Land Cruiser to GX 550

[J250ish]

Good evening,

I was wondering if anyone here bought a LC250, regretted it and bought a gx550 instead?

Would love to hear your thoughts if this has happened to you..

Was it a better upgrade? I know this is a GX forum so it can be very biased but I’d love to know your thoughts. Thank you!

 

[Michael T]

Good evening,

I was wondering if anyone here bought a LC250, regretted it and bought a gx550 instead?

Would love to hear your thoughts if this has happened to you..

Was it a better upgrade? I know this is a GX forum so it can be very biased but I’d love to know your thoughts. Thank you!

They are so similar in a lot of aspects (including price), but I can’t see how someone would prefer the LC250 over the 550. There are 3 major differences that are important to me:

1.) powertrains: the 6mpg more the LC250 gets to sacrifice power is too marginal to go with a hybrid, to me. If it were 15 mpg more, that would be different.

2.) EKDSS is not available on LC250 (at this point)

3.) towing capacity: depending on your towing needs, an overtrail has a towing capacity 50% higher than the LC250. (This may be of no use for you)

 

[rangertrace]

Don't forget, the GX is just a sexier looking ride too.......

 

[FirstLexus]

i purchased the LC 250 in July after going back and forth between the GX and the Land Cruiser. The price point on the LC with the premium package was 10k less than the GX. OT+, so I justified it despite having some reservations about the engine.

I own an LX 600, so I thought the LC 250 would make a good daily driver. I've since discovered other members of our household think so too. That car disappears more often than I would have thought.

So, I bought another daily driver, the GX 550 OT+, and I do notice a world of difference between the two vehicles. The GX is quieter, smoother and more responsive on the highways.

We've agreed to keep the LC for the kids, the GX for my daily, the LX for long road trips and the EV for my wife's business. The extra vehicle in my mind is really the LX, but I just love that truck, and I can't bring myself to sell it.

 

[Zaki6]

Good evening,

I was wondering if anyone here bought a LC250, regretted it and bought a gx550 instead?

Would love to hear your thoughts if this has happened to you..

Was it a better upgrade? I know this is a GX forum so it can be very biased but I’d love to know your thoughts. Thank you!

How Toyota Got the 2024 Land Cruiser So Wrong — Full Review & History — Jason Cammisa on the ICONS

A little history lesson on the Land Cruiser that I found interesting, along with conclusions regarding the new Land Cruiser vs. the new GX that I agree with completely.

www.lexusgxforum.com

 

[LC250owner]

They are so similar in a lot of aspects (including price), but I can’t see how someone would prefer the LC250 over the 550. There are 3 major differences that are important to me:

1.) powertrains: the 6mpg more the LC250 gets to sacrifice power is too marginal to go with a hybrid, to me. If it were 15 mpg more, that would be different.

2.) EKDSS is not available on LC250 (at this point)

3.) towing capacity: depending on your towing needs, an overtrail has a towing capacity 50% higher than the LC250. (This may be of no use for you)

Just one point on this bc I was back and forth between the 250 and gx.

With the LC you gain 35% in fuel efficiency and sacrifice 3% in torque and 7% in horsepower.

Personally I put a high value on fuel efficiency since I drive a lot (150-200 miles a week just in commute) so it pushed me over the edge to the LC.

I do wish the LC had a v6 hybrid option and that it had acoustic glass.

Other than that I love the rig and personally I like the front & back end aesthetics more. From the side the over trail looks exactly the same as an lc250.

I’d love to have both tbh

 

[Zaki6]

Just one point on this bc I was back and forth between the 250 and gx.

With the LC you gain 35% in fuel efficiency and sacrifice 3% in torque and 7% in horsepower.

Personally I put a high value on fuel efficiency since I drive a lot (150-200 miles a week just in commute) so it pushed me over the edge to the LC.

I do wish the LC had a v6 hybrid option and that it had acoustic glass.

Other than that I love the rig and personally I like the front & back end aesthetics more. From the side the over trail looks exactly the same as an lc250.

I’d love to have both tbh

How Toyota Got the 2024 Land Cruiser So Wrong — Full Review & History — Jason Cammisa on the ICONS

A little history lesson on the Land Cruiser that I found interesting, along with conclusions regarding the new Land Cruiser vs. the new GX that I agree with completely.

www.lexusgxforum.com

 

[nopantz]

They are so similar in a lot of aspects (including price), but I can’t see how someone would prefer the LC250 over the 550. There are 3 major differences that are important to me:

1.) powertrains: the 6mpg more the LC250 gets to sacrifice power is too marginal to go with a hybrid, to me. If it were 15 mpg more, that would be different.

