I drove the 550 GX Luxury today since the Overtrail I had an appointment to drive sold before I got there. I absolutely Loved it! The engine felt great, sounded great. Plenty of power! The overall drive was impressive. I did get to sit inside the OverTrail and look around. I'm sold. It's crazy money, but I can be very very happy driving this beautiful vehicle for a very long time. I was surprised that the vehicle in person is a little smaller than I was expecting and that's a good thing for me. I will buy one and may wait until the 2025s hit the lots.
Thanks for the incredible review. My only complaint is at 1:15 when you said, "That thing is not a Land Cruiser, that's a Prado." Prados are Land Cruisers. They are one of the 3 main members of the Land Cruiser family. Otherwise, I enjoyed the directing and the way you described the experience. It is a very nice vehicle, for sure.
Hey thank you! And I completely agree with you, its tricky to explain that all Prados are land cruisers, but not all land cruisers are prados … I’d reword that if I could to clarify that it’s not the same as the traditional version of the LC we have known in the US which has traditionally been the larger LX570, and Toyota Landcruiser both with larger frame and V8. Really appreciate you watching! I’ll be reviewing the new LC soon and will try to revisit this topic
Right! In Europe, where we not necessarily only go for the big V8s, we have learned to appreciate the Land Cruiser 90/120/150 series (in other markets branded Land Cruiser Prado). By all means, these are also Land Cruisers! They belong to the so called "light duty" family of LCs, but believe me; they are really more heavy duty than most SUVs. Strong constructions, very reliable engines, turbo diesels with torque and a good fuel mileage, are very good daily drivers and so on. They also tend to be better off roaders, especially on trails and terrain where the 100/200/300 series simply are too heavy. There really isn´t such a thing as "only a Prado" and "the one and only REAL Land Cruiser". Toyota has engineered both series for different purposes, manufactured them side by side in the same factory plant, partly put the same components into them and has built the same quality into them. Clearly, the big brother is far more expensive. Of course one can expect (and demand) more for that high price than from the smaller brother. But they are true brothers. Land Cruisers.
It's like calling a Cherokee a Jeep. A Prado is NOT. Land Cruiser even if it is in the name and enthusiasts know that. Just like the only jeeps are wranglers and gladiators. It's just true.
@@takedownartist1 On the contrary, that's not true, and your comparison isn't accurate. The Land Cruiser is a family of three vehicles, not just one. It's not a brand name like Jeep. The first-gen Prado is essentially a 70-series Land Cruiser with coil springs added for better comfort on the road before its own unique series was introduced. That's why it's called the light-duty Land Cruiser.
This review is awesome and I love this car. So many negative people but your quality, personality and input are appreciated! Thank you for this, love any GX 550 OT content we can get :)
Thank you, I really appreciate that! I’m editing one more video on the GX550 now so we have a little more OT+ content coming soon! It’s a test Vs the 4Runner that hasnt been done yet. Excited to post it soon.
@ no way! That’s amazing, well I’ll definitely have my eyes open for that, thanks for giving the people what they want. Our families’ is on route for shipping from Japan and you really help me feel confident in our purchase and know that we made a solid decision.
@@dzonin.8403 oh nice! You’ll love it, very nice comfortable, capable vehicle. It was a joy to drive I didn’t want to give it back at the end of the week. Enjoy!
Yeah, $83k is nuts. Plastic interior, no air suspension, average driving characteristics. So silly. Not blaming Lexus, either. Lots of reasons for the jump in cost that have nothing to do with the manufacturer
Yeah definitely a lot of money, I do enjoy the truck though. It was a really nice daily driver for how capable it was. I think driving characteristics are actually great for how off road capable it is
Air suspension is not wanted feature for a true off Roader, thats why Range Rovers are stuck in squat position after a few years. The prior GX 460, which I own, did have a rear suspension option, and true off roaders would avoid that one. I own GX 460, FJ cruiser and Toyota Prado Diesel, now a Lexus GX 550 OT.... and FYI it's maybe 83K, it's selling for over sticker, even in the used car market.
The GX 550 is an upgrade to the Landcruiser 250 NOT the 4runner. This will become more clear to you since the 25' 4runner cross between Tacoma/ Landcruiser 250.
