GX550 Reviews (1 Viewer)

[tacoshawn]

For those needing to eek-out more range the hybrid will be the ticket.

Our ‘23 RX500h had a fantastically drivable powertrain and returned a consistent 27mpg every day, everywhere. While it’s powertrain (Direct 4 architecture = 2.4L turbo, + 6 speed gearbox + electric) is not the exact same as the LC250 or GX550 hybrid it gives me a good indication of really good real-world performance is on the way.

The RX is ~1000lb lighter and was optimized for power 366hp and 400 lb-ft of torque due to the competition in that market segment.

The extra 2 gears (8 speeds) and torque increase @ 465 lb-ft in the LC/GX application seems very appropriate and I expect that will be a winner for most users and will have better range. It won’t get to 27MPG here, but 22 - 24-ish combined might be achieved.

Toyota (by design) doesn’t let the full tank capacity be utilized in hybrids to protect the hybrid system. In RX’s the usable tank is ~14 gallons out of 17 rated.

If the LC/GX hybrid has 17 gallons usable range then should be 375 - 425 miles. Not a 30 gallon tank, but helpful.

 

[TheLCProject]

If the LC/GX hybrid has 17 gallons usable range then should be 375 - 425 miles. Not a 30 gallon tank, but helpful.

Let's hope it's the 17gal tank and not something smaller. Toyota would be leaving pennies on the table if they sent the LC250/Prado with the 17gal tank when they can assume all North Americans just need a 14gal tank.

 

[tacoshawn]

Let's hope it's the 17gal tank and not something smaller. Toyota would be leaving pennies on the table if they sent the LC250/Prado with the 17gal tank when they can assume all North Americans just need a 14gal tank.

Personally, my guess it is the 21 gallon tank with usable of 17 or 18 gallons. Toyota won’t make a unique hybrid gas tank unless compelled by other vehicle design constraints.

 

[Canyonero]

For those needing to eek-out more range the hybrid will be the ticket.

Our ‘23 RX500h had a fantastically drivable powertrain and returned a consistent 27mpg every day, everywhere. While it’s powertrain (Direct 4 architecture = 2.4L turbo, + 6 speed gearbox + electric) is not the exact same as the LC250 or GX550 hybrid it gives me a good indication of really good real-world performance is on the way.

The RX is ~1000lb lighter and was optimized for power 366hp and 400 lb-ft of torque due to the competition in that market segment.

The extra 2 gears (8 speeds) and torque increase @ 465 lb-ft in the LC/GX application seems very appropriate and I expect that will be a winner for most users and will have better range. It won’t get to 27MPG here, but 22 - 24-ish combined might be achieved.

Toyota (by design) doesn’t let the full tank capacity be utilized in hybrids to protect the hybrid system. In RX’s the usable tank is ~14 gallons out of 17 rated.

If the LC/GX hybrid has 17 gallons usable range then should be 375 - 425 miles. Not a 30 gallon tank, but helpful.

I have a '23 RX500h also - what happened to yours? Agree, it's a pretty good drivetrain between the electric motors and then the turbo spooling up. Not fast relative to an XM or something, but definitely not a snoozefest like an RX350.

I'm excited to drive this 3.4 turbo motor that Toyota is now apparently putting in everything.

 

[tacoshawn]

I have a '23 RX500h also - what happened to yours? Agree, it's a pretty good drivetrain between the electric motors and then the turbo spooling up. Not fast relative to an XM or something, but definitely not a snoozefest like an RX350.

I'm excited to drive this 3.4 turbo motor that Toyota is now apparently putting in everything.

Our RX500h was a very early VIN (#103X) and threw re-occurring mystery CELs. It was lemon law returned to Lexus @ just under 5K miles. Lexus/dealer treated us right in the entire process (loaner, buy back, replacement RX) so we replaced it with a 2023 RX350h that has had no issues and is now @ 12K miles. We drive a fair bit @ ~ 18K annual so my wife likes the 36mpg of the 350h.

