Luxurious Prado? Yes, but…
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Luxurious Prado? Yes, but…
Lexus has been positioning itself as the left-field premium SUV alternative to the usual suspects (BMWs, Mercs, and Range Rovers) going on decades now. Now, with the eventual introduction of the GX550, it represents something of a turning point for the Japanese brand locally. After 23 years of the GX nameplate existing everywhere but here, we’ve finally got our hands on Toyota’s groomed Prado.
Positioned as the barrier to entry into Lexus’ posh off-roading range, the GX550 Overtrail on test here is priced at R1,766,000, or about a million lighter on the wallet than the equivalent LX700h Overtrail, which we tested a while back. And by all accounts, despite its comparatively puny price tag, it’s arguably also the better-realised of the two. While it’s a relative bargain when compared to the LX and even the additional premium over and above the donor Toyota Prado, it’s looking to poach signatures away from the likes of the Defender – an adventure-luxo SUV that has proven quite adept at parting well-to-do South Africans with off-roading aspirations from their money.
The GX Overtrail, Lexus says, is tailored to “extreme exploration”, and visually it leans into that off-roading doctrine with Overtrail-specific all-terrain tyres that house 18-inch rims, reinforced underbody protection, and a track widened by 20mm. Here’s the thing, though: Lexus has become exceptionally good at styling polarising cars that elicit either knee-clenching adoration or outraged remarks from anonymous social media pundits. The fact that it’s a restyle of the Prado, which generally speaking has the right lines at the right places to be considered aesthetically pleasing, is a definite plus in its column.
The Lexus GX550 becomes particularly interesting when it comes to the goings-on underneath the bonnet. While the Toyota Prado soldiers on exclusively with the trusty 2.8-litre turbodiesel, the Lexus is specified with the considerably more exciting, if not as frugal, 3.4-litre V6 that also fulfils driving duties in the LX.
At 260kW and a more-than-decent 650Nm of torque, it’s a vocal unit that’s responsive, surprisingly quick to 100km/h considering its size (7 seconds to be exact), but most importantly, feels appropriate for something of this stature. This makes you wonder why Toyota hasn’t seen fit to offer it in the Prado… Trying to get more buyers into Lexus, perhaps? I can only speculate.
Considering its underpinnings and the fact that this is the Overtrail, naturally, we couldn’t not take it to the nearest 4×4 trail. It effortlessly navigated moderately easy rock obstacles and gravel sections. As expected, it feels every bit as good as the Prado it’s based on, even if we barely had to call on any items within the extensive off-road equipment list.
The challenge, though, wasn’t necessarily a matter of capability but rather its dimensions when the trails started to narrow. More than once, discretion and some awkward reversing saved the GX from costly damage from unbudging rocks and us from some apologetic explanations.
My last jaunt with an off-road-ready Lexus didn’t leave me mightily impressed with any singular aspect of the interior execution. It was a button overload for every imaginable off-road scenario. And to add to the frustration, the LX700’s packaging felt snug when considering the flagship SUV’s 5.1-metre length. In short, I expected more from a R2.7m luxury SUV.
And the GX? Well, let’s just say that the Lexus premium feels justified with it clearly borrowing from the RX’s common-sense approach, which is to say there’s a logical and elegant approach to all user touchpoints. Secondary functions are easily accessible in the digital domain, and primary functions are operated using well-placed, tactile buttons.
Driving information is relayed using the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while entertainment is primarily taken care of by the 14-inch touchscreen infotainment screen that’s also mercifully easy to operate. To sum it up, the GX550 strikes a welcome balance between analogue and digital. Also, the more streamlined interior design translates into a generally more open and spacious layout with passable levels of second-row legroom when doing a front-to-rear seating test. Just note that the Overtrail only ships with five seats, while the SE grade comes with a third row that offers space for seven.
The GX550 Overtrail seamlessly combines that Lexus brand of luxury with far-reaching off-road capability that’s easy to understand and call upon. Add to that the fact that it’s a relative bargain compared to the likes of the LR Defender 110, which starts at R1.8m, and only R280,700 more than the Prado VX-R with a shopping list worth of purchasing rationalisations over and above the Toyota.
In fact, I’m willing to say that the GX550 is one of the more accomplished Lexus models I’ve driven to date. Yes, it’ll greedily gulp 95 octane, and the 80-litre fuel tank capacity feels criminally small considering its thirst, but then again, if you’re shopping in the near-R2m price bracket, the price at the pumps should be of little consequence. What matters here is that the GX lives up to the inherent expectations that are attached to its premium price tag, and for a luxury brand is there anything more important?
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