Final spring, I drove a number of completely different Lexus and Toyota crossovers and SUVs, seemingly in anticipation of the arrival of a GX 550 Overtrail+. I’d been considering it is perhaps time to maneuver on from my very own GX, and driving the brand new one could be an enormous push in that path.
It guidelines. 10/10, completely executed product. No notes. (Daniel did the true assessment, I’m simply agreeing with him right here.) I haven’t pushed a new Mercedes-Benz G-wagen, and I perceive it’s a really spectacular automotive, however the worth distinction between the G-Class and the GX means it must be nearly inconceivably spectacular to sway me.
There are some limits to what one can moderately anticipate from a automotive lately. It’s an computerized, it’s heavy and it makes use of loads of gasoline. These are my criticisms. Aside from that, I’m telling you with out reservation, in the event you’re excited about shopping for a luxurious SUV, you must in all probability simply go purchase the Lexus GX.
The primary time I sat in it, I mentioned “yeah” out loud earlier than I even pressed the starter button. It’s a type of vehicles that simply feels proper, like an outdated Porsche 911. I edited this put up from Daniel about how unbelievable the GX’s visibility is. After I noticed his headline, I believed, “Man, a complete put up on how good it’s to take a seat in?” however he was proper, it’s incredible. The sight traces are phenomenal, and every part is the place you’d anticipate it to be.
I didn’t thrash the GX tremendous onerous off-road, however I did hit some trails and do the same old obstacles on my property, and I really feel comfy saying it’s massively succesful proper out of the field — that’s not an enormous shock given the specs. I don’t even know that I’d go for a elevate instantly.
What did shock me was how good it was on the highway. It’s a tall and boxy SUV on huge chunky tires with a stick axle within the again, but it surely corners properly and the suspension tune is ideal. It’s not a sports activities automotive, and even one of many sportier crossovers, however the place my lifted GX was enjoyable to drive quick with its excessive heart of gravity being managed by its spectacular Icon suspension, the brand new one simply rips round corners with out drama at stunning speeds. It’s additionally useless quiet and really comfy.
My outdated GX was in incredible mechanical situation, but it surely was 17 years outdated and exhibiting its age in locations. The paint was unhealthy, and I’ll admit that whereas it nonetheless seemed very cool on the path, I did really feel considerably lower than cool pulling as much as a funeral in it final 12 months. There was even a shovel on the roof. However alternatively, as a result of it was outdated, I didn’t thoughts bashing it by means of the woods and didn’t fear in regards to the paint or what the children have been as much as within the again seat. It was an ideal automotive to get me by means of the primary few years of life with children, and I might have saved it on the highway for the remainder of my life.
However I bought it. Contributor Zach Wickliffe had been asking me about it for some time, and he was on the brink of transfer out West. If I wished to put the GX in nice fingers, I knew my window was closing. So I spent about 24 hours cleansing it, changing the alternator and driving it right down to Zach.
Zach has additional cleaned it up, prepping it for all times within the Pacific Northwest. He even eliminated a distant begin system I by no means knew was there.
I miss the automotive quite a bit. I nonetheless don’t know if I ought to have bought it. However, my plan to interchange it with a brand new GX hit a stunning snag when Daniel identified how less expensive it could possibly be to lease a distinct white SUV. Extra on that in one other put up quickly.
