From urban travel to steep mountain roads, the Overtrail is ready
2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail – Intro
Stepping into the driver’s seat of the 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail, I immediately sensed that this was not just another plush luxury SUV—it has serious adventure DNA built into its luxury wrapper. During my time with the vehicle, I drove routes that took me from downtown city streets to suburban roads, onto a high-speed highway, and then up into mountain passes—so I could experience how this SUV behaves across different environments. I even drove through an unanticipated forest fire. Overall, I found it competent, composed, and not only ready for adventure but also for busy family life. Although, for a luxury SUV in its class and price range, it was missing a few features.
2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail – The Walk Around
From the outside, the 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail, shown here in Nori Green Pearl, wears its ruggedness with style. It sports an elevated stance, 18-inch alloys wrapped in 33-inch all-terrain tires, plus skid plates and rock-rails hinting at serious off-road credentials. The body shape is tall and squared, remarkably similar to the all new 2025 Toyota 4Runner, which gives it presence in the city and makes for a commanding road posture.
In slower urban maneuvering, the tall body and substantial width demand respect: tight parking lots mean you really need to use the cameras and sensors. On the highway, the big tires introduce a bit more road noise than a more road-oriented luxury SUV, but the ride remains composed.
Walk around back to the power back door with a kick sensor as well as a pop out hatch window. The tow package is neatly hidden in the bumper when not in use. Accessing the hitch is a bit tricky to remove the plastic coating and in the colder temperatures, I question if the cover would crack with any type of forcible removal.
The external memory mirrors seem small for the vehicle stature but definitely are sufficient for their purpose. With the Overtrail+, they power fold, are heated and tilt when the vehicle is in reverse. The lighting is full ‘LED triple-beam‘ up front, and the front tow hooks (standard on Overtrail) highlight its readiness to go on an adventure.
2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail – Interior Styling
During my city drive I noticed how the high hood and big wheels announce it in traffic, and the elevated driving position, although a little high for my liking, gives good forward visibility.
Speaking of visibility, travelling with my 4 year old grandson in the back, we took out the passenger seat head rest and tilted the seat back so he could watch out the front window from his car seat. The conversation that ensued in traffic was endearing. Also, he was the first to discover the in-door sun shades and make use of it.
The front seats are substantial, with good bolstering, heated and ventilated functions, and the overall seat height gives you an upright, commanding view. Initially, I could not see the head up display and it took me a moment to realize I needed to lift my seat higher in order to view it.
The cabin materials are upscale: soft‐touch surfaces with thoughtful contrast stitching. The front center console offers a cooling feature on the storage compartment, perfect for snacks. Even in second row, the seating is robust for extended highway travel in a five-seat configuration focusing more on comfort and cargo.
In the city, the higher driving position was perfect for navigating stop-and-go traffic and for seeing around other cars. The steering wheel is chunky and well-gripped and the controls feel tactile. On the highway the cabin is quiet enough for conversation and music without raising your voice, and over mountain roads the seats held me nicely without feeling overly firm. The interior styling gives you a sense of refinement—not ultra-sporty, but premium with a purpose.
One small caveat in tight spaces: the wide door openings and large mirrors mean you need to watch your clearance in narrow parking spaces. Overall, the interior styling successfully balances luxury comfort with rugged utility exterior.
2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail – Technology and Safety Features
Technology inside the 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail is on par with other models in its class. A large 14-inch touchscreen commands the center of the dash, giving you access to the Lexus Interface multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A separate 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster ahead of the driver keeps essential information clear. I found the system responsive and intuitive—especially useful when switching between modes or checking the off-road monitors.
During highway travel I activated adaptive cruise control and lane-centering features (part of the standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite) and the system was smooth, maintaining the set speed and following distance with minimal intervention.
Safety features include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking support with brake (object/vehicle detection), and a host of sensors and cameras. As useful as these safety features may be, I was surprised by their intuitiveness when I was backing up to hook up a trailer for motorcycle track days at Area 27 Motorsports Park. I was using the backup cameras and sensors to precisely line up the trailer to the hitch when out of the blue, the vehicle braked unexpectedly. I had a few spontaneous words that flew out of my mouth until I realized it was the safety system. Noted!
In the city I felt secure parking in tight spots thanks to the panoramic view monitor and the parking sensors. On the highway and in the mountains, the lane-departure alerts were immediately turned off (they are my nemesis) and automatic emergency braking may give other drivers an added layer of reassurance, I am not a fan but do see its usefulness.
2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail – Power and Performance
Under the hood of the 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+, sits a twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre V6, producing around 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive.
The GX 550 Overtrail+ offers a set of drive modes that adjust power delivery, suspension firmness, steering weight, and even climate control behaviour to suit different driving styles and conditions. These modes let the driver fine-tune how the SUV feels on the road, from relaxed commuting to more spirited driving.
Normal:
This is the everyday setting, balancing power, comfort, and efficiency. It keeps acceleration smooth and predictable while retaining a comfortable suspension feel for mixed driving.
Eco:
Designed to save fuel by softening throttle response and easing demands on the air conditioning system. It is ideal for steady city traffic or long, flat highway stretches where efficiency matters.