Curious what the tire pressure was during drive. I have read dealers have not noticed overinflated tires from shipping . Could account for the vibrations noticed.
Oh that’s an interesting point, I didn’t check but could have been at play here. I’ve driven other GX550s and didn’t have this issue so figured its tire related
@ I receive mine in a week I’ll see how well their PDI is related to tire pressure ha! Online many have said the dealers must have skipped checking tire pressures etc.
Great review, yes, 83k is lots of money but this is a lot more value when compared to Ford Bronco Raptor for 90K or a highly unreliable Range Rover...and it keeps its value really well...so, to me this is a bargain
Thank you! And agreed, I’d buy this over a bronco raptor or Range Rover any day of the week. Since it’s a new model year, tbd on resale value but you’re right that the previous gen has held value very well
I bought 2024 gx 550 premium plus 4 months ago i currently have over 10k miles. be honest i like driving the 2024 Rx loaner when my truck is at the dealership for service and issues. There is no comfortable seating position on the gx no sunglasses holder interior is plain the good part the exterior looks really nice.
@MakingMonroe im with a group 2024 gx 550 in Facebook of 29k members real owners agree that is not comfortable at all. How long did you have the gx with you? Did you go for a long drive?
Seriously how many people can afford an 83k vehicle without comprising their lifestyle. I know a lot of people will live in massive debt for material stuff but i just can't live like that.
If money isn’t a concern yes. If you’re looking for a bargain though the 4R is awesome bang for your buck. I’m loving my 4R as a daily driver right now. I have ORP
I would like a 550 in the second or third year. 2025 or 2026. I think it's worth the price. But i would also rather get one a year or two old and let someone else take the hit.
there's no practical difference in this price range... if you can swing 90k you can also swing 130k... the GX550 lacks the classic Lexus quality interior... hop in a LX600 and the true Lexus feel/finish is evident again. The LX700H OT is shaping up to be the true "GX460 successor"... once they put e-kdss on that 700h everyone will be happy... in this price-range we're not thinking about the cost, but rather what we get vs what's missing and too much is missing from the GX550 relative to classic lexus... the most content GX550 buyers are coming from non-Lexus vehicles...(you can't miss what you never had)... but you can't pull up your 460 to a dealer lot 550 and say the interior of the 550 is equal or better to the 460... rather, it's a palpable downgrade that even "wife" can see/feel
I hear you, and get where you’re coming from. I owned a GX460 though and that OT+ interior was just as nice but in a more modern way. It’s also higher quality than what you see in a lot of other luxury vehicles, like Mercedes GLE right now imo.
You're talking about a $650-$700 difference in monthly payment over 60 months. I don't know anyone who would not notice that. Perhaps they could swing it, but would they?
yeah thats why they are selling over sticker in the used car market, even Today and the 24 models are still on back order, the demand is high. The GX 550 OT has more demand than the LX600.... it's the cooler SUV. Stop hating, I own plenty of Toyotas including a GX 460 and yes its built like a tank, but its old tech and compared to the GX 550 OT, way behind it in capability off the show room floor.
I’m a big LX570 fan as well, just a different experience. All the new tech in the GX550 is definitely nice for daily driving but I agree every time I see an LX570 on the road I wish I had one lol
They switched to a v6 turbo for emissions. Ford mustang went to 2 air boxes for emissions. Bmw b58 added to port injection for emissions. The reason fuel economy isn’t really that much better is because it’s for emissions. The 3.4 twin turbo in the gx 550 has also had main bearing failure just like the tundra. They just haven’t recalled them like Toyota did.
@ Nope, but there’s plenty of soft touch points in the vehicle. As well as leather padding is key areas which match the pedigree of the vehicle. I expect hard plastic in areas out of sight. And in the GX they’ve placed them below knee level which makes the most sense.
They’ve had some issues with the 3.4 in the Tundra, which Toyota is fixing for consumers, but as of now there haven’t been any reported issues with this engine in the GX550, so I don’t think that’s fair to say. it’s the same engine from a hardware standpoint, but there are likely differences in production, tuning etc.
