Another major differentiator between the new and the outgoing GX is its chassis. The GA-F platform (that's what Lexus calls it) is shared with the larger Lexus LX and is stronger, lighter and more resistant to twisting than the GX's previous underpinnings. During our time behind the wheel, we found the new GX to be significantly tighter-feeling, less sloppy and with far more accurate steering than the older model. We were also pleased with the tuning of the GX's brakes. The pedal was firm, with most of the braking power coming in very early in the pedal stroke, but they were still easy to control and smooth stops were second nature.
All of this increased refinement and smooth, extra power might lead you to believe that the GX rides on a nicely upholstered leather pillow, but that's where you'd be wrong. Remember, the GX is a body-on-frame SUV with moderate off-road intentions, so it rides a bit like a truck. Even on smoother roads the GX feels a bit stiff-legged, and it can get downright choppy when the surface degrades. The Luxury trim's 22-inch wheels and low-profile tires do the ride no favors, but even the 18-inch wheels, and their 33-inch tires, don't make a major difference to the overall ride quality in the GX. The look and feel of the GX might make you forget about the GX's off-road capability, but the ride never will.
Our time spent off-road was quite limited but the GX was able to demonstrate that, in its Overtrail trim, it does possess more off-road ability than anything else in the class, Land Rover Defender excepted. Opting for the aforementioned Overtrail trim outfits the GX with a locking rear differential, 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, and an automatic disconnecting sway bar system. This system, known as E-KDSS, allows for increased suspension articulation during off-road driving while not sacrificing on-road stability.
There's also a bevy of off-road driving modes at your disposal. Calibrated for dirt, deep snow, sand and mud, the permanent four-wheel-drive system can also be dropped into 4-Lo for more technical, slow-speed off-road driving. Ground clearance is up to 8.86 inches for the Overtrail model but that increase of 0.2 inch over the standard model is due solely to the larger-diameter off-road tires. And while the Overtrail does include a skid plate, and the lower front bumper trim (the silver bit in the center) is easily removable if it's damaged. Still, you shouldn't expect the GX to be an all-out mountain goat once the trail begins. For reference, a Subaru Outback Wilderness offers 9.5 inches of ground clearance, while the Land Rover Defender 110 can give you up to 11.5 inches with its optional air suspension.