Comfort:
With help from the Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), Comfort mode softens the ride and calms body motion. It works well for long-distance cruising or rough city pavement, delivering a relaxed and cushioned feel.
Sport S:
In this mode the GX sharpens its responses. Throttle input becomes more immediate, the transmission holds gears longer, and the suspension tightens slightly for better control. Steering also gains a bit more weight, giving the driver a stronger sense of connection to the road.
Sport S+:
This is the most dynamic factory setting. Throttle response becomes the quickest, the suspension firms up for the most controlled handling, and the steering reaches its heaviest and most direct feel. It is the best mode for confident high-speed driving on open mountain roads.
Custom:
For drivers who want to tailor the SUV precisely to their preferences, Custom mode allows individual adjustments to the powertrain (Eco, Normal, Power), suspension (Comfort, Normal, Sport), steering (Normal or Sport), and climate control (Eco or Normal). It lets you build your own blend of comfort or performance depending on the day.
Driving Experience
In the city, the torque is very helpful. At traffic-light takeoffs the Overtrail feels strong and unhurried; it doesn’t feel like a lumbering truck waiting to haul you away. The throttle response is smooth and the transmission shifts cleanly. Occasionally in tight stop-and-go situations the size and weight remind you to give yourself extra time when pulling out of intersections or merging into traffic. Fuel economy in city driving is modest—officially something in the realm of 15.3 L/100 km.
On the highway, the Overtrail opens up. Merging onto a Highway 1 and accelerating to 120 km/h for the ascent up the Coquihalla highway (BC Hwy 5) was effortless: the turbo engine fixed instantly and pulled confidently. The transmission settled into higher gears smoothly, and cruise at 110–120 km/h felt relaxed—not stressed. There’s a bit of wind and tire noise (the big all-terrain tires do wake up a little) but nothing intrusive. The ride remains composed and stable.
When I hit the Connector (BC Hwy 97C), with steep grades, tight sweeps, and extended descent, the Overtrail+ showed its dual nature: luxury SUV and adventure ready machine. Climbing grades with heavy ascent, the 479 lb-ft of torque at low rpm was especially appreciated. The 10-speed automatic held gears well, and the SUV did not feel sluggish or wrung out—even with the extra mass of the chassis. On the descents I engaged downhill assist and the brake-hold features: the vehicle felt steady, brakes remained firm, and I never felt like the system was fighting to keep up.
Granted most drivers don’t consider the ascents are descents of the mountain highways, but if you travel them often enough, you begin to see the blackout areas road side increase week over week where vehicles not capable of the terrain have overheated and burned to the ground.
Cornering is not sports-car sharp—the body is tall (think 90s Land Rover or Land Cruiser) and there is noticeable lean—but the E-KDSS system and adaptive suspension keep things under control. I didn’t feel nervous driving at speed on the mountain roads, and 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail plus felt more poised than I would have expected given its architecture.
The steering is firm and direct enough to give confidence in those tight sweeps. If I were to nitpick: the steering lacks the razor-edge precision one gets in a lower-riding Lexus performance SUV.
Overall, the engine and powertrain deliver strong, usable performance across city, highway, and mountain driving. The size and weight of the vehicle still mean you approach corners and tight spots more deliberately, but the overall experience is far better than I anticipated given the off-road ready cues.
Towing Capacity
Towing with the GX 550 Overtrail plus turned out to be one of the most useful parts of my test. With its factory tow hitch, trailer brake controller, sway control, and a rating that allows it to confidently pull recreational gear, I loaded up a 2025 Polaris Ranger 570 Northstar and headed to Area 27 Motorsports Park for a full day of photographing motorcycle track days.
The drive there was steady and predictable, even on rolling sections of highway. The twin-turbo V6 had no trouble managing the extra weight, and the 10-speed transmission held gears smoothly on climbs. I honestly forgot I was towing a recreational vehicle as the drive was so smooth.
I chuckled upon arrival as gate personnel were admiring the Lexus but puzzled with the Ranger until I said I was the photographer. I’m sure they wondered if I was planning to do a couple of laps in the Ranger. Once in the paddock, I unhooked the trailer and spent the day cruising trackside in the Ranger, photographing motorcycle track sessions and moving between corners quickly. The GX waited in the paddock, a comfortable basecamp that made the entire towing and travel experience feel effortless.
Conclusion
Driving the 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail was a rewarding experience. It successfully blends luxury comfort, modern technology, and serious capability in a single package. Whether crawling through city streets, cruising at highway speeds, or ripping through mountain passes, the Overtrail performed admirably. The high driving position, refined interior, and advanced tech make it comfortable and upscale; the powerful twin-turbo V6, robust suspension, and off-road hardware make it capable.
For someone like me—who might be driving scenic back-roads, exploring remote vantage points for photography, and also spending time on highways—it’s a compelling option. The 2025 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail isn’t perfect, but it strikes a very valuable balance: refined enough for everyday luxury, rugged enough for real adventure.
Suggested MSRP in Canada: $86,015
Plus Package: $22,225
Price as tested: $108,240.00
