GX550 vs LX600 (5 Viewers)
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I’ve tried to avoid voicing my disappointment and frustrations with my GX550 purchase on the forum, because I don’t want to ruin the experience for the many people who really are happy with their purchase. And also because the complaints mostly get dismissed as whining or sore loser 460 owners.
But it’s precisely because a “thorough test drive” can’t uncover all the details of a complex car that justifies letting people voice their concerns in threads like the OP started.
I couldn’t have known until I took the car off-road that just putting it into 4LO will start a non-stop series of warning messages on the dash no matter how many times I try to dismiss them. I couldn’t have known until I tried to camp in it that after a while the interior lights will not come on no matter how many times you press the switch. I wouldn’t have known until I tried to use the navigation system on tight dirt switchbacks while consulting a paper map that there is no way to keep the map north up. And although subjective quality gets dismissed here as unimportant, I don’t see how I could have played around with the ML enough on a test drive to realize that there were only tweeters for the entire back, and what look like full-sized rear door speakers are just fake blank panels.
I’m grateful for all the people who took the time to post on both pros and cons on Mud prior to my purchase, and I learned a lot. But had I known all I know now about all the small details that add up, I personally would not have made the purchase. So think it's OK to talk about the flaws to help others in the same decisions. As for everyone being burned sometime or another, coming from a daily-driver Lexus I’m very happy with, I was expecting more from Lexus specifically - or at least expecting them to care about their shortcomings and work on them. That they don't is the real lesson for me.
Buying cars tends to be an emotional purchase for most and buyer’s remorse is a real thing. I don’t always heed my own advice but the best thing I’d leave someone shopping with is to be patient and do as much homework as possible before signing loan docs or writing a big fat check.
Of course not, although a thorough test drive should be more than enough of a general gauge to assess if a vehicle will be acceptable or not. And if unsure, go home, think about it and test drive it again in a few days.
But to trash post the vehicle as a "total PIECE OF F'ING SH*T" with trash materials --after-- you forked over $80k to buy it? Something went wrong during the evaluation and purchase decision making process.
turbo8
Supporting Vendor
It is dumb, but you can turn off the warnings when in 4lo.
While stopped, under driver assist in the infotainment, turn off pre collision system.
This!
Shout it from the rooftops!
I discovered the defeat only after four days of trails at LCDC of course.
My dealer still says no fix… but I see lots of people getting it taken care of under warranty by body shops. Basically they are squirting panel bond in there.
NY2LA
SILVER Star
I sold my Land Cruiser 200 Heritage Edition and got the GX 550. I wrote elsewhere about the difference between the vehicles.
Without question, the GX 550 represents a decline in terms of soundproofing and the robustness of the hood. But piece of s***? Well, that's ridiculous.
First off, I get complements everywhere I go on the GX 550's looks.
Second, highway performance is fantastic. The variable suspension on the Overtrail model does an incredible job of letting drivers switch between a sedan-like feel and a more plush feel, depending on conditions. Lexus completely nailed the road performance of this vehicle.
Third, offroad traction is phenomenal, despite the half-this, half-that tires. The ekdss just works, and the rear diff lock, which I've only used a couple of times is there for those times you need more. Now, a lot of us want/need better angles and a little more ground clearance. But there are options for that out now. Several low-cut bumpers are on the market, and Lexus made it easy to go up a couple inches on tire size.
As for the electronics, they are highly customizable. Their not s*** just because they're not tailored off the shelf to any one user's preferences. I have only one annoying message about my parking brake left after making my adjustments. The "nanny" features that I've left on may have saved me from one accident so far. And nothing is left getting in the way of my offroad drives. For interior lighting when parked offroad, I use supplemental tube lights strapped to the handles in the rear, which are much better than any factory lights on any vehicle.
Personally, I would have happily spend 5K more on this vehicle to get a more robust hood and better sound insulation. But everything has tradeoffs, and these things aren't a big deal to me.