@MakingMonroe Are you paid by toyota. There is a severe design issue with the engine, does not matter the vehicle. Independent engineers have confirmed that the main crank bolt journals are not enough in number and not robust enough to deal with the force imposed by the turbo.
Nope not paid by Toyota and I do get your concern but if we are only considering the facts, there has been no reports of GX550 owners having engine issues at this time
I drove the 550 GX Luxury today since the Overtrail I had an appointment to drive sold before I got there. I absolutely Loved it! The engine felt great, sounded great. Plenty of power! The overall drive was impressive. I did get to sit inside the OverTrail and look around. I'm sold. It's crazy money, but I can be very very happy driving this beautiful vehicle for a very long time. I was surprised that the vehicle in person is a little smaller than I was expecting and that's a good thing for me. I will buy one and may wait until the 2025s hit the lots.
Definitely a nice vehicle glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent review 👏🏽
Jon, you crushed this review‼️💯 I can rock with the 550‼️
Ay thank you! Appreciate you watching!
Thanks for the incredible review. My only complaint is at 1:15 when you said, "That thing is not a Land Cruiser, that's a Prado." Prados are Land Cruisers. They are one of the 3 main members of the Land Cruiser family. Otherwise, I enjoyed the directing and the way you described the experience. It is a very nice vehicle, for sure.
Hey thank you! And I completely agree with you, its tricky to explain that all Prados are land cruisers, but not all land cruisers are prados … I’d reword that if I could to clarify that it’s not the same as the traditional version of the LC we have known in the US which has traditionally been the larger LX570, and Toyota Landcruiser both with larger frame and V8. Really appreciate you watching! I’ll be reviewing the new LC soon and will try to revisit this topic
Right! In Europe, where we not necessarily only go for the big V8s, we have learned to appreciate the Land Cruiser 90/120/150 series (in other markets branded Land Cruiser Prado). By all means, these are also Land Cruisers! They belong to the so called "light duty" family of LCs, but believe me; they are really more heavy duty than most SUVs. Strong constructions, very reliable engines, turbo diesels with torque and a good fuel mileage, are very good daily drivers and so on. They also tend to be better off roaders, especially on trails and terrain where the 100/200/300 series simply are too heavy. There really isn´t such a thing as "only a Prado" and "the one and only REAL Land Cruiser". Toyota has engineered both series for different purposes, manufactured them side by side in the same factory plant, partly put the same components into them and has built the same quality into them. Clearly, the big brother is far more expensive. Of course one can expect (and demand) more for that high price than from the smaller brother. But they are true brothers. Land Cruisers.
@@CarsNoCapThe Prado and regular Land Cruiser are now built on the same platform along with the Tacoma, Tundra, Sequoia, etc…
It's like calling a Cherokee a Jeep. A Prado is NOT. Land Cruiser even if it is in the name and enthusiasts know that. Just like the only jeeps are wranglers and gladiators. It's just true.
@@takedownartist1 On the contrary, that's not true, and your comparison isn't accurate. The Land Cruiser is a family of three vehicles, not just one. It's not a brand name like Jeep. The first-gen Prado is essentially a 70-series Land Cruiser with coil springs added for better comfort on the road before its own unique series was introduced. That's why it's called the light-duty Land Cruiser.
This review is awesome and I love this car. So many negative people but your quality, personality and input are appreciated! Thank you for this, love any GX 550 OT content we can get :)
Thank you, I really appreciate that! I’m editing one more video on the GX550 now so we have a little more OT+ content coming soon! It’s a test Vs the 4Runner that hasnt been done yet. Excited to post it soon.
@ no way! That’s amazing, well I’ll definitely have my eyes open for that, thanks for giving the people what they want. Our families’ is on route for shipping from Japan and you really help me feel confident in our purchase and know that we made a solid decision.
@@dzonin.8403 oh nice! You’ll love it, very nice comfortable, capable vehicle. It was a joy to drive I didn’t want to give it back at the end of the week. Enjoy!
love the intro music!
Me too, thanks bro!
