver assistance suite, which aggressively nags and nannies the driver in its default form. The driver attention warning beeps at you if the sensors determine your gaze has gone astray for too long, but it couldn’t tell when we had a phone in front of our face in closed-course testing. The Lexus Proactive Driving Assist system was another pain point. This technology is meant to provide gentle automatic braking to create a buffer between the GX550 and the vehicle ahead, steering support, and curve-adaptive braking. Instead, the feature frustrates by stepping in and applying the brakes before it’s necessary or wanted. Fortunately, Proactive Driving Assist can be toggled within the infotainment system’s ADAS menu. The rest of the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite is quite handy, and its adaptive cruise control with lane centering tracks accurately and confidently. Its available traffic-jam assist provides further support in slow-moving congestion.

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Is Luxury+ the Right Trim for the 2024 Lexus GX550?

Crunching the numbers, it’s tough to make a case for the 2024 GX550 Luxury+ when the Overtrail+ trim exists. Let’s break it down to explain why that’s the case. The Luxury+ model starts at $81,250, whereas the Overtrail+ starts at just $77,250. In addition to some of the other Luxury+ features mentioned earlier, other included equipment includes the Lexus Cool Box chilled compartment, a kick sensor for the rear door, a 360-degree camera view, and parking assist with automatic braking and rear pedestrian detection. Opting for the GX550 Overtrail+ forgoes the third row in favor of hardcore off-road equipment. These tougher variants receive the Lexus Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, crawl control, a 360-degree camera view with the Lexus Multi-Terrain Monitor system for off-road use, and 33-inch all-terrain tires. Its features overlap with the Luxury+ model, too, including the parking assist tech, liftgate kick sensor, and front-row massaging seats. With quicker acceleration and identical fuel economy, the Overtrail+ model is simply a better value without compromising much plushness, as well as the pick for anyone who plans frequent trips off-road.

Optioned to $84,590, the 2024 Lexus GX550 Luxury+ we tested proved to be a charming, high-riding runabout with lots of tech on offer. Although it isn’t our pick from among the GX’s six available grades, anyone in the market for this cool-looking Lexus SUV who never intend to traverse more than an easy dirt trail should lean toward the Luxury+ thanks to its eye-catching wheels, high-end features, and massive on-road presence.