Lexus has a new GX for 2024, and that is considerable due to the fact it is only the third all-new GX in the model’s 20-year run and replaces an SUV that initial went on sale in 2010.

But what’s truly intriguing about this new Lexus 3-row SUV is that it is a single of two such automobiles the brand is introducing for 2024. The other is the Lexus TX. Confused? Think about how Land Rover provides each the Discovery and Defender. One majors on space, luxury and refinement, even though the other areas an emphasis on outright off-road capability and cool, contemporary utilitarian style.

So obtaining back to Lexus, the TX is aimed at the Discovery, BMW X5 and Genesis GV80. It also has a unibody style primarily based on the TNGA-K platform identified on the Toyota Grand Highlander that must make it smooth on the highway. The GX, on the other hand is a difficult, conventional physique-on-frame truck constructed about a version of the TNGA-F chassis identified below the Lexus LX 600 and the complete-size Toyota Land Cruiser sold overseas. While it may possibly also steal some sales from city-dwelling SUVs like the X5 and GV80, or even the TX, the GX’s a lot more organic rivals are the Defender and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

So how does the GX stack up against these two rivals? Let’s dig into the specs and take a appear.

Lexus GX 550

Related: Box-tastic 2024 Lexus GX Proves You Can Have Both Style And Substance

GX? Is that truly you? Talk about a radical redesign. The bloated, chintzy dad-bod appear of the old GX has been replaced by some thing infinitely a lot more self-assured and contemporary. The familiar Lexus ‘spindle’ grille is nonetheless there, but there’s some thing nearly retro about the style that sets it apart from each and every other a single of the brand’s automobiles. Whatever the Lexus style group is smoking, a person roll them yet another a single.

The new GX appears like it cannot wait to jump off the asphalt and hit some trails, and as with each and every earlier GX, that is not an empty guarantee. The GX’s physique-on-frame building tends to make it special in the midsize luxury SUV class, and indicates it will make a wonderful tow car (up to eight,000 lbs / three,630 kg) and prove handy on truly difficult trails, in contrast to most posh SUVs.

Every model gets complete-time all-wheel drive and a lockable Torsen restricted-slip center differential, even though off-road focused Overtrail models add a locking rear differential as effectively as an aluminum skid plates, 33-inch tires, a crawl-handle function and an adaptive suspension method that can disconnect the sway bars for a lot more articulation.

This is nonetheless a Lexus even though, so the interior is all about luxury. The old analog gauge cluster tends to make way for a 12.three-inch digital a single, the ten.three-inch infotainment method is upgraded to 14 inches and the aniline leather seats can be configured as 3 pairs or with a bench in the second row for seven-particular person transport. An entry-level Premium-trim GX must come in at just more than $60,000 when sales begin in early 2024, but you can anticipate to spend about $70k for a mid-spec Luxury grade model and perhaps $80k for a best-spec Overtrail+.

Configuration possibilities are rather significantly less quite a few when it comes to powertrains, nevertheless. The only model offered at launch is the GX 550 that comes equipped with a three.four-liter twin-turbo V6 and ten-speed automatic transmission. It tends to make 349 hp (354 PS) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm), which compares effectively with the old GX 460’s 301 hp (305 PS) and 329 lb-ft (446 Nm), but economy is disappointing at 17 mpg, versus 16 mpg for the outgoing V8.

One point worth bearing in thoughts is that Toyota is about to unveil a new Land Cruiser in the U.S. (Land Cruiser Prado in other markets) primarily based on the GX element set, and even though it will not have the GX’s luxury badge or interior, it will do considerably the very same point for significantly less income.

Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Jeep is pumping our some seriously competent and desirable SUVs these days, and the Grand Cherokee is a single of them. The 5-seat Grand and its 3-row Grand Cherokee L brother have been only launched a couple of years back, so they’re nonetheless pretty fresh, and it is the larger of the pair that GX purchasers are going to uncover most intriguing.

Like the GX, the Grand Cherokee L favors blocky straight lines, rather than curves, but the Jeep appears slightly softer, significantly less like an escapee from a covert military hardware compound and a lot more like what we’ve come to anticipate from a luxury SUV.

There’s also lots of what you anticipate from a luxury SUV on the inside, at least if you go for the fancy Summit and Overland grades that can function luxuries like quilted leather, open-pore wood trim, massage seats and a third screen for the front passenger above the glovebox. Things appear slightly a lot more ‘rental’ at the other finish of the lineup, the entry-level Altitude generating do with cloth seats and a puny eight.four-inch center touchscreen. But then the Jeep’s $42k beginning value is nearly $20k under the GX’s, so you can afford to move up the variety if you are taking into consideration a Grand alternatively of the Lexus.