The RX500h Direct4 accelerated from a standstill, on on ramps and when passing like the 5L V8 my Jaguar XF had. The 500h was my vote for more zoom over the 350h. It’s my wife’s vehicle so ultimately it was her choice. And she wanted Nori Green in the replacement which is not available on the 500h.

I have a foot in both camps in the 25X Series land. I have a place in line for a GX550 and one for the LC. They hybrid is rationally what suits my needs (assuming it drives similar to the RX500h).

The 3.4L TT is attractive because I’m interested in picking up a midsize Travel Trailer (~23 foot) at some point in the not-so-distant future and I think it would be good at towing a 5K lb TT.

BTW, Nori Green is a fantastic color, my wife does not like the idea of my getting a Nori Green GX and ‘copying’ her.

 

[Canyonero]

Our RX500h was a very early VIN (#103X) and threw re-occurring mystery CELs. It was lemon law returned to Lexus @ just under 5K miles. Lexus/dealer treated us right in the entire process (loaner, buy back, replacement RX) so we replaced it with a 2023 RX350h that has had no issues and is now @ 12K miles. We drive a fair bit @ ~ 18K annual so my wife likes the 36mpg of the 350h.

The RX500h Direct4 accelerated from a standstill, on on ramps and when passing like the 5L V8 my Jaguar XF had. The 500h was my vote for more zoom over the 350h. It’s my wife’s vehicle so ultimately it was her choice. And she wanted Nori Green in the replacement which is not available on the 500h.

I have a foot in both camps in the 25X Series land. I have a place in line for a GX550 and one for the LC. They hybrid is rationally what suits my needs (assuming it drives similar to the RX500h).

The 3.4L TT is attractive because I’m interested in picking up a midsize Travel Trailer (~23 foot) at some point in the not-so-distant future and I think it would be good at towing a 5K lb TT.

BTW, Nori Green is a fantastic color, my wife does not like the idea of my getting a Nori Green GX and ‘copying’ her.

Crazy that a brand new Lexus was lemon law'd. We actually have had quite a few teething issues with ours as well - the dashboard was comming apart and from a stop (especially when cold) the transmission is very lurchy. Needless to say it's probably on the chopping block when my name gets called for the GX550!

Sorry for dissing the RX350! Happy wife, happy life and all that. Nori Green is definitely solid - I will take my GX550 Overtail in whatever color they give me. It's one of the infuriating things about Toyota and Lexus - you can't actually order your vehicle. I hope they get with the program on that.

 

[tacoshawn]

Crazy that a brand new Lexus was lemon law'd. We actually have had quite a few teething issues with ours as well - the dashboard was comming apart and from a stop (especially when cold) the transmission is very lurchy. Needless to say it's probably on the chopping block when my name gets called for the GX550!

Sorry for dissing the RX350! Happy wife, happy life and all that. Nori Green is definitely solid - I will take my GX550 Overtail in whatever color they give me. It's one of the infuriating things about Toyota and Lexus - you can't actually order your vehicle. I hope they get with the program on that.

It’s not dissing when it is factual, he he. She is happy so, therefore, so am I.

I will say an RX350h does scoot better than any 240hp powertrain should due to the electric having full torque @ 0RPM. It does what it should, quietly (when not hard accelerating), smoothly and with good comfort. Toss in heated steering wheel, heated/ventilated seats and a decent factory stereo. I didn’t know I needed a heated steering wheel until I drove her RX?!?!?

I sold the Jaguar in CV days, gave my son my Tacoma 2 years ago and and am now driving her Honda Odyssey until my GX/LC is in the drive way. If her RX is in the driveway I take it before I take the Honda.

 

[TWILLY]

Personally, my guess it is the 21 gallon tank with usable of 17 or 18 gallons. Toyota won’t make a unique hybrid gas tank unless compelled by other vehicle design constraints.

