Finally, A Test Drive and Decision Time: Which Style?

[aniemyer]

For several months now, I have been looking for my "Twenty-Year Ride," the vehicle my sons will ask for when it's no longer a good idea to let me careen around town alone. I've looked at/driven the Mercedes GLS450, Ineos Grenadier, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Grand Highlander and Land Cruiser, and Land Rover 110. (I ruled out BMW, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, and the USA Big 3 during my research phase). I narrowed my focus on the Land Cruiser/GX550 based mainly on long-term reliability and ease of basic maintenance availability.

The nearest Lexus dealer to me up here on the Great Plains is about 3.5 hours away, so a casual "drop-in" test drive has been challenging to arrange. However, a recent road trip down to Chatanooga, TN, led me to Lexus of Chatanooga, where, on a whim, I found they had a Premium+ to test drive. Bear in mind I've already driven an LC Premium package, so I've had a chance to get a feel for how the underlying platform handles on freeways, city streets, county roads, and the all-important Costco parking lot!

The drive was mainly on a freeway and curving residential streets, with hills and inclines, and in both the regular and Sports modes. At first, I had several of the safety modes engaged, but after parking and exploring some of the settings, I disengaged them for the drive back to the dealership.

I am very impressed. The road handling was good, and the road feel was there. (This is especially true given that I am a serial Wrangler Unlimited/F150 owner.) Yes, I noted the "floating" hood. I didn't find it particularly alarming. As expected with Lexus, the fit and finish are above that of the Premium Package-equipped LC; no big surprise there. I will say that purely subjectively, the GX Premium suspension settings felt a tiny bit "sift" to me, but it wasn't particularly bad in any sense of the word.

So, this begs the question now presented: What model to put a deposit on? The two I would consider are the Overtrail/OT+ or the Premium/+. On the one hand, this will be my daily driver/hauler of doggies & "stuff," plus, when I can't take my plane, my cross-country driver. My days of rock crawling are in the rear-view mirror, but I still occasionally hunt the section land of SW North Dakota, so twin ruts along fence lines masquerading as county roads are not out of the question. On the other hand, the biggest consideration for where I live, south of the border with Canada, is winter snow. Once the snows come and stay, our mainly flat roads are snow/ice packed and occasionally, I have to face some snow drifts that require 4WD Low. Finally, as I now find myself on my own as, ahem, a more "mature" person (I will NOT grow up, only older), I don't see the markup for the third row as applicable on other than an infrequent occasion.

The argument for the Premium is the alleged smoother ride, no matter what driving mode is selected, and maybe a few added comfort features. On the other hand, the OT offers a bit stiffer ride, which is not necessarily a bad thing, IMHO. The other question is whether or not the markup for the features on the "+" package is worth the squeeze. I am leaning towards the Overtrail, with the wider tires (And a bit noisier to some, but as a Wrangler driver, everything else is really quiet!) but don't know about the added features.

I hope to fly down late this week to visit the nearest dealership, who've I've been talking to throughout this process, and really sort things out.

So, what say you all? Especially when it comes to dealer-added things, like running boards-versus-rails, various roof rack/crossbar options, tire/wheel combos, etc.

I appreciate this forum, I've learned a ton about the GX here and appreciate the willingness to share.

Warm regards,

 

[Redbird99]

I would argue for the OT+, or the Lux. I have an OT and I love the ride, although I haven't tried out all the drive modes yet. But it's my understanding that only the OT and the Lux have the AVS, which can give you a more tailored ride. The reason I suggested OT+ is for the Lexus memory seats function. When my wife gets hers (early next year) she will probably get the OT+. If the memory seats and the other bells/whistles that come with the OT+ don't do it for you, then the OT.

 

[deadlikeme]

I would go with whatever you like the looks of, works with your time line or comes in the color you want.

With that said, for your use case which is similar to mine it does not sound like the ekds and extra differential will be used. I opted for the quieter prem+ with the synthetic leather which I am hoping will be easier to clean. And less things to break suspension size. But am hoping to swap wheels and add rock sliders in time.

 

[FWTBT]

For several months now, I have been looking for my "Twenty-Year Ride," the vehicle my sons will ask for when it's no longer a good idea to let me careen around town alone. I've looked at/driven the Mercedes GLS450, Ineos Grenadier, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Grand Highlander and Land Cruiser, and Land Rover 110. (I ruled out BMW, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, and the USA Big 3 during my research phase). I narrowed my focus on the Land Cruiser/GX550 based mainly on long-term reliability and ease of basic maintenance availability.

The nearest Lexus dealer to me up here on the Great Plains is about 3.5 hours away, so a casual "drop-in" test drive has been challenging to arrange. However, a recent road trip down to Chatanooga, TN, led me to Lexus of Chatanooga, where, on a whim, I found they had a Premium+ to test drive. Bear in mind I've already driven an LC Premium package, so I've had a chance to get a feel for how the underlying platform handles on freeways, city streets, county roads, and the all-important Costco parking lot!

