A brand new model was added the local Lexus line-up earlier this year. We got our hands on the Lexus GX550 SE to learn more about this luxury SUV.
If you mention the name ‘Lexus’ most people will probably conjure up a luxury sedan as a representation of the brand. It was this segment that made the Japanese sub-brand popular across the world. In addition, it cemented Lexus’ reputation as a viable alternative to the Teutonic Trio. However, times have moved on and Lexus now predominantly sells SUVs instead of luxury saloons. The portfolio includes (in ascending order): the UX, NX, RX (which we reviewed) and LX. A completely new range was launched in SA earlier this year in the form of the GX.
New to SA, not the World
The Lexus GX range is a new addition to the SA line up. However, this is the third generation of the nameplate . Earlier versions were available in other markets, but for the first time SA buyers get to enjoy it as well. Unlike most of the range. The GX is a body-on-frame SUV. It uses Toyota’s TNGA-F platform. Other models that employ this base are the Tundra, Sequoia, Lexus LX600, and Land Cruiser.
Underpinning aside, the Lexus GX550 SE bucks the styling trend of its siblings. There are carryover cues, such as the grille and headlamp treatment, but, by and large, the GX has a far more boxy appearance than other models that wear the stylised ‘L’. But this isn’t a bad thing. Those large dimensions give it a really commanding presence when parked or trundling down the road. The GX is tall and squared off. This is most evident at the rear, which comes across as quite boxy. Straight edges and tall stance create an impression of solidity, underlining the GX’s go-anywhere capability (more on this later). It certainly does stand out from the crowd. Many onlookers/friends and associates commented on how butch the GX comes across.
Interior Space and Tech
Getting into the high cabin is made all the more easier thanks to automatically deployed sidesteps. Without them we’d have to scramble up into the passenger compartment. The treatment is, as expected of a Lexus, sumptuous. Just about every contact point in the Lexus GX550 SE cabin is covered in soft semi-aniline leather. The SE grade, which we had on loan, comes as one sees it on the showroom floor. There are no options to up-spec this derivative, everything is standard. And everything is the right term as the Lexus GX550 SE has just about everything a car can be fitted with, short of a coffee machine.
Some of the highlights include a touchscreen infotainment screen that is as large a laptop’s. Incidentally, Lexus has traditionally lagged in this area compared with its rivals. However that is no longer the case as the system fitted here is fast and smooth with crisp graphics and all the requisite connectivity. Thankfully Lexus UX designers have left the HVAC controls grouped at the bottom of the screen, ideal for quick access. Oh, and it is also connected to a 14-speaker Mark Levinson hifi, which sounds fantastic.
Apart from the usual toys, there are also cooled, heated and electrically adjustable massaging front seats. A heated steering wheel and a cooled armrest box. In addition there is a panoramic roof that changes from opaque to clear at the flick of a switch. As a result you can bathe the cabin in light, but avoid being seared by the sun – very, err… cool. The nearly three-metre-long wheelbase means there is plenty of space for five adults in the cabin. Additionally, there are two smaller chairs that electrically fold into the floor of the boot.
Under the Bonnet
A car of this size deserves a powerful motor. In years gone by we’d have expected a V8. However, the Lexus GX550 SE is power by a 3,5-litre V6 engine The engine, code V35A, is a petrol-fed unit that boasts twin-turbochargers. As a result it pumps out 230 kW of power and 650 N.m of torque. Incidentally, this engine also serves as the base for the powerplant of Dakar-winning Hilux. A ten-speed automatic transmission feeds power to all four wheels. Lexus claims that the big SUV can sprint from rest to 100 km/h in seven seconds flat. The one issue with the engine is, of course, its thirst. Power comes at the expense of fuel consumption, this is a fact of physics. Lexus claims a combined cycle figure of 12,3L/100 km. In reality you can expect closer to 15 if you aren’t too liberal with the loud pedal.
The engine is a real peach. The V6 is sonorous in nature and a massive swell of torque from just 2 000 r/min means that you don’t really have to rev it out. Although, the engine isn’t afraid to reach for the red line on the rev counter when asked to. The automatic transmission is a seamless unit that needs no input from the driver via the steering wheel-mounted paddles. Overtaking is an absolute breeze in the GX as it picks up accelerates at a rate that belies its size and heft. Most people see it in the rear view mirrors and simply jump out the way. That almost makes it worth the price in the Cape with its, usually, oblivious drivers.
On the Road
The Lexus GX550 SE feels and goes very much in keeping with its appearance. The engine, as mentioned, makes light work of moving the circa-2,5 ton SUV. But this isn’t a light, nimble machine in the same mould of, say, and X5 or a Cayenne. It feels like it takes up lots of space and shouldn’t be rushed, except when in a straight line. Suspension engineers have worked some real magic hear to make this construction type feel more like a unibody in its responses. Comfort levels are high over any road surface. And that’s with the standard 22-inch alloys.
The Lexus GX is a genuine off-roader too, replete with low-range and all the off-road hardware one would need. It has 220 mm of ground clearance, decent approach and departure angles. This will go further off-road than most of its rivals, short of a Range Rover (But who really takes those off road? – Ed) While it is capable, Lexus also offer the GX in a more off road-y version, called the Overtrail. That derivative wears more appropriate 18-inch alloys. In addition it has a few drive modes to help it venture far off the beaten track.
Summary
It’s safe to say that we are fans of the Lexus GX550 SE. In addition, most people who saw it/we chatted with seemed to feel the same way about it, that it ticks all the right boxes for this type of vehicle. When looking for rivals to compare it with, there are a few options from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and even Range Rover. But it beats all over them on price, by several hundred thousand rand in most cases. The closest competitor is a Land Rover Defender, another rugged SUV that we really like. However, one has to look at the very top of that line-up, which, again, is north of two million. As a result the Lexus looks like a bit of a, dare we say it, bargain in this segment. It’s no wonder we see so many of them around.
Model: Lexus GX550 SE
Price: R1 865 000
Engine: 3,5-litre V6 petrol, twin-turbocharged
Transmission: ten-speed, automatic AWD
Max power: 260 kW
Max torque: 650 N.m
0-100 km/h: 7,0 sec
Top speed: 175 km/h
Fuel consumption: 12,3L/100 km (14,8 as reviewed)
About the Author
