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Jan 17, 2024

2024 Lexus GX Overtrail Boasts Extra Off

A locking rear differential and aesthetic tweaks out the wazoo get this Lexus GX

A locking rear differential and aesthetic tweaks out the wazoo get this Lexus GX trim ready for the rougher stuff.

Toyota and Lexus are going all in when it comes to the off-road lifestyle. In addition to rough-and-tumble TRD variants, we're starting to see new trims that lean on an outdoorsy aesthetic while adding some parts to boost capability beyond normal variants. We saw that from Toyota with the Tacoma Trailhunter, and now it's time for the Lexus GX Overtrail.

As part of a massive makeover for the entire GX lineup for the 2024 model year, Lexus has rolled out two new overland-flavored trims: Overtrail and Overtrail+. Aesthetics are obviously a big part of the Overtrail trims, with four available two-tone paint options that contrast a primary paint color against a black roof. Black fenders flares, an aluminum skid plate, and unique 18-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch all-terrain tires round out the exterior upgrades.

Just as the exterior relies on some earth tones to really hammer home that "get out into nature" metaphor, the GX Overtrail's interior pairs one of two interior motifs with olive-green suede accents. While the standard GX is capable of holding up to seven people, Overtrail models ditch the third row, limiting the seating to five.

While the seating arrangement may be different, the Overtrail's underpinnings are largely the same as the rest of the lineup. Motive force comes from a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 mated to a 10-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. Output is a GX-standard 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The Overtrail is capable of towing 8,000 pounds, same as the Premium and Premium+ trims. While the GX is set to receive an optional hybrid powertrain later, it's unclear if that will extend to Overtrail.

In terms of off-road-friendly kit, the GX Overtrail will come with what Lexus calls its Electronic–Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS). In all its forms, KDSS allows for the fitment of larger stabilizer bars than you would normally fit on an off-roader. The system is able to tell the difference between on-road corners, when big anti-roll bars are a handling benefit, and articulation off road, where big bars (or any bars at all) are a liability. The old system deactivated the anti-roll bars (or not) after comparing the front and rear hydraulically, while the new one does that electronically.

An electronically locking rear differential is standard on Overtrail variants as well. The Overtrail's unique looks don't change its capability much, carrying the same 26-degree approach angle as the rest of the lineup. Breakover is one degree better than the pack at 24 degrees, while departure is midpack between the trims at 22 degrees.

While pricing is still some ways away, Lexus did note in its release that Overtrail and Overtrail+ will exist at the top of the GX lineup, so it's sure to be an expensive proposition.

Cars are Andrew Krok's jam, along with boysenberry. After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew cut his teeth writing freelance magazine features, and now he has a decade of full-time review experience under his belt. A Chicagoan by birth, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Maybe one day he’ll do something about that half-finished engineering degree.

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