A bit of an enigma, lavish GX550 is ready for the quest
When we tested the new Prado a year or so ago, we wondered why Toyota limited that car to just a 2.8 turbodiesel. Well, this is probably the answer. Enter the flagship Lexus GX 550. A car that its makers say, sets a benchmark in the premium off-road SUV segment, it brings a ‘perfect’ blend of power, sophistication, and cutting-edge technology. Sound impossible? Let’s find out!
For us the big news is that while it’s another badge, the Prado-based GX basically completes the range with a powerful and torquey 260 kW 650 Nm biturbo 3.5-litre V6. Mated to a 10-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission, the GX delivers the smooth acceleration and robust towing performance that top end SUV owners expect. And then some.
GX550 gets unstoppable off-road tech
Packed with pretty well unstoppable off-road tech from its advanced four-wheel drive to optimized suspension geometry and electric power steering for precise handling and responsive, be it in the most rugged conditions or billiard table smooth freeways, the GX is also ready for it all. Rigidly engineered to deliver a fine chassis and suspension balance, GX is at home no matter where you drive.
Based on Toyota’s robust GA-F platform, new GX retains a traditional body-on-frame chassis. Bold, sculpted Tonka Toy looks make a powerful statement to deliver a commanding presence. A thick, squared-off bonnet, a Lexus signature spindle grille and sleek LED headlamps bring a sophisticated, dynamic look.
GX550 bristles in sublime quality.
Step aboard to refined and versatile driver centric Lexus 7-seater luxury and craftsmanship. An advanced, fully digital instrument cluster and 14-inch central multimedia touchscreen dominate the dash. GX has lost many of its former buttons for a smarter solution with the main controls still run by the necessary knobs and the rest where it should be on screen.
GX is finished in sublime high-quality materials. Luxurious semi-aniline leather, massaging front seats and Mark Levinson 21-speaker premium sound set the tone as GX also delivers an open, comfortable and calming space. A panoramic view monitor, kick sensor power tailgate, auto-retractable side-steps and a solid roof rail add versatility and convenience.
Powerful GX550 really is quick
Rest assured, safety, while pleasantly inobtrusive, is next Lexus level too. New GX gets an intelligent suite with everything from pre-collision to lane departure and adaptive cruise control.
On the road, the GX proved powerful and versatile as expected. Propelled by the same turbo V6 that wins the Dakar in the Hilux, performance is beyond impressive with a zero to hundred time in the low six seconds and a quarter mile to scare most sporty hatches and sedans. That’s however compromised by the sort of thirst we’d expect from a powerful engine and a surprisingly short tank range for a so-called adventure SUV.
GX550 masters two unlikely qualities
It’s not that its relatively high fuel economy is necessarily a problem in this neck of the woods, but the real issue is that we’d expect closer to 800 kilometres of range from an adventure car. Rather than the real world just over half of that it actually delivers. A twin-tank option, perhaps, Lexus?
It’s also a bit of an enigma to have such polar necessities of extreme luxury and just as extreme off-road capability joined by the hip in one car. But just as the likes of a top-end Mercedes G wagen pulls it off, so does the Lexus GX. To perpetuate that, the GX is also available in off-road focussed Overtrail. Trim. Ludicrous? No, wonderful. Can’t wait to get our hands on one!
The Lexus GX comes with the expected comprehensive 7-year/100 000km warranty and full maintenance plan at 10 000 km or annual service intervals, and the rest. A car that encapsulates the essence of Lexus off-roading in a trusted adventure partner to also push boundaries and explore the unknown, this car is something of an enigma. But it’s also probably the new premium SUV standard. – Michele Lupini
Images & testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Lexus GX 550 SE 3.5T
Engine: 260 kW 650 Nm biturbo petrol 3.5-litre V6
Drive: 10-speed automatic 4x4
ROAD TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 2.83 sec
0-100 km/h: 6.21 sec
0-120 km/h: 8.46 sec
0-160 km/h: 14.71 sec
400m: 14.3 sec @ 158 km/h
80-120 km/h: 4.13 sec
120-160 km/h 6.26 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 175 km/h
Fuel: 12.3 l/100km
CO2: 279 g/km
Range: 650 km
Warranty/Service: 7y 100K/7y 100K km
LIST PRICE: R1,829M
How does it compare?
Check with Auto's Test Data right here