Without question, the GX 550 represents a decline in terms of soundproofing and the robustness of the hood. But piece of s***? Well, that's ridiculous.
First off, I get complements everywhere I go on the GX 550's looks.
Second, highway performance is fantastic. The variable suspension on the Overtrail model does an incredible job of letting drivers switch between a sedan-like feel and a more plush feel, depending on conditions. Lexus completely nailed the road performance of this vehicle.
Third, offroad traction is phenomenal, despite the half-this, half-that tires. The ekdss just works, and the rear diff lock, which I've only used a couple of times is there for those times you need more. Now, a lot of us want/need better angles and a little more ground clearance. But there are options for that out now. Several low-cut bumpers are on the market, and Lexus made it easy to go up a couple inches on tire size.
As for the electronics, they are highly customizable. Their not s*** just because they're not tailored off the shelf to any one user's preferences. I have only one annoying message about my parking brake left after making my adjustments. The "nanny" features that I've left on may have saved me from one accident so far. And nothing is left getting in the way of my offroad drives. For interior lighting when parked offroad, I use supplemental tube lights strapped to the handles in the rear, which are much better than any factory lights on any vehicle.
Personally, I would have happily spend 5K more on this vehicle to get a more robust hood and better sound insulation. But everything has tradeoffs, and these things aren't a big deal to me.
Thanks. Is it just the VSC or isn't there one more item to kill too on the GX? Maybe it depends on what else you already had enabled? Thought mine cycles through two things it's mad about.
Luckily after so much reading of every single forum post I could find while anxiously waiting for mine, by the time I really needed 4LO for a long run I vaguely remembered something like that, so was able to randomly click around turning things off until it stopped. It's more about the fact that they clearly didn't bother to really test out the "Overtrail" part of the car. I guess they know their customer base and buy into the meme that the biggest workout these things will get is in the Starbucks parking lot - unfortunately I bought it just for getting off-road and camping, so not the right demographic.
But what gets me when you haven't pre-configured everything perfectly for 4LO, if you just press the cancel button to get rid of the warning like the screen says (and like you can for other things like turning off the parking support brake for towing), it comes right back after 10 seconds. Just one of the little things that add up on this vehicle that highlight that they just didn't care. It's a complicated, new vehicle so I didn't expect them to get it all right from the very start, but I did expect them to care about making it better at some point.
Specifically, turn off pre-collision.
Apparently Toyota's have been flashing that same warning screen since at least the 2020 models, which I wasn't aware of as I came from a 2014.
Apparently Toyota's have been flashing that same warning screen since at least the 2020 models, which I wasn't aware of as I came from a 2014.
Reading this and glad I'm driving around an 18 year old rig....with a homemade VSC/ATRAC off switch.
FWIW, the nannies on our 2023 Highlander Hybrid are better than most other vehicles. We have just about everything turned off. I still do prefer the visibility of older vehicles that don't require tons of nannies...which to me seem to be complicated systems to account for vehicle design without a thought to blind spots.
FWIW, the nannies on our 2023 Highlander Hybrid are better than most other vehicles. We have just about everything turned off. I still do prefer the visibility of older vehicles that don't require tons of nannies...which to me seem to be complicated systems to account for vehicle design without a thought to blind spots.
Can you post a link for these tubes light on the handles that you reference? Thanks.
Reading through this thread is pretty interesting. I just sold a fully optioned, 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 P400, after being disappointed with it as a trail riding and camping vehicle. I purchased a fully optioned GX550 OT+ last week. I can say without a doubt I'm very satisfied with the GX550, so I'll provide a few observation and experiences for anyone who may think of cross shopping these two vehicles.