Yeah, $83k is nuts. Plastic interior, no air suspension, average driving characteristics. So silly. Not blaming Lexus, either. Lots of reasons for the jump in cost that have nothing to do with the manufacturer
Yeah definitely a lot of money, I do enjoy the truck though. It was a really nice daily driver for how capable it was. I think driving characteristics are actually great for how off road capable it is
Air suspension not reliable in off-roading
Which one would be the best year?
Air suspension is not wanted feature for a true off Roader, thats why Range Rovers are stuck in squat position after a few years. The prior GX 460, which I own, did have a rear suspension option, and true off roaders would avoid that one. I own GX 460, FJ cruiser and Toyota Prado Diesel, now a Lexus GX 550 OT.... and FYI it's maybe 83K, it's selling for over sticker, even in the used car market.
What kind of an idiot would put air suspension on an offroading vehicle?Y would have to be some kind of stupid.
The V6 is not here for fuel economy, it's here for lower emissions. But yeah, naturally aspirated V8 will be missed!
I know what you mean but emissions and MPG are correlated
@@CarsNoCap You mean like diesels? lol
V8 is better..
83k is definitely a stretch, but the base versions are out there for nearly 20k less. And that is mighty tempting.
Im a big fan if this Lexus. Only cons for me is the fridge in the middle console and it needs a bigger fuel tank.
Same it’s a good vehicle!
TOYOTA does Body-on-Frame ride quality PERFECT. ❤
Agree!! 🙌🏼
Your review is right on point. I agree with everything you said. This vehicle is awesome but it would have been perfect if it was available in a V8.
Thank you! And agreed, wish it still had a V8
The 550 is an upgrade to the 4runner not the GX460
It’s an upgrade to the 460 in many ways, though I do also love the 460
The GX 550 OT is a total upgrader to the old GX 460, in so many ways... I own both... It's the better SUV, for sure!
You’re delusional
The GX 550 is an upgrade to the Landcruiser 250 NOT the 4runner. This will become more clear to you since the 25' 4runner cross between Tacoma/ Landcruiser 250.
Curious what the tire pressure was during drive. I have read dealers have not noticed overinflated tires from
shipping . Could account for the vibrations noticed.
Oh that’s an interesting point, I didn’t check but could have been at play here. I’ve driven other GX550s and didn’t have this issue so figured its tire related
@ I receive mine in a week I’ll see how well their PDI is related to tire pressure ha! Online many have said the dealers must have skipped checking tire pressures etc.
Song?
Can you do a review of the 2025 Ram Tungsten next? 🫣
Would love to, I’ll email Ram and see if they will provide one for review!
@ yay! Thank you 💓
I love GX550 OT+...
Great review, yes, 83k is lots of money but this is a lot more value when compared to Ford Bronco Raptor for 90K or a highly unreliable Range Rover...and it keeps its value really well...so, to me this is a bargain
Thank you! And agreed, I’d buy this over a bronco raptor or Range Rover any day of the week. Since it’s a new model year, tbd on resale value but you’re right that the previous gen has held value very well
I bought 2024 gx 550 premium plus 4 months ago i currently have over 10k miles. be honest i like driving the 2024 Rx loaner when my truck is at the dealership for service and issues. There is no comfortable seating position on the gx no sunglasses holder interior is plain the good part the exterior looks really nice.
I'm surprised about the seating! I found the GX really comfy. Maybe it depends on your body type?
@MakingMonroe im with a group 2024 gx 550 in Facebook of 29k members real owners agree that is not comfortable at all. How long did you have the gx with you? Did you go for a long drive?
That’s weird because I have seen reviews where they drove it 1000 miles and said it was very comfortable.
Seriously how many people can afford an 83k vehicle without comprising their lifestyle. I know a lot of people will live in massive debt for material stuff but i just can't live like that.
Agreed, $83k isn’t cheap
Would you choose this over TRD 4Runner?
If money isn’t a concern yes. If you’re looking for a bargain though the 4R is awesome bang for your buck. I’m loving my 4R as a daily driver right now. I have ORP
I would like a 550 in the second or third year. 2025 or 2026. I think it's worth the price. But i would also rather get one a year or two old and let someone else take the hit.
