Lexus Gx550 vs Lexus LX

What's the difference?

The new Lexus GX 550 Sports Luxury looks fantastic and has enough mod cons to satisfy a family but it’s not as luxurious as you’d expect from a premium brand and the fuel economy and driving range will turn off some. But if you’re still interested, there’s a lot here that will make you happy and it’s one of the smoothest 4WDs I’ve driven.

The Lexus LX500d is a luxury seven-seat 4WD wagon with a big price-tag to match its full-to-bursting standard features list.

The interior is now more cool than cheesy and as a daily driver and long-distance tourer the LX500d offers very impressive levels of comfort and refinement – and it’s no posh pretender off-road either.

Sure, it’s much more of a city conveyance than a country wagon, but the LX500d is spot-on for those who have a premium SUV on their mind.

The new GX 550 looks massive and while it shares the same platform as the Toyota LandCruiser 300 series, it doesn't share all of its bulk. They both stand at 1980mm wide but differ on length (5015mm vs 4980mm) and height (1670mm vs 1950mm), respectively.

The new design is fabulously rugged but each body panel looks meticulously crafted and is just the right size. This just means the proportions look right and your eye sort of glides over the big body rather than stopping on any one feature.

But having said that, there are a lot of nice features to focus on, like the long LED headlights and rear strip light, auto-folding side steps, 22-inch alloy wheels and sharply styled rectangular side mirrors.

The tailgate window can also be opened if you need to pop something into the boot but don't want, or have the space, to open the tailgate itself.

The styling takes a minor nose dive once you hit the cabin, though, because it doesn't look as sumptuous as you'd expect in a premium SUV.

I love the utilitarian and military vibe of the vertical dashboard, chunky air vents and relatively small windscreen. It looks great but some trims are plasticky and the touchpoints, while soft, are not Lexus-plush.

However, the technology looks gorgeous with an integrated 14-inch multimedia display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The fixed sunroof with its two settings (clear or opaque) is also a lovely feature.

But on a whole, the GX 550's European rivals outclass it with their flashier cabins.

The LX500d, in keeping with its positioning in the luxury slice of the market, is an imposing, premium-looking vehicle. 

Lexus puts the LX500d’s dimensions at 5100mm long (with a 2850mm wheelbase), 1990mm wide, and 1885mm high (1895mm in the Enhancement Pack-equipped LX500d). This is a big, classy SUV, inside and out, and it’s more than just a 300 Series LandCruiser in a shiny suit.

The optional 22-inch alloy wheels (part of the $5500 Enhancement Pack) add to the overall polished look. 

The interior is a classy mix of woodgrain trim, Hazel leather accents, soft-touch surfaces, Shimamoku ornamentation, plush but supportive seating, and even comfortable arm-rests.

The cabin of the new GX 550 is fairly practical with plenty of head- and legroom in each row (yep, even the third!). When you first hop in, it can feel a big snug on elbow-room but this feeling quickly dissipates.

Despite a 215mm ground clearance, access is pretty good for the front and middle rows due to the wide door apertures and side-steps. Third row access is a bit awkward for an adult but my eight-year old loved scampering back there this week.

The electric front seats are comfortable with their extra functions and I like the way the massage feature extends to the seat cushion as it limits fatigue on longer journeys. However, you sit on top of them rather sink into them which makes it feel a little trucky at times.

The wide middle row has a bench seat that will be comfortable for kids but an adult might get a sore behind on a long trip. The transmission tunnel also compromises foot room for adults but the seat is wide enough to make use of all three top-tether anchor points (there are ISOFIX mounts too).

It was a little bit of an effort to lift my big booster seat into the back because the GX 550 sits so tall but otherwise, there's plenty of room around a child seat for them not to feel like a sardine.

Individual storage is made up of a glove box that fits an owner's manual, a small shelf in the dashboard and a middle console that doubles as a cool box (mini fridge) and can fit up to four cans or bottles in it.

Each row gets four drinkholders and two USB-C ports but the front also enjoys a 12-volt socket and wireless charging pad. There's a 220V domestic plug port in the boot for larger appliances, too.

It's sometimes awkward to use the wireless charging pad because it's easy for your phone to slide around on it and it quite often disengaged from charging.

My son enjoyed all of the other amenities in the middle row, like the reading lights, climate control, two USB-C ports and retractable sunblinds and I applaud carmakers when they position rear directional air vents in the pillars and/or roof. It just makes it so much easier to cool down sweaty kids!

The 14-inch multimedia display has clear graphics and a responsive touchscreen. The layout is easy enough to get used to after spending some time with it and the sat nav is simple to use.

I like that the sat nav directions can be pulled into the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display.

There is a Lexus connected services app, which you get a three-year subscription to. It's easy to connect to the wireless Apple CarPlay and there is also wireless Android Auto.

The system also has Bluetooth and digital radio, which is a delight to use through the 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

The cabin is rounded out by the well-shaped boot which has a massive 1063L of capacity when the third-row is folded. That's been more than enough for my family's needs this week and my German Shepherd was pretty comfy back there, too. The powered tailgate has a kick-function and there is a full-size spare wheel underneath the car.

