EVERY now and then a brand tries to bridge conquering the harsh wild while offering the leisure comfort of opulence luxury.
The two don’t always come together, unless we’re talking about the Lexus GX 550.
Where beauty meets beast, the Lexus model holds its premium makings at heart while bestowing the driver the ability to traverse tough terrains when necessary.
It adopts the Japanese Takumi design philosophy focusing on the perfect artisan craftsmanship form in harmony with function and technology.
Which is exactly what the GX 550 is made to embody and Lexus hopes to convey.
It looks very rugged on the outside to ensure you know that the model is off-road capable in spite of its luxury roots.
It is available in either the off-road centric Overtrail or top class Luxury+ variant.
While sharing similar design philosophies, the two are very much their own character right down to the details.
Overtrail
The 5-seater Overtrail is fitted with Automatic High Beam (AHB), 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels in a Matte Gray Metallic finish, 265/70R18 off-road-oriented tyres, a moon roof with bridge-type rails, a matte grey metallic front lower bumper and black paint finishing on the wheel arch moulding, side mirrors and outside door handles.
The body is available in either Terrane Khaki MM, Moon Desert, Titanium Carbide Gray and Sonic Titanium colours - all featuring a bi-tone black roof as standard.
Interior colours are Chateau and Black, with the same choice of Tsuyasumi or Oak film trim while its audio system is that of a 10-speaker with subwoofer from Pioneer.
Seats come with synthetic leather upholstery while its headrest has 2-way vertical adjustment and the driver side seat gets power lumbar support.
At the rear is a power tailgate and its side steps are fixed for more robust daily use, and assist in protecting the vehicle from getting curbed from the side while driving through rough terrain.
As the one more primed for off-roading only the Overtrail gets a dedicated Locking Rear Differential that ensures equal power delivery to both rear wheels to maximise grip on the most demanding terrain.
As it is purpose-built for serious off-road performance the variant is equipped with Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) which is an industry-first system that offers six selectable terrain modes: Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, Rock and Sand/Mud in L4.
It also features Crawl Control which maintains a steady pace over challenging terrain by automatically managing engine power and braking, Electronic-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) that enables and disables the vehicle’s stabiliser lock electronically, and Downhill Assist Control (DAC) that manages brake pressure on steep descents.
Luxury+
Conversely the power tailgate on the Luxury+ features a hands-free kick-open function and side steps automatically deploy when doors are open.
Interior is available in Black, Saddle Tan and Dark Gray, with semi-aniline leather upholstery and Tsuyasumi or Oak film ornamentation.
It is fitted with a digital rear-view mirror, a 21-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound System with subwoofer, and a cool box integrated into the centre console.
As a 7-seater the Luxury+ has a third-row 50:50-split power folding and reclining seat.
Both driver and front passenger seats gets 2-way power lumbar support and a massage function while headrest adjustment (vertical and horizontal) is 4-way.
The Luxury+ also gets advanced Adaptive High Beam System (AHS) with BladeScan technology, 22-inch aluminium alloy wheels in a Dark Gray Metallic finish, 265/50R22 tyres, a panoramic glass roof with solid-type rails, a glossy black metallic front lower bumper and body colour treatment on the wheel arch moulding and side mirrors.
Minus the Moon Desert, the Luxury+ has access to the same colours as the Overtrail does in addition to Mercury Gray MC, Sonic Quartz, Graphite Black GF and Deep Blue MC.
Pleasure of power
Regardless, both variants are just as rugged and capable as they are powered by an all-new 3.5-litre V6 Twin-Turbo petrol engine, built on a body-on-frame platform engineered for exceptional terrain performance, are integrated with the front skid-plates, and feature a H4/L4 gear range with a Torsen limited-slip centre differential locking system.
The 24-valve DOHC V6 Twin-Turbo petrol engine with Dual VVT-i and intercooler deliver a maximum output of 349hp from 4,800–5,200rpm and maximum torque of 650Nm from 2,000–3,600rpm.
Transmission is a 10-speed automatic that execute seamless gear shifts.
The drive system is an Electronically Controlled Full-Time All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with Drive Mode Select that offers Normal, Eco, Comfort, Sport S and Sport S+ modes, as well as a Custom mode enabled by the Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system fitted on both variants.
Either variants of the GX 550 can deliver a 0–100kph sprint in 7.0 seconds and achieve a top speed of 175kph.
When put to the test, both variants could effortlessly speed up the likes of Genting Highlands with ease by the 2,500rpm mark.
You’ll enjoy the serene ascent with muted power rush from the engine without the need for hard kick-down.
Fuel tank size is the same for both at 80 litres and they share a similar fuel consumption rate at 12.3 litre/100km (NEDC) with CO2 emissions of 279g/km under the Euro 6B emission standard.
Ground clearance is 220mm while the minimum turning radius is six metres.
In spite of its commanding size, the GX 550 drives with quite the agility that allows drivers to navigate some tight spots around the city.
Where comfort is concerned, the Tazuna concept cockpit features a 14-inch Electro Multi Vision Wide (EMV) touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a Head-Up
Display and a 12.3-inch Full LCD Graphic Meter with TFT.
Front seats on both variants feature power 8-way adjustment with memory function (driver), seat ventilation and heating for both driver and front passenger, and for the driver a power easy access and sitting surface length adjustment.
Both variants share a suite of cabin features in the form of a 2-zone automatic climate control system with Lexus Climate Concierge, NanoeX negative ion generator, pollen and dust filter, wireless Qi smartphone charging, a customisable ambient colour illumination system, active noise control, dynamic voice recognition, and a mixture of power outlets depending on the variant.
All variants are equipped with a suite of the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, a host of active safety features, advanced alarm system (featuring an immobiliser, backup battery siren and intrusion and tilt sensors), 10 SRS airbags and ISOFIX child seat anchors.
There’s a lot to take in but be sure that that irrespective of your choice the GX 550 is as tough as nails and is easy to handle.
The added bonus is you’ll be sure to make a presence felt while getting a whole range of features without any sacrifice to luxury on your adventure.
The GX 550 Overtrail and Luxury+ is priced respectively at RM780,000 and RM830,000 - prices are on-the-road without insurance, inclusive of a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty with 5 years free service or 100,000km, whichever comes first.