Suspension. The Defender on air suspension was awesome and I wish the GX offered it. Super plush on the highway, soaks up the bumps and rides like glass, being able to dial-in more or less firmness as desired, auto-level when towing, and the ability to have 11.5" of ground clearance with the push of a button was impressive. We used it to tow our Airstream to a Jeep event, then conquered the off-road course a few minutes after I unhitched the trailer. With zero prep, it made boring work of obstacles that were hanging up Jeep Gladiators. The GX550 OT+ has springs and electronic dampers. While I'm sure the Defender's ride was more plush if it could somehow be measured, in most conditions the GX is not significantly worse by seat-of-the-pants. The wife and I often compare the two vehicles and ride quality isn't a notable topic. You'd have to be really picky or a high-maintenance individual to fault the ride quality of the GX.
Luxury Features. Surprisingly the GX takes it by a wide margin. Our Defender was optioned with a heated windshield, heated steering wheel, and heated and cooled seats. Would you believe none of this can be configured to activate with remote start? You remote start the car in winter, and these features remain off until you manually turn them on from inside. Same for the cooled seats in summer. If you visit a national park without cell service, don't worry about remote start because it only works via their glitchy app. No remote start via the key fob. All of this is highly configurable and available in the GX, as well as being able to remote start via the app or key fob. The Meridian sound system on the Defender was clear and very flat. The ML sound system on the GX sounds better to me because it has more bass. There are complaints about the rear speakers on the GX being only tweeters and not sounding very "full" when faded back. Well, the Defender does the same thing, so I have a feeling emphasis is being placed on the driver and front passenger by auto companies as a whole.
Tech - GX by a mile. The GX will just about drive itself. The lane keep assist on the Defender is clearly designed as a last ditch safety mechanism. It's not a convenience feature. With the GX, I can set the cruise control and it'll pace traffic and even make corners. The GX has an integrated brake controller for those who have travel trailers, massaging seats, higher watt AC outlet, and the "climate concierge" on the GX really is excellent after living with the Defender where none of that was automatic. The GX can use your iPhone as a digital key or a credit card sized device in addition to the usual fob. Doors lock and unlock simply by grabbing the handle vs the Defender there was a button on the handle.
Off-Road - GX takes it. On the Defender, the smallest wheel option is 20", and the largest tire size that will fit is 32" with low profile sidewalls. The front recovery point is only accessible by removing the lower front bumper unless you purchase a $1,200 skid plate accessory. Fitting a winch requires disassembly of the entire front end, possible relocation of intercoolers, and is roughly $10K and 20 hours of labor. The Defender will handle serious off-road terrain, but I could never enjoy it because I was always worried about trashing $5K in wheels and tires on trivial rocks any Jeep or the GX would ignore. Fitting 18" wheels requires swapping the brake calipers with aftermarket and voiding the warranty. To equal the stock GX, the Defender would need new 18" wheels, tires, brake calipers, and skid plate accessory, which adds roughly $7K in mods (no labor) to the already $91K MSRP.
Utility - GX again. Many people in this thread have commented about how the GX interior isn't "luxury" enough. Well, the Defender interior was a step up in luxury as most surfaces are wrapped in various textures and materials, but I was always concerned about it being too tender and precious to use as a legitimate trail, camping, or utility vehicle. I would never stack a bunch of firewood in the back of the Defender. If I went duck hunting, I don't even know where I'd put the dead ducks, or how I'd clean the vehicle afterwards. The GX on the other hand is black plastic with all-weather rubber mat and won't be bothered by a few scuffs. No surfaces that can't be easily wiped clean. Maybe people with far more money than I have wouldn't blink at tearing up the interior of a new Defender, but the GX just seems designed in a way where these activities wouldn't bother it. It's fit for purpose.
The Defender 110 is the one to buy and would address my next comment, but in that case the GX would still have much more cargo area. We made the mistake of getting the 130, which is a foot longer than the 110 and has a folding 3rd row. Cargo is placed on the back of the folded 3rd row seats, which don't fold flat so everything is on an angle, plus there's a 5" shelf in the middle of the cargo area where the hinge is located. The entire cargo area was completely worthless and was one of the biggest reasons we sold it. Great as a people mover if you need a 3rd row comfortable enough for adults, but just about worthless for carrying any sort of luggage or cargo.