The cabin is a cavernous, plush space and driver and passengers are all generally well served in terms of practicality and comfort.

The tech is simple enough to locate and operate – it was easy enough to get Apple CarPlay working – and the screens are big: the horizontal 12.3-inch multimedia unit upfront, an 8.0-inch screen (to monitor air-con, adaptive air-suspension height, the 4WD system, and other vehicle information), a head-up display, plus a 7.0-inch touchscreen for rear passengers.

Heating and cooling are managed via the climate concierge and everyone can keep themselves as comfortably hot or cold as they like with separate controls.

Storage is only reasonable for such a voluminous interior with a variety of door pockets, cupholders (eight in total), glove box, a deep centre console (with multiple ways to open the lids) as well as map pockets for the second row, cup-holders in the centre fold-down armrest and cupholders for the third row.

The Lexus has a Qi wireless charger and front and rear USB-C charging ports – one up front, two in the second row, and two in the third row. 

There’s a 12V DC socket (front and rear) and a 220V socket in the rear cargo area.

Power-adjustable seats up front mean the driver and front passenger can dial-in their favourite seating position and these seats are very comfortable. Even the second row is plush, but the third row is not quite at that comfort level.

Second-row passengers have air con and entertainment controls, and an HDMI port.

The sunroof – an Enhancement Pack inclusion – is power-adjustable and allows plenty of natural light in through the top.

The Lexus LX500d has a claimed 174L (VDA) of cargo space when seven seats are in use; 982L when five seats are being used (that’s with each half of the power-folding third row stowed flat at the push of a button); and 1871L when all seats are stowed away (the 60:40 folding second-row seats tumble-fold forward), except for the driver and front passenger, of course. 

The tailgate has a foot-swipe-to-open sensor (part of the $5500 Enhancement Pack).

The seven-seat LX500d is the base-spec in the three-variant diesel LX line-up – below the F Sport and Sports Luxury – but you wouldn’t know it from its price-tag.

The LX500d retails for $157,061 (excluding on-road costs), but our test vehicle has an optional Enhancement Pack (which includes 22-inch alloy wheels, sunroof, hands-free power tailgate with kick sensor, $5500) and has been fitted with a towing set-up (towbar etc, $1545 fitted) pushing its price up to $164,106 (excluding on-road costs).

As standard the LX500d features list includes a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bluetooth), a 25-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, heated and ventilated power-adjustable seats, woodgrain steering wheel trim, 8.0-inch multi-information driver display, four-zone climate control, 7.0-inch touchscreen and separate control panel for rear passengers, multi-terrain monitor with panoramic view, and 20-inch alloy wheels (but, as mentioned, our test vehicle has the Enhancement Pack with 22-inch alloy wheels).

It has a digital rear-view mirror, adaptive variable suspension with low, normal and two high settings, as well as full-time four-wheel drive, a low-range transfer case, locking centre differential, and a variety of driving modes (including off-road modes) and driver assistants.

Exterior paint choices include the no-extra-cost Onyx, or options such as Liquid Metal, White Nova (F Sport models only), Sonic Quartz (not available on F Sport models), Titanium, Graphite Black, and Khaki Metal (on our test vehicle), all of which incur an extra cost.

All GX 550 grades share the same 3.5L V6 twin turbo-petrol engine which produces up to 260kW of power and 650Nm of torque.

This 4WD has high- and low-gearing, as well as a bunch of driving modes to suit most occasions, like 'Eco', 'Comfort', 'Sport' and 'Sport+'.

The 10-speed automatic transmission shifts through its gears smoothly and it always feels like it's engaged in the right gear. Which isn't always the case for a big SUV!

The Sports Luxury is fitted with a towing hitch and cover but unlike the base Sports grade which has a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, this model only has a 3130kg capacity which might not appeal to families with big toys to tow. 

The Lexus LX500d has a 3.3-litre V6 twin turbo-diesel engine, producing 227kW at 4000rpm and 700Nm between 1600-2600rpm.

It has a 10-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode, a permanent all-wheel-drive system, low-range transfer case and a lockable centre diff. 

It also has six on-road drive modes – including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport S, Sport S+ and Custom – and off-road drive modes.

The V6 is an impressive fit in this behemoth, but even though this is a smooth-shifting SUV, there’s a leisurely, rather than lively, overall feel to how the engine and auto work together.

Because it is so hefty – with a listed 2690kg kerb weight – the Lexus does need a bit of heavy right boot to get going off the mark and during overtaking moves.

I didn’t have high hopes for fuel economy because the official combined (urban/extra-urban cycle figure is a hefty 12.3L/100km but after mostly open-road driving, with some urban stuff mixed in, my real-world average came in at 11.8L.100km! This figure is based on my actual km travelled (358km) and litres of fuel used (42.41L).

While I’m surprised by the fuel usage result, I wouldn’t say this car has good fuel economy compared to its diesel-powered counterparts but it’s not terrible!

The GX 550 has a relatively small fuel tank compared to its Toyota cousins at 80L and based on the combined fuel cycle, you’ll get a theoretical driving range of up to 650km.

