For most Toyota fans looking to head off the pavement, the venerable Land Cruiser and FJ are popular platforms for builds and accessories. Now, Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus has announced a new “Overtrail” trim for the GX550, which has been getting more popular with overlanders looking to travel with a bit of cush in the mix. However, the LX550 Overtrail may be just what a lot of overlanding curious drivers have been looking for.
Built on a ladder frame, the GX550 Overtrail includes many hard parts more common to the Land Cruiser than the pillowy Lexus models. The GX550 Overtrail deletes the third-row seats for six cubic feet more cargo capacity, adds 18-inch wheels wearing 33-inch 265/70 Toyo Open Country A/T III tires, and also includes adaptive dampers, crawl control, downhill assist control, roof rack, multi-terrain drive modes, skid plate, a multi-terrain monitor system, and independent detachable anti-roll bars front and rear. There’s also a new suspension tech package called E-KDSS for Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. Lexus says the system “allows for increased wheel articulation and improved tire grip over uneven surfaces.”
Power comes from a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, making 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque at a low, low 2,000rpm. A 10-speed auto with clutchless manual shifting is the only gearbox choice, and the GX550 runs in 4WD all the time, with 4-low capability and lockable rear and center differentials. On pavement, Lexus says the GX550 will hit 60mph in 6.5 seconds. The motor makes nearly 50 more horsepower than the 2023 model. The tow rating is nearly 9,100 pounds, a 2,500-pound increase over the past model. The wheelbase stretches just over 112 inches. Approach and breakover clearance specs were not provided by Lexus.
Lexus didn’t skimp on the luxuries, of course, but the interior is more rugged, with “olive green Ultrasuede accents and stitching on the front seats, stiffer seat bases with softer side bolsters,” along with a refrigerated cooler box. A widescreen format 14-inch touchscreen includes the usual connection options, and there’s a 12.3-inch TFT display for the driver. Other GX550 trims include a a 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, it was not immediately clear if it was available for the Overtrail since the seating arrangement is different. The standard audio suite is a 10-speaker system.
Our information comes from a press release for the Australian market, but Lexus says the GX550 line is “designed for global markets.” It’s the first time the GX550 has been offered Down Under. Car and Driver shows two U.S. Overtrail trims, with the “regular” Overtrail MSRP pegged at $69,250 and the “Overtrail Plus” at $77,250. It was not immediately apparent what the difference in the trims includes. Vehicle metrics as listed were mostly identical.