Build Quality - GX. Now, I never had any problem with the chasis or suspension on the Defender, but the Defender suspension is all aluminum and very sophisticated. I don't even want to think about what it would cost to replace all those aluminum arms if/when they're damaged or the bushings wear out. The GX suspension (e-KDSS excluded) appears simple enough someone could work on it in their garage being coached by YouTube, and the cost would be relatively low being most of it is shared with the Tundra, etc. It's a body on frame truck literally any mechanic in the middle of nowhere could easily work on. Defender - not so much.
The Defender was built well and everything was rock solid. There are so many comments here about the GX feeling cheap or flimsy - I don't see it. The GX doors close like a bank vault, especially when compared to something like a Grand Highlander. I've owned and driven many luxury vehicles and have absolutely no idea where these comments are coming from. The GX sounds and feels like a premium product. Full stop. The GX has been very quiet on the road (no roof rack) and I'd say it's equivalent to the Defender in that area. Everything I typically touch while driving feels high quality. Yes, there are a lot of areas where it's black plastic, but it feels high quality for what it is, and I appreciate it because it should be easy to clean.
Ultimately, I didn't buy this vehicle to look like a pimp in the school drop-off lane. I bought it to pull my Airstream, explore mining trails in Colorado, and take us off the beaten path to have new life experiences. I want to have a snowball fight with my wife in July at 11,000' elevation - not stress over whether she's going to stain the "Windsor Leather" when she jumps back inside the truck covered in dirty snow. It's not fair to compare it to a vehicle that is placing most of the emphasis on superior leather, interior bling, etc. Different purpose and market.
LX600 Comparison: Here are some fighting words - I believe the GX550 is superior to the LX600 for the U.S. market. The moment it was released it seemed the LX was focused solely on the rear passengers as if it were a 3rd world limousine. This is seen by only the rear passengers having wireless charging as well as an optional recliner - as if that's something most American families need. The gauge cluster is also not fully digital and seemed outdated the moment it was launched. The infotainment is - interesting - not implemented as well as the GX. No locking rear differential or off-road focused trim. There's no question the leather and interior materials of the LX are the highest quality offered by Lexus, but the vehicle falls short in many areas where the GX really shines, and the GX is more practical (and desirable) for someone who actually drives the vehicle. Without the off-road toys or trim package, there are other more compelling luxury SUVs that put more focus on on-road performance, comfort, tech, and place more emphasis on the driver. Not the dictator in the back seat. All that being said - the upcoming LX700h Overtrail could be very interesting. We shall see.
Suspension. The Defender on air suspension was awesome and I wish the GX offered it. Super plush on the highway, soaks up the bumps and rides like glass, being able to dial-in more or less firmness as desired, auto-level when towing, and the ability to have 11.5" of ground clearance with the push of a button was impressive. We used it to tow our Airstream to a Jeep event, then conquered the off-road course a few minutes after I unhitched the trailer. With zero prep, it made boring work of obstacles that were hanging up Jeep Gladiators. The GX550 OT+ has springs and electronic dampers. While I'm sure the Defender's ride was more plush if it could somehow be measured, in most conditions the GX is not significantly worse by seat-of-the-pants. The wife and I often compare the two vehicles and ride quality isn't a notable topic. You'd have to be really picky or a high-maintenance individual to fault the ride quality of the GX.
Luxury Features. Surprisingly the GX takes it by a wide margin. Our Defender was optioned with a heated windshield, heated steering wheel, and heated and cooled seats. Would you believe none of this can be configured to activate with remote start? You remote start the car in winter, and these features remain off until you manually turn them on from inside. Same for the cooled seats in summer. If you visit a national park without cell service, don't worry about remote start because it only works via their glitchy app. No remote start via the key fob. All of this is highly configurable and available in the GX, as well as being able to remote start via the app or key fob. The Meridian sound system on the Defender was clear and very flat. The ML sound system on the GX sounds better to me because it has more bass. There are complaints about the rear speakers on the GX being only tweeters and not sounding very "full" when faded back. Well, the Defender does the same thing, so I have a feeling emphasis is being placed on the driver and front passenger by auto companies as a whole.