I expect so too; 21 gallon would be the default. Now let’s not screw that up…

 

[Patassa]

Is the hybrid version going to lose the 3rd row?

 

[Sandroad]

In my experience the Toyota hybrids (cars and trucks) truly shine in low end torque delivery, I expect that'll be the case with the 250.

It's disappointing to see how badly Lexus missed the mark with efficiency and range. Off highway 15 mpg is pathetic in the year 2024. But they didn't stop there: they could have mitigated that thirst with a larger fuel tank, but Lexus instead gives us only 21 gallons of fuel capacity for a paltry off-highway range of about 300 miles.

This repeats the same efficiency and range shortcomings that have plagued US market Land Cruisers (and Lexus versions thereof) for more than three decades. You'd think that, with an "overtrail" model, they'd have not repeated that failure but alas, few buyers will actually use these for remote touring.

And 21 gallons will be small for towing, which whacks the already low mpg. Bummer.

 

[Oakleyguy]

And 21 gallons will be small for towing, which whacks the already low mpg. Bummer.

I'm reserving judgement for real world results on the total range, laden, unladen, and while towing.

That said:
GX550: 17MPG Combined x 17Gal Capacity (4gal in reserve) = 289miles
My 2014 LC: 12 MPG Combined x 20Gal Capacity (4gal in reserve) = 240miles

For my recent 1400mile round trip from Denver to Tulsa and back I averaged 12mpg. To fair though, my truck is quite a bit heavier thanks to my mods.

 

[mth235325]

Can anyone comment on this one :

 

[Jstawgn]

Can anyone comment on this one :

No. I refuse to watch his channel again. Too much bait and switch. Fells like watching Scott Kilmer but specific to GX

 

[Phillyd2]

Can anyone comment on this one :

Can anyone comment on this one :

It is a good and valid point that the other trim levels missing E-KDSS is a miss but is blah-blah-blah presentation is always painful to hear.

 

[Patassa]

Can anyone comment on this one :

E-kdss "locked" aka like every other stationary sway bar system? I thought the primary advantage of e-kdss was it's ability to unlock the sway bars for added articulation off road? If so, Lexus' decision makes more than enough sense for me, they know that a minority of even Overtrail trims will be used off road, that leaves almost no Premium or Luxury trim models actually needing more than the generous articulation they already have, why add the complication?

So is he actually claiming that the GX needs E-kdss to have normal sway bar performance on road? Considering all the vehicles that Toyota/Lexus have made without e-kdss and the body roll is perfectly acceptable, his point seems completely hyperbolic. Get's clicks though.

 

[APIOQM]

It is a good and valid point that the other trim levels missing E-KDSS is a miss but is blah-blah-blah presentation is always painful to hear.

I would agree if the models without E-KDSS didn't have more articulation than the previous generation with KDSS. More flex with less complication is a win-win IMO.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

These are still preproduction prototypes. I wouldn’t worry about it.

They are not prototype, more appropriately pre-production. Finishes and trim will continue to change. We will see our very fist production units in the US in March as of last update. Edit: 100% confirmed these were all pre-pro GX550 units.

 

[woodsy460]

I think giving up the improved on-road handling that E-KDSS provides is a miss for Toyota.

 

[Jstawgn]

The EKDSS totally change the philosophy of the old KDSS. It's not connected front and rear anymore. It supposed to be more comfortable to drive on rough terrain. EKDSS basically become limited swaybar disconnect front and rear. In some applications we can argue why not front and rear SDM system? In some applications adding stiffer rear bar while disconnecting front are shown to have better stability / balance off road.

KDSS is linked front and rear giving a sense for forced articulation off road. It have massive swaybar and use hydraulic to allow for flex and absorb some of the shock. The balance front and rear are maintained by hydraulic pressure equalization. Drawback is it produce pretry strong head toss when driven roughly at speed above 12 MPH.

 

[Jetboy]

I thought ekdss retained the front-rear hydraulic link. No?