Not all that great. Not for a big family mover and not if you’re typically driving in the city, where fuel usage will be a lot higher.

The GX 550 only accepts premium unleaded petrol (95 RON), too.

The Lexus LX500d seven-seater has a listed fuel consumption of 8.9L/100km on a combined cycle.

Our actual fuel consumption on this test, from pump to pump, was 12.2L/100km. Note: our test included a lot of low-range 4WDing. 

The LX500d has an 80-litre fuel tank – so, going by that on-test fuel consumption figure, you should be able to get a driving range of almost 656km from a full tank.

Oh my goodness the Sports Luxury is a masterclass on 4WD refinement! You never feel the bulk or weight of this massive SUV when you’re driving it. The power delivery is effortless and there’s lots of grunt available when you hit hills.

The handling is also very good with responsive steering and enough road feedback as a driver to make you feel comfortable with what the car is doing. There is some roll in corners but it can tackle more corners at speed than I thought it would. 

The high driving position makes me feel like I can see a long way ahead yet while visibility is mostly good, it can be compromised when you have the side window shades and the third row headrests up. Which is why I love the digital rear view mirror.

Overall, ride comfort is good with forgiving suspension and low cabin noise, even at higher speeds. It’s pretty easy to chat with all rows and there’s not a lot of engine noise which adds to the refinement. I do like hearing a V6 rumble but that’s just a personal preference. 

I was a little worried about hitting my local Westfield car park but this is a nimble SUV to manoeuvre and parking it is a breeze with the 360-degree camera system and parking sensors. 

This Lexus feels tighter and better controlled than previous iterations on sealed surfaces, but it’s still a big rig so it’s no surprise when body roll continually creeps in, with this hefty SUV revealing wallowing tendencies even at optimal ride height. 

The suspension set-up – adjustable dampers, double wishbones at the front, a four-linkage rigid axle at the rear, stabiliser bars front and rear – irons out any major issues, but, even with consistent support from the adaptive variable suspension, it’s not perfect.

Steering is light and precise and adds to this posh 2690kg beast’s overall feeling of low-key composure.

This is a very nice cabin in which to spend time as NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels are kept to a minimum.

As mentioned earlier, the drive modes include normal, eco, sport and each adjusts throttle response, engine outputs, and gearshifts to suit the driver and the driving conditions.

Now for a few on-road niggles…

The brake pedals feel too spongy in their action – from stomp to stop – but the ventilated disc brakes front and rear do manage to wrench the Lexus to a controlled halt when needed.

The V6 and auto work well together, and though that transmission remains a smooth shifter, 10 gear ratios still seem like too many to me but, alas, that’s the way of the world.

To the off-road portion of this test…

The LX500d is a great open-road tourer but it does reveal some flaws when it comes to 4WDing – but more about those later.

As well as its robust mechanicals, the Lexus has off-road-capable Cruiser underpinnings with dirt-biased tech thrown into the mix as well. 

There’s plenty of glass around so driver-to-track visibility is fine, steering feels light but takes on a clinical precision during low-speed, low-range 4WDing.

And ‘clinical’ is exactly how the Lexus continues to feel off-road – with multi-terrain select driving modes offering auto, dirt, sand, mud, deep snow, and rock options; with a multi-terrain monitor and panoramic view helping you ‘see’ everywhere on the track; with active height control helping you to lift the vehicle’s body in order to improve off-road angles at the push of a button; and don’t forget about downhill assist control, hill-start assist, crawl control, and off-road traction control.

The danger is that – with so much tech working away at making everything so easy and safe – the driver feels completely removed from the off-road experience. The LX500d isn’t the only culprit, not by a long shot; most of the current crop of off-road vehicles are increasingly offering a sanitised, hyper-controlled version of 4WDing rather than the visceral experience many of us know and love. I’m old and grumpy, sue me.

Our test vehicle has all-season Dunlop Grandtrek 265/50R22 112V tyres, which are fine for sealed surfaces, but they’re not at all suited to the demands of low-range 4WDing in tough conditions, even more so on these 22-inch rims.

Unbraked towing capacity is 750kg, braked towing capacity is 3500kg. The LX500d has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 3280kg and a gross combination mass (GCM) of 6780kg.

It has a full-size spare tyre and that’s mounted under the rear cargo area.

The Lexus does not have an ANCAP safety rating as it has not been tested.

Safety features include 10 airbags (driver and front passenger: front, knee, side; rear: side), AEB with pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera with rear camera washer, adaptive cruise control, road sign assist, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, tyre pressure warning system, and more.

Lexus offers the GX 550 with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is fairly standard compared to its Euro rivals.

You get five years capped-priced servicing which costs $5950 but the servicing schedule is a bit of a bear at every six months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first.

The Lexus LX500d has a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Capped-price servicing applies for three years or 60,000km, whichever occurs the soonest. 

Service intervals are scheduled for every six months or 10,000km intervals with each appointment costing $495 a pop over that period.

Lexus Encore benefits – including a loan vehicle during services, service pick-up and return, as well as valet parking offers and fuel discounts – are standard for new Lexus owners.