Tech - GX by a mile. The GX will just about drive itself. The lane keep assist on the Defender is clearly designed as a last ditch safety mechanism. It's not a convenience feature. With the GX, I can set the cruise control and it'll pace traffic and even make corners. The GX has an integrated brake controller for those who have travel trailers, massaging seats, higher watt AC outlet, and the "climate concierge" on the GX really is excellent after living with the Defender where none of that was automatic. The GX can use your iPhone as a digital key or a credit card sized device in addition to the usual fob. Doors lock and unlock simply by grabbing the handle vs the Defender there was a button on the handle.
Off-Road - GX takes it. On the Defender, the smallest wheel option is 20", and the largest tire size that will fit is 32" with low profile sidewalls. The front recovery point is only accessible by removing the lower front bumper unless you purchase a $1,200 skid plate accessory. Fitting a winch requires disassembly of the entire front end, possible relocation of intercoolers, and is roughly $10K and 20 hours of labor. The Defender will handle serious off-road terrain, but I could never enjoy it because I was always worried about trashing $5K in wheels and tires on trivial rocks any Jeep or the GX would ignore. Fitting 18" wheels requires swapping the brake calipers with aftermarket and voiding the warranty. To equal the stock GX, the Defender would need new 18" wheels, tires, brake calipers, and skid plate accessory, which adds roughly $7K in mods (no labor) to the already $91K MSRP.
Utility - GX again. Many people in this thread have commented about how the GX interior isn't "luxury" enough. Well, the Defender interior was a step up in luxury as most surfaces are wrapped in various textures and materials, but I was always concerned about it being too tender and precious to use as a legitimate trail, camping, or utility vehicle. I would never stack a bunch of firewood in the back of the Defender. If I went duck hunting, I don't even know where I'd put the dead ducks, or how I'd clean the vehicle afterwards. The GX on the other hand is black plastic with all-weather rubber mat and won't be bothered by a few scuffs. No surfaces that can't be easily wiped clean. Maybe people with far more money than I have wouldn't blink at tearing up the interior of a new Defender, but the GX just seems designed in a way where these activities wouldn't bother it. It's fit for purpose.
The Defender 110 is the one to buy and would address my next comment, but in that case the GX would still have much more cargo area. We made the mistake of getting the 130, which is a foot longer than the 110 and has a folding 3rd row. Cargo is placed on the back of the folded 3rd row seats, which don't fold flat so everything is on an angle, plus there's a 5" shelf in the middle of the cargo area where the hinge is located. The entire cargo area was completely worthless and was one of the biggest reasons we sold it. Great as a people mover if you need a 3rd row comfortable enough for adults, but just about worthless for carrying any sort of luggage or cargo.
Build Quality - GX. Now, I never had any problem with the chasis or suspension on the Defender, but the Defender suspension is all aluminum and very sophisticated. I don't even want to think about what it would cost to replace all those aluminum arms if/when they're damaged or the bushings wear out. The GX suspension (e-KDSS excluded) appears simple enough someone could work on it in their garage being coached by YouTube, and the cost would be relatively low being most of it is shared with the Tundra, etc. It's a body on frame truck literally any mechanic in the middle of nowhere could easily work on. Defender - not so much.
The Defender was built well and everything was rock solid. There are so many comments here about the GX feeling cheap or flimsy - I don't see it. The GX doors close like a bank vault, especially when compared to something like a Grand Highlander. I've owned and driven many luxury vehicles and have absolutely no idea where these comments are coming from. The GX sounds and feels like a premium product. Full stop. The GX has been very quiet on the road (no roof rack) and I'd say it's equivalent to the Defender in that area. Everything I typically touch while driving feels high quality. Yes, there are a lot of areas where it's black plastic, but it feels high quality for what it is, and I appreciate it because it should be easy to clean.
