Lexus GX 550 Overtrail 2025 Tow Test

You’ll be up for $122,250 plus on-road costs (ORCs) for the 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail, whose competitor set of off-road tough and boxy SUVs in a suit and boots is short. The most obvious is the Land Rover Defender and perhaps to a lesser extent the more utilitarian (but still expensive) INEOS Grenadier. You might also want to consider the less flash but similarly capable Toyota Prado, which shares its platform with the GX 550.

No OEM in their right mind would have specified chunky 33-inch all-terrain tyres (on 18-inch alloys) on a premium 4x4 just a few years ago, but it’s now becoming a thing (think Patrol Warrior). The 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail’s 18-inch alloys are shod with Toyo Open Country A/Ts, ready to hit rough Outback roads.

There are so many other feature highlights here, it’s hard to know where to start. The list runs to heated and cooled power-adjustable front seats, a power tailgate (with separate opening glass window), a 220-volt/100-watt power outlet, and a standard integrated trailer wiring harness and tow hitch receiver.

Warranty is for five years/unlimited kilometres, while the Lexus Encore aftersales program is also bundled into the deal, which includes loan car delivery to your home or office and vehicle pick-up for servicing. Service intervals are short, at six months. At the capped price of $595 per service (locked in for 10 years at that price), owners will pay just under $1200 per annum to service their vehicle.

Other features include the Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) off-road traction control, Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (eKDSS), and a locking rear differential. Together with a dual-range transmission, the all-terrain tyres and 225mm of ground clearance, the Overtrail promises to be handy off-road.

Interior highlights include leather upholstery and three-zone automatic climate control.

As for infotainment tech, the Lexus has a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch central touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10-speaker sound system, wireless phone charger and five USB-C ports. A DCM (data communication module) allows smartphone pairing for remote functionality.

Safety inclusions run to road-sign assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with day, night and intersection turning detection of vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles, plus daytime detection of motorcycles. Rear cross-traffic alert is part of the safety package, as is tyre pressure monitoring, while adaptive radar cruise control and lane keeping/centring allow autonomous steering, braking and acceleration. There’s also auto-levelling LED headlights with adaptive high beam and blind-spot monitoring. The GX 550 hasn’t yet been assessed by ANCAP.

Under the bonnet is a 3.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 with 260kW and 650Nm, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and a full-time, dual-range, 4x4 system. The V6 has to slurp down premium fuel (95RON minimum), with a claimed ADR Combined fuel economy of 12.3L/100km.

The GX 550 Overtrail has a 2515kg kerb weight, a Gross Vehicle Mass of 3110kg, and a Gross Combined Mass of 6610kg, while towing capacity is 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked) with a maximum towball download of 350kg.

The upshot here is that the 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail can carry its maximum payload of 595kg while also towing to its maximum 3500kg capacity without exceeding its GCM. However, remembering that towball mass becomes part of your payload, you have 245kg to play with assuming you have the full 350kg on the towball. Not ideal, but there are worse compromises among the 3500kg towing crew.

The 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail is good value considering the high level of standard equipment and the fit and finish is very good. The active safety systems are not hyperactive, the controls are easy to find and, for the most part, the infotainment system is a doddle to drive.

The GX 550 is also quick and easy to reverse for hitching up when solo with excellent multiple camera views. The caravan we borrowed from RV Connection at St Marys North (NSW) weighed just on 3000kg, so a decent representative mass for the Lexus.

While the GX 550 is no featherweight, the 260kW/650Nm peaks assist in making light work of heavy towing. Getting up to speed on the freeway and maintaining it is very easy, with the GX 550 seemingly happiest in seventh gear at 100km/h with the engine turning at about 1800rpm.

The test hill was ascended with a kick down and a dip into higher revs but without dropping speed or having to bury the right foot.

Towing fuel consumption is surprisingly low, with a 17.8L/100km average on test, but we suspect the Lexus likely will tow heavy stuff around at closer to the 15L/100km the trip computer was showing while on easy, flat terrain.

Whether towing or not, the Lexus is quite easy to see out of and feels smaller than it is to weave through narrow lanes, while highway driving is also comfortable and quiet, with ample overtaking performance when needed.

The 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail doesn’t have a big fuel tank capacity if long distance towing tours are on your agenda. With 80 litres, it’ll go about 400km (allowing a 50km safety reserve) before you’ll need to fill up again. It’s not likely every Overtrail owner will want to do this, but if towing in remote locations, the GX 550’s 95RON premium fuel requirement might become an issue.

The Lexus has a surprisingly firm ride around town that does smooth out on the highway. While this firmer ride does help quell movement when towing, the front suspension takes a few oscillations before settling on undulations. While towing stability is not bad, it is not as good as the planted feel of the GX’s bigger brother, the LX, or the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series when towing around 3000kg.

If you are planning some heavy-duty towing with a side serve of off-roading or dirt-road touring, then the 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail appears to be quite well set up out of the box. It is powerful, smooth and quite economical for heavy towing, and has plenty of drivetrain refinement to go with it.

That said, the GX 550’s inherent ride quality and towing stability are not perfect and the somewhat modest fuel range might mean taking a jerry or two of extra fuel.

2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail at a glance:
Price: $122,250 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.4-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol
Output: 260kW/650Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel: 12.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 279g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

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