The drive was mainly on a freeway and curving residential streets, with hills and inclines, and in both the regular and Sports modes. At first, I had several of the safety modes engaged, but after parking and exploring some of the settings, I disengaged them for the drive back to the dealership.

I am very impressed. The road handling was good, and the road feel was there. (This is especially true given that I am a serial Wrangler Unlimited/F150 owner.) Yes, I noted the "floating" hood. I didn't find it particularly alarming. As expected with Lexus, the fit and finish are above that of the Premium Package-equipped LC; no big surprise there. I will say that purely subjectively, the GX Premium suspension settings felt a tiny bit "sift" to me, but it wasn't particularly bad in any sense of the word.

So, this begs the question now presented: What model to put a deposit on? The two I would consider are the Overtrail/OT+ or the Premium/+. On the one hand, this will be my daily driver/hauler of doggies & "stuff," plus, when I can't take my plane, my cross-country driver. My days of rock crawling are in the rear-view mirror, but I still occasionally hunt the section land of SW North Dakota, so twin ruts along fence lines masquerading as county roads are not out of the question. On the other hand, the biggest consideration for where I live, south of the border with Canada, is winter snow. Once the snows come and stay, our mainly flat roads are snow/ice packed and occasionally, I have to face some snow drifts that require 4WD Low. Finally, as I now find myself on my own as, ahem, a more "mature" person (I will NOT grow up, only older), I don't see the markup for the third row as applicable on other than an infrequent occasion.

The argument for the Premium is the alleged smoother ride, no matter what driving mode is selected, and maybe a few added comfort features. On the other hand, the OT offers a bit stiffer ride, which is not necessarily a bad thing, IMHO. The other question is whether or not the markup for the features on the "+" package is worth the squeeze. I am leaning towards the Overtrail, with the wider tires (And a bit noisier to some, but as a Wrangler driver, everything else is really quiet!) but don't know about the added features.

I hope to fly down late this week to visit the nearest dealership, who've I've been talking to throughout this process, and really sort things out.

So, what say you all? Especially when it comes to dealer-added things, like running boards-versus-rails, various roof rack/crossbar options, tire/wheel combos, etc.

I appreciate this forum, I've learned a ton about the GX here and appreciate the willingness to share.

Warm regards,

I may be confused about the decision you’re trying to make but think one of the biggest differences between the LC and the GX is one you didn’t seem to mention: the drivetrain. While I’ve ruled out the LC because I’ll occasionally need 3 rows, I’d go with the GX anyway for the turbo V6 over the turbo 4 with hybrid electric. One reason is the better power. Another is the kind of ridiculous giant battery hump in the hatch. Another is complexity and long term reliability. I get that Toyota does hybrids well and there’s no proof the V6 will last longer or be less of a headache. But in the absence of proof I look at the inherent complexity of the hybrid setup and just feel safer avoiding it.

If your decision is instead between two trims of the GX, I’d similarly argue for the less complicated one (ie Premium over the OT). But as another member said, maybe just get whichever one looks the nicest to you. Which one makes you smile the most? Whether it’s the color or something else. That may be the truest gauge of what will make you happiest.

Best of luck. I’ve driven the LC and hope to drive the GX soon before deciding. I do know though that I’ll be going for the cheapest version I can get. As a 4Runner owner I really appreciate simplicity and either actively dislike or simply don’t desire many of today’s tech “features.” Especially the ones that yell at you or take control of core functions like steering and braking.

 

[JPE]

[SNIP] The other question is whether or not the markup for the features on the "+" package is worth the squeeze.[/SNIP]

I originally got on the waitlist at my local dealership for a regular OT. After a few months I decided to change to the OT+. While it's a significant chunk of change, I would really miss memory seats, the easy exit/entry that goes with memory seats, the kick sensor on the tailgate, and the better ML stereo (I know, I know, there's been a lot of discussion about ML - some like it, most don't). I tend to keep vehicles a long time (8 to 10 years) so I didn't want to live without those things for that long. The other "+" things like puddle lamps, ambient theme lighting, massage seats, and second row manual window shades will be nice, but are certainly things I could live without.

 

[aniemyer]

I would argue for the OT+, or the Lux. I have an OT and I love the ride, although I haven't tried out all the drive modes yet. But it's my understanding that only the OT and the Lux have the AVS, which can give you a more tailored ride. The reason I suggested OT+ is for the Lexus memory seats function. When my wife gets hers (early next year) she will probably get the OT+. If the memory seats and the other bells/whistles that come with the OT+ don't do it for you, then the OT.

Good points about the memory! My late wife and I shared her F-150 Lariat, and the driver's seat had two memory functions; it was easy to press the button on the side of the seat before getting up and in.

 

[aniemyer]

I would go with whatever you like the looks of, works with your time line or comes in the color you want.