Ultimately, I didn't buy this vehicle to look like a pimp in the school drop-off lane. I bought it to pull my Airstream, explore mining trails in Colorado, and take us off the beaten path to have new life experiences. I want to have a snowball fight with my wife in July at 11,000' elevation - not stress over whether she's going to stain the "Windsor Leather" when she jumps back inside the truck covered in dirty snow. It's not fair to compare it to a vehicle that is placing most of the emphasis on superior leather, interior bling, etc. Different purpose and market.
LX600 Comparison: Here are some fighting words - I believe the GX550 is superior to the LX600 for the U.S. market. The moment it was released it seemed the LX was focused solely on the rear passengers as if it were a 3rd world limousine. This is seen by only the rear passengers having wireless charging as well as an optional recliner - as if that's something most American families need. The gauge cluster is also not fully digital and seemed outdated the moment it was launched. The infotainment is - interesting - not implemented as well as the GX. No locking rear differential or off-road focused trim. There's no question the leather and interior materials of the LX are the highest quality offered by Lexus, but the vehicle falls short in many areas where the GX really shines, and the GX is more practical (and desirable) for someone who actually drives the vehicle. Without the off-road toys or trim package, there are other more compelling luxury SUVs that put more focus on on-road performance, comfort, tech, and place more emphasis on the driver. Not the dictator in the back seat. All that being said - the upcoming LX700h Overtrail could be very interesting. We shall see.
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I have both a ‘24 LX and a ‘24 GX and agree, the LX is superior!
…..but it’s also 33% more expensive. Would I like to have two LXs? Sure, but I also like having the extra $30k in the bank account. No regrets with the GX, it meets my needs.
…..but it’s also 33% more expensive. Would I like to have two LXs? Sure, but I also like having the extra $30k in the bank account. No regrets with the GX, it meets my needs.
The LX is superior....off-road with 22" wheels, low profile tires, and no locking differentials? We know the gauge cluster isn't superior. The infotainment screen is a fraction of the size of the GX. Does it have e-KDSS? Maybe better as a luxury vehicle because the materials are a cut above. They share the same frame, engine, transmission, dimensions, etc.
I'd personally like to see a LX in any U.S. trim vs a GX Overtrail on an off-road course if anyone knows of a video.
I didn’t say superior in every way. I prefer the GX infotainment and better lane centering. I assume the Lx will see these when it gets a facelift. But let’s be real, we wouldn’t buy a $100k+ vehicle if we didn’t like a little refinement. The LX stands out in materials, sound deadening, engine tubing, audio system, interior space, cup holder/charging pad layout.
For off-roading, the GX likely has the edge, if for nothing else than cheaper and more durable interior materials. But 99% of my miles are pavement.
The soon to be released LX700 Overtrail should handily assert itself as the undisputed top dawg. I still think the GX looks better though. I hope whenever an LX refresh comes they implement a more 550 or GR Sport inspired front end.
Agreed. I would also prefer the LX share the design aesthetics with the GX. They really nailed it - and should just run with that success.
I'm going to say this again.
The frame is the same platform/family, which means it has a common layout, mounting points and methodology. HOWEVER the frames between the LX and GX are NOT the same. The TNGA-F is a standard blueprint from which vehicle was developed from and each vehicle was customized based on its design target.
Saying the 300/250/Tundra/Taco/4rnr are all on the same frame is similar to saying that all of us here on the forum are humans and thus we are the same.
The frame is the same platform/family, which means it has a common layout, mounting points and methodology. HOWEVER the frames between the LX and GX are NOT the same. The TNGA-F is a standard blueprint from which vehicle was developed from and each vehicle was customized based on its design target.
Saying the 300/250/Tundra/Taco/4rnr are all on the same frame is similar to saying that all of us here on the forum are humans and thus we are the same.
