Let’s be straight up to start here. We’ve never really fancied ourselves as Lexus people when it comes to the world of SUVs. Sure they’ve been comfortable, well appointed, well powered, and if you listen to the people that love them, more than capable. This is all well and good but they just didn’t really suit us. A lot of what defines people, us included, as potential customers and buyers is how we identify with vehicles and brands. When it came to “trucks” Lexus just didn’t connect with us, or we didn’t connect with them.

Well, things can change and they can change instantly. Our time with the GX550 is proof of that. This is a rig we never saw coming and one we still are kind of reveling in. Yes, this is the Lexus SUV that we never saw coming. It’s the one we didn’t just enjoy. It’s the one we want to own.

So what’s the big idea, here? What’s got us so wound up? The simple answer is actually a question. “Where do we start?”

Let’s start with the obvious. The styling. Gone are the very rounded, soft, and frankly bloated lines of the previous GX460 and here are the boxy, square, tough, truck lines of the GX550. The first impression this rig gives off is retro-modern and frankly masculine. Some may wince at that but it’s the truth. There’s plenty of call back here to the old school Land Cruiser days, we can see some olds school Rover themes living in the design language here, and most of all, it’s just very truck like. We dig the blunted nose, tall and relatively vertical windshield, subtle flare to the fenders, and the 33″ tall tires.

There’s no fluff on the exterior of the GX550. It’s taught and simplistic. In Overtrail form this is a truck not trying to be a luxury highway cruiser with some tacked on “off-road” stuff, this is the model that is designed for people who want the looks, the performance, and none of the pomp and circumstance. That’s us.

Now the styling does play a little into taking some of the fastball off of off-road capabilities as well. The low front fascia means that if you really take this thing wheeling, you are likely going to, ummm, adjust it via nature. Something tells us that those people who actually use their rigs won’t mind that. If the approach angle is diminished by the nose the departure is defining diminished by the rear overhang. There’s plenty of body hanging out there behind the rear tires and undoubtedly in hardcore wheeling situations there will be some contact back there.

We like the clean looks of the wheel and tire package. We bet you may be able to sneak a 35″ tire under this thing without too much work outside of MAYBE little trimming, but there is certainly some room to work with and that doesn’t strike us as an accident. Engineers on this Overtrail model totally designed this in.

We have one word for the interior YES! The inside flows with the outside visual dynamic. It is simple. It is classy. It is functional. It is all the stuff we have privately and sometimes publicly begged companies to do with their SUV interiors, especially on those designated as “off-road” models.

There is not a single part of the 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail interior that doesn’t need to be there. The digital gauge layout is classic and cool, the integrated screen and HVAC controls are modern and not gadgety at all, there are a few buttons, each with a dedicated function, and a shifter to select gears. Whoever was in charge of editing this interior needs to get all the high fives and a promotion.

Off-road stuff should feel like off-road stuff and that is EXACTLY how the GX 550 feels. It’s so refreshing to be in a Lexus that isn’r trying to totally coddle you but rather it’s trying to (and is delivering) make sure that form, function, and uses upscale feeling are all perfectly blended.

Let’s close this look at the GX 550 with a discussion that goes beyond form and its looks. How does it all work?

As your eyes have likely already told you, room is not going to be a problem here. The GX550 is big and that translates to storage space, passenger space, and all around comfort. The Overtrail models do not allow for a third row or captain’s chairs out back. It’s a five passenger rig with buckets up front and a bench in the back.

The front buckets are amazing seats. We cruised the GX 550 both on and off road with the majority of time being on-highway. The front seats are superb and are 100% road trip capable. They are also awesomely supportive off-road and we could (and did) spend hours in them without complaint.

So, the ride. This is a 350hp, twin-turbo V6 powered off-road capable SUV with its roots firmly planted in the Toyota truck line. With that said, what do you think the ride is like? It’s truck like. This is not some marshmallow soft, wallowing bucket of goo going down the road. No, it is pretty tight and at times can come off as a little choppy, much like a truck. But in the end we’re actually giving this part of the experience kudos. The GX 550 knows what it is, what it wants to be, and how it wants to achieve that end.

If you want an SUV that pretends to be good off road with the ride of a 1970s Cadillac, you can find those, this is not that. This is a real deal performer where the pavement ends and that means you are going to feel some of that on the pavement. The GX 550 can be had in many flavors but if you want to get dirty, this is the one for you.

The 2025 Lexus GX 550 is a breath of fresh air from Lexus and one of the most honest, real, and frankly great SUVs on the market today. No one likes a poseur, pretender, or fraud and this GX 550 is proof of just how good cars can be when they have a clear vision, direction, and execution strategy.

Go drive one and see if you feel the same way we do.