And the excellent news is that even the price range versions get 3 rows as regular. The L gains an extra five-in of (127 mm) of wheelbase more than the 5-seat vehicle and the additional row it makes it possible for comes as two person seats as regular, with a 3-particular person bench offered as an choice.

We’re nonetheless waiting for Jeep to make a 4xe hybrid powertrain offered to the extended Grand Cherokee, so for now the engine selection comes down to a three.six-liter V6 with 293 hp (297 PS) or a five.7-liter Hemi V8 pushing out 357 hp (362 PS). You can have either of these with either rear- or all-wheel drive but whichever you choose it’ll be fed by means of an eight-speed automatic.

We’d go for the V8 for its additional 130 lb-ft (176 Nm) of torque. It tends to make a nicer noise, will not be about for extended, will make less difficult function of hills and hauling, and speaking of towing, going the V8 route ups the rating from six,200-7,200 lbs (two,810-three,266 kg).

Land Rover Defender 110 /130

You only require take a single appear at the new GX and know that Lexus’ style group has been closely studying the Land Rover Defender. We’ll leave you to determine who does boxy greatest, but there’s no arguing that the Landie appears wonderful, or that it is a ton a lot more intriguing than a Land Rover Discovery, even if it is not really as roomy or luxurious inside.

The Defender comes in 3 lengths named 90, 110 and 130, but prospective Lexus purchasers will want to skip the initial, a stumpy two-door, and concentrate on the remaining pair. The 110 and 130 ride on the very same 119-in (three,023 mm) wheelbase, but the large guy gets an additional 13.four-in (340 mm) of rear bodywork that improves each passenger and cargo area.

Trust us, if you are arranging on ticking the third row choice and employing it frequently, the Defender 130 is undoubtedly the way to go, due to the fact in 110 guise the rearmost passengers have a whopping ten-in (254 mm) significantly less legroom than these in the back of Grand Cherokee L, and trunk space behind the 110’s seats is nearly nonexistent. Shame the 110 appears so considerably greater.

Like the GX, and in contrast to the Jeep, the Defender comes with all-wheel drive as regular. But exactly where it differs from each is that the base engine in the 110 is a turbo 4, rather than a V6. The P300 two. Ingenium motor’s 296 hp (300 PS) a lot more than matches the Grand Cherokee’s 293 hp (297 PS), and out-torques it to the tune of 35 lb-ft (47 lb-ft), also.

Likewise, the optional P400 three.-liter, mild-hybrid inline six beats each the GX’s three.four V6 and the Jeep’s offered V8 with its 395 hp (400 PS) and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm), and for purchasers with deep pockets and lots time to kill at gas stations, there’s the $111,500, 518 hp (525 hp) P525 V8 Defender 110. Go for the Defender 130 and you are no longer in a position to order the front jump seat and the V8 choice is downgraded to 493 hp (500 PS), but you do get air suspension and a milder (296 hp / 300 PS) version of the I6 as regular in spot of the 110’s I4.

Lexus TX

Related: 2024 Lexus TX Debuts With Adult-Friendly Third-Row And Available 406 HP PHEV

Yeah, we know we spent our opening 200 words explaining why the Lexus TX and GX have been entirely various, but you have to envision that a person dropping in on their neighborhood Lexus dealer to take a appear at the GX may possibly at least commit a minute nosing about the TX.

And even though we consider it appears seriously unexciting in comparison, there are a handful of motives why they may possibly be persuaded that the TX is the greater get. For a single, it has nearly four inches (one hundred mm) of extra wheelbase, a third row of seats greater suited to typical, and not just occasional use, plus far a lot more luggage space. And even though it does not have a hope of maintaining up with a GX on rough ground, that unibody chassis indicates its on-road dynamics are going to miles greater.

The TX also has two engines at launch to the GX’s a single, a front-wheel drive choice for purchasers certain they’ll by no means venture off the ball stuff, and which will consume far significantly less gas. The base engine is a two.four-liter turbo 4 with 275 hp (279 PS) and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) of torque, even though the TX 500 h adds hybrid help to lift output to 366 hp (371 PS) and 409 lb-ft (555 Nm).

A 406 hp (412 PS) PHEV comes later with a 33-mile (53 km) claimed electric variety, but if you are a lot more interested in hauling boats to the ocean than the increasing temperature of the ocean itself, the TX’s inferior towing capacity indicates you will be greater off with the gas-hungry, non-hybrid GX.

Which trail-prepared luxury SUV would get your money? Drop a comment under and let us know your selection.