2.) EKDSS is not available on LC250 (at this point)

3.) towing capacity: depending on your towing needs, an overtrail has a towing capacity 50% higher than the LC250. (This may be of no use for you)

I'm with you on #1 and #3. I was with you on #2 until I saw the LC ramp test slightly more articulation than the GX. Though maybe having to connect/disconnect is too annoying. Even though it was automatic in the Rubicon, it would still cycle between if you were driving between 15-20mph between obstacles.

This video turned very pro-GX at the end:

 

[J250ish]

I’m not a fan of YouTube videos for this type of comparisons, I’d like real owner experiences because they live everyday with it

 

[nopantz]

I’m not a fan of YouTube videos for this type of comparisons, I’d like real owner experiences because they live everyday with it

Fairly clear the LC engine is loud / vibrates / slow vs the GX. If they were the same engine (4Runner vs LC), longer experience would be more critical IMO.

 

[AtomicEric]

We test drive the LC 250 first and felt the power was good but buzzy pulling on the highway on ramp. It was also loud with the roof basket. We did not like that you could not keep the engine running in stop and go traffic lights. No button to disable. The rear area with the battery turned us off as we plan for a pull out kitchen and this would raise things up higher than we wanted. We then learned the GX also had a higher GVRW which is 300-400 lbs higher. This makes sense when building an overland rig with tent, armor and gear. As noted above the towing is much higher and with that comes a larger rear axle. Its a 9.5" vs. 8" r&p. Then we drove the GX. The driving experience is noticably nicer and the V6 with 10 speed combo vs I4 w/8spd was worth the extra mpg. I do like the styling of both. The GX seems more substantial looking and with a bit of bumper armor will be even better. OT wheel and tire is worth $3k of the price jump. Finally, if you plan to keep it, I am worried about the long term battery replacement cost or value depreciation after 150k miles. I think the GX will be a work horse down the line and quite happy with the task.

 

[sel]

Good evening,

I was wondering if anyone here bought a LC250, regretted it and bought a gx550 instead?

Would love to hear your thoughts if this has happened to you..

Was it a better upgrade? I know this is a GX forum so it can be very biased but I’d love to know your thoughts. Thank you!

Battery pack on LC significantly impaired front legroom - something like ~10 inches less than GX. Deal killer once sat down.

 

[jclaffee]

Battery pack on LC significantly impaired front legroom - something like ~10 inches less than GX. Deal killer once sat down.

Why? Is this because the battery pack is in the back so 1st and 2nd row seats just have to be farther forward?

 

[REB27]

We own both a land cruiser first edition ( my wife’s) and a GX 550 overtrail (mine). I think they are both excellent vehicles and i enjoy driving both of them, although I like my overtrail color (nori green) better. Although I read a lot of criticism of the land cruiser engine, I think it is quite good both on highways and dirt roads.

 

[sel]

Why? Is this because the battery pack is in the back so 1st and 2nd row seats just have to be farther forward?

Assuming that’s the reason. LC at 33” and GX at 41.2”. Big difference for tall folks.

 

[Roman]

Good evening,

I was wondering if anyone here bought a LC250, regretted it and bought a gx550 instead?

Would love to hear your thoughts if this has happened to you..

Was it a better upgrade? I know this is a GX forum so it can be very biased but I’d love to know your thoughts. Thank you!

Check out TRD Jon's video

 

[PatrickB]

Good evening,

I was wondering if anyone here bought a LC250, regretted it and bought a gx550 instead?

Would love to hear your thoughts if this has happened to you..

Was it a better upgrade? I know this is a GX forum, so it can be very biased but I’d love to know your thoughts. Thank you!

I originally purchased an LC because my friend gave me a great deal on one and needed the space. At the time, I didn’t even consider the GX. A few months later, I took a closer look and was surprised at how close they are in price.

In my opinion, the GX has a superior engine, especially when cruising on the freeway—it delivers noticeably more power. The LC, on the other hand, has a strong initial boost thanks to the battery assist, but at higher speeds, it starts to feel sluggish. Another key difference is the interior quality. The GX feels more refined and less plastic-heavy than the LC, with a better overall fit and finish.

My LC had a sticker price of $70K, while the GX was $84K. I think the upgrade was worth it, especially since I sold the LC for more than I originally paid and also got a $3,500 discount on the GX. I was so impressed that I ended up buying another GX for my wife to replace her GLE 53—no regrets!

 

[pterpelu]

Good evening,

I was wondering if anyone here bought a LC250, regretted it and bought a gx550 instead?

Would love to hear your thoughts if this has happened to you..

Was it a better upgrade? I know this is a GX forum so it can be very biased but I’d love to know your thoughts. Thank you!

I looked at the LC but the acceleration is signifiantly slower than the GX. The LC has a "sport mode" with allegedly better accleration, but I could never get the specifics so I went with the GX. Acceleration to me is a safety issue, especially when pushing through the on ramp to a highway.

 

[sel]

Significantly less legroom in LC because of battery pack.