Agreed. Always good to let them work out the kinks of a new model and then buy one slightly used to avoid new car depreciation
$83,000 😮😮
Yeah. Not cheap!
8:45 "maybe if they come out with a V8 later" Yeah right
lol I’m a hopeful guy
there's no practical difference in this price range... if you can swing 90k you can also swing 130k... the GX550 lacks the classic Lexus quality interior... hop in a LX600 and the true Lexus feel/finish is evident again. The LX700H OT is shaping up to be the true "GX460 successor"... once they put e-kdss on that 700h everyone will be happy... in this price-range we're not thinking about the cost, but rather what we get vs what's missing and too much is missing from the GX550 relative to classic lexus... the most content GX550 buyers are coming from non-Lexus vehicles...(you can't miss what you never had)... but you can't pull up your 460 to a dealer lot 550 and say the interior of the 550 is equal or better to the 460... rather, it's a palpable downgrade that even "wife" can see/feel
I hear you, and get where you’re coming from. I owned a GX460 though and that OT+ interior was just as nice but in a more modern way. It’s also higher quality than what you see in a lot of other luxury vehicles, like Mercedes GLE right now imo.
You're talking about a $650-$700 difference in monthly payment over 60 months. I don't know anyone who would not notice that. Perhaps they could swing it, but would they?
Come on, be serious. 40k is a big difference.
yeah thats why they are selling over sticker in the used car market, even Today and the 24 models are still on back order, the demand is high. The GX 550 OT has more demand than the LX600.... it's the cooler SUV. Stop hating, I own plenty of Toyotas including a GX 460 and yes its built like a tank, but its old tech and compared to the GX 550 OT, way behind it in capability off the show room floor.
I can swing 90k easily. Cannot swing 130k comfortably. Get real dude.
@MakingMonroe Saw a GX just like this on Chamblee Dunwoody last week of November. Bet that was you.
Yes sir that was probably me! That’s the week I had it and I was filming in that area.
$83K? Please tell me that's in Canadian $$.
USD, for the Overtrail+ model here in Canada, with rock rails is $107K Cdn.
Nope USD
Rather used lx570
I’m a big LX570 fan as well, just a different experience. All the new tech in the GX550 is definitely nice for daily driving but I agree every time I see an LX570 on the road I wish I had one lol
@@CarsNoCapI disagree no real tech
They switched to a v6 turbo for emissions. Ford mustang went to 2 air boxes for emissions. Bmw b58 added to port injection for emissions. The reason fuel economy isn’t really that much better is because it’s for emissions.
The 3.4 twin turbo in the gx 550 has also had main bearing failure just like the tundra. They just haven’t recalled them like Toyota did.
Wood grain doesn’t equal luxury lol. People need to get over it.
😆 yeah I agree
And plastic does?
@ Nope, but there’s plenty of soft touch points in the vehicle. As well as leather padding is key areas which match the pedigree of the vehicle. I expect hard plastic in areas out of sight. And in the GX they’ve placed them below knee level which makes the most sense.
Yes it does.. if not, then why most luxury brands use it?
@ That’s not true. Most manufacturers are completely excluding wood trim. It looks tacky anyways. People need to get over it.
With the exploding engine! Engine in this vehicle is junk! Toyota has yet to fix the design!
They’ve had some issues with the 3.4 in the Tundra, which Toyota is fixing for consumers, but as of now there haven’t been any reported issues with this engine in the GX550, so I don’t think that’s fair to say. it’s the same engine from a hardware standpoint, but there are likely differences in production, tuning etc.
@MakingMonroe Are you paid by toyota. There is a severe design issue with the engine, does not matter the vehicle. Independent engineers have confirmed that the main crank bolt journals are not enough in number and not robust enough to deal with the force imposed by the turbo.
@@kgpax where are you getting this info from?
@tts8297 I believe it was bobistheoilguy had some info on this but the detail was removed. Still some ramblings about it there is believe.
Nope not paid by Toyota and I do get your concern but if we are only considering the facts, there has been no reports of GX550 owners having engine issues at this time
Biased
👍🏼
Ugly Lexus… For over 80k is too much!!
Nah, not ugly