With that said, for your use case which is similar to mine it does not sound like the ekds and extra differential will be used. I opted for the quieter prem+ with the synthetic leather which I am hoping will be easier to clean. And less things to break suspension size. But am hoping to swap wheels and add rock sliders in time.

I'm leaning now towards the OT+, but I'm still very open minded to either the Premium or the Luxury.

 

[aniemyer]

I may be confused about the decision you’re trying to make but think one of the biggest differences between the LC and the GX is one you didn’t seem to mention: the drivetrain. While I’ve ruled out the LC because I’ll occasionally need 3 rows, I’d go with the GX anyway for the turbo V6 over the turbo 4 with hybrid electric. One reason is the better power. Another is the kind of ridiculous giant battery hump in the hatch. Another is complexity and long term reliability. I get that Toyota does hybrids well and there’s no proof the V6 will last longer or be less of a headache. But in the absence of proof I look at the inherent complexity of the hybrid setup and just feel safer avoiding it.

If your decision is instead between two trims of the GX, I’d similarly argue for the less complicated one (ie Premium over the OT). But as another member said, maybe just get whichever one looks the nicest to you. Which one makes you smile the most? Whether it’s the color or something else. That may be the truest gauge of what will make you happiest.

Best of luck. I’ve driven the LC and hope to drive the GX soon before deciding. I do know though that I’ll be going for the cheapest version I can get. As a 4Runner owner I really appreciate simplicity and either actively dislike or simply don’t desire many of today’s tech “features.” Especially the ones that yell at you or take control of core functions like steering and braking.

While I do like the decision by Toyota to eschew the EEV route and go with a classic hybrid, I, too, don't like that extra battery hump. On-ramp acceleration does matter, and while the hybrid is OK, the 6-cylinder ICE's low-end torque is noticeable and welcome. I know this might sound a bit like heresy, but if you like power/simplicity and are close to one of the now-small number of dealerships, look at the Ineos Grenadiers. Ostensibly, a "reimagined" classic LR Defender. Very optimized for rough/rugged.

Best regards,

 

[aniemyer]

I originally got on the waitlist at my local dealership for a regular OT. After a few months I decided to change to the OT+. While it's a significant chunk of change, I would really miss memory seats, the easy exit/entry that goes with memory seats, the kick sensor on the tailgate, and the better ML stereo (I know, I know, there's been a lot of discussion about ML - some like it, most don't). I tend to keep vehicles a long time (8 to 10 years) so I didn't want to live without those things for that long. The other "+" things like puddle lamps, ambient theme lighting, massage seats, and second row manual window shades will be nice, but are certainly things I could live without.

I'm hoping to sit down with the sales rep I've been talking to at the end of this week, to really look hard at what the "+" brings to the table. OT/OT+ has the most appeal to me, as I all I need is 5 seats 99% of the time.

Best,

 

[JPE]

I'm hoping to sit down with the sales rep I've been talking to at the end of this week, to really look hard at what the "+" brings to the table. OT/OT+ has the most appeal to me, as I all I need is 5 seats 99% of the time.

Best,

It's a good idea to talk to your sales associate about the differences between the OT and OT+, but if you want some info headed into that discussion you get see the differences on the Lexus web page here:

2024 Lexus GX - Luxury SUV

Introducing the all-new 2024 GX 550 luxury SUV, where capability and refinement intersect to take you beyond everything you once thought possible.

www.lexus.com

 

[Dr Bob]

Super happy with my OT+. I road tested all 3 models. Worse ride was the lux with the 22 rims. Ride of the premium was similar to the OT. Ride of the OT + was a little stiffer on crappy city streets but both were super smooth on the highway. I love this car and my Porsche 911 just sits in the garage now!

 

[REB27]

I love my OT (better than my wife’s LC First Edition). The only “option” I miss is the driver memory seat. On the other hand, it gives me an excuse to tell her to use her own truck…..

 

[Dr Bob]

I love my OT (better than my wife’s LC First Edition). The only “option” I miss is the driver memory seat. On the other hand, it gives me an excuse to tell her to use her own truck…..

 

[German88]

I opted for the OT vs OT+ feeling it offered best bang for buck. I also live in a winter climate and the first 1/2 mile out of my driveway is a 15% grade. In the worst winter conditions I find myself towing stuck UPS/FedEx/Ontrac drivers up our 1/2 mile long ice road. The locking diff will really come in handy. Also use mine for fly fishing & Hunting which its perfect for. Of all the current mid/full size SUV options on the market the GX/LC platform is the hands down winner IMHO. Can’t go wrong with either. Only other vehicle I considered was BMW for its phenomenal B58 powertrain. Too much tech I’ll never use and not enough ruggedness (non BOF). Sounds like the 25’s will get slightly higher ride height and memory seats on the OT model if you can wait. Good luck in your search.