35 Years of Lexus: SUVs Are the Stars, and We Found the Coolest of All
Lexus has one of the most extensive portfolios among luxury car brands today. It's also by far the best-selling Japanese player in that field. Yet it's a long way from its humble beginnings in 1990 with the LS 400 and ES 250 sedans.
The full-size LX launched in 1996—which pushed the Toyota Land Cruiser out of the Canadian market, incidentally—started the SUV ball rolling at Lexus. It was followed at the dawn of the new millennium by what would quickly become and remain the company’s bestseller: the RX.
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As Lexus celebrates its 35th anniversary in Canada (its fourth largest market worldwide), The Car Guide was invited to take part in a winter escapade in the lovely Charlevoix region about an hour north of Quebec City. A sign of the times, the media event included all of the brand's seven SUVs and not a single car.
The Pionneer
Despite a tight schedule that left little time to drive each of the Lexus SUVs on hand, we didn't miss the opportunity to hit the road with the one that stood out most from the pack, namely a 2005 RX 330. With over 210,000 km on the odometer yet still in superb condition, this special guest from the beginning of the second generation refreshingly took us back to the days when Lexus designs were more conservative—you know, without the giant spindle grilles that have dramatically changed the face of the brand and made a lot of potential buyers hesitate.
Remember, the RX was the first unibody luxury crossover on the market. Naturally, some of its design cues haven’t really aged well, such as the headlights and taillights, or the swollen bumpers, but the lines are still attractive, notably in the rear with the sloping window and the spoiler at the top.
Strikingly, this two-row midsize SUV is just a little longer (4,730 mm) but otherwise very comparable to today's compact-sized NX in terms of dimensions.
And get this: there’s more cargo room in the trunk (1,084 litres) and overall (just shy of 2,400 litres) than in a 2025 RX. That’s fantastic, especially when you consider that suitcases and hockey bags have also gotten much bigger over the past 20 years.
The two-tone interior with plenty of wood trim, thick carpeting and a button-filled centre stack obviously screams of the mid-2000s, but build quality lives up to the reputation of Lexus. Visibility is better than in the modern-day RX, and the airy feeling is amplified by the more minimalist centre console, with a large floor space that is not unlike many electric vehicles these days.
The 2005 RX 330 is powered by a 3.3-litre V6 with variable valve timing, developing 230 hp and even more torque (242 lb-ft), which is unusual for a naturally aspirated engine and very appreciated on the road. We also liked the smoothness and sound of the six-cylinder mill, in stark contrast to the turbocharged four-pots we've come to know.
We didn’t get the opportunity to really put the full-time 4WD system to the test. However, the brief time we spent with the vehicle was enough to realize the limitations that come from the automatic gearbox, which has only five gears and is nowhere near the level of sophistication of modern units. Some owners in the past have had to replace it. And of course, the transmission puts more strains on the engine. The official fuel consumption figures stand at 9 L/100 km on the highway and as high as 12.8 L/100 km around town.
The good news is that, with some research and patience, you can find second-generation RX models for sale at just under $10,000. For nostalgic Lexus enthusiasts and drivers on a tight budget, it could prove to be a sensible way to get a taste of that Lexus quality and reliability everybody’s talking about.
The Cool SUV
As mentioned up top, the entire 2024-2025 Lexus SUV lineup—from the subcompact UX to the full-size LX (gas and now hybrid models) and everything in between including the all-electric RZ—was also available for us to test drive both on and off the road, with three different handling and obstacle courses designed to push the vehicles where few owners normally dare to. As we discovered, it's possible to have fun in the snow behind the wheel of these luxurious Japanese SUVs—more than you might think.
Having said that, none is cooler and more unique than the GX. Lexus' body-on-frame midsize SUV has always been a rugged and capable off-roader, but its obese looks and unattractive mug made it easy to overlook. The new generation, launched for 2024 almost 15 years after the previous one, is the kind of large truck and grown-up toy that we find immensely appealing and exciting—the Lexus alternative to the latest Toyota Land Cruiser (same exact width and wheelbase), but with a crucial difference under the hood. More on that later.
On- and off-road, the new GX 550 impresses with its ultra-rigid chassis and excellent visibility. Of particular note are the hood's longitudinal lines, which serve as a reference for front-wheel location, the practical bridge-type roof rails to haul extra cargo, and the folding rear window, which once again offers quick access to the trunk without the need to open the tailgate.
On seven-passenger models, said trunk is terribly tight (292 litres), as designers have prioritized legroom in the third row, which can easily accommodate two normal-sized adults. The five-seat GX Overtrail and Overtrail+ models, on the other hand, boast no less than 1,138 litres of cargo space. Access to all seats is simple, facilitated by grab bars on the door frames, while the large panoramic roof brings a ton of light into the cabin.
Inside, the transformation is equally stunning, and we found the human-machine interface to be more user-friendly than that of the LX with a single 14-inch infotainment touchscreen instead of a central dual-display layout. The 12.3-inch digital instrumentation is highly configurable and easy to read. The controls are smartly arranged, including the drive mode selector, 4x4 system and locking rear differential switches, while the console is available with a (small) cooled box.
It's kind of a shame that only the Overtrail models get the multi-terrain monitor with under-floor view, which can be a great help in spotting and negotiating obstacles—and not just when driving off-road).
Despite their high centre of mass, all GX models prove solid and inspire confidence, as demonstrated on a slalom course and a high-speed off-road course, both snow-covered. The combination of the locking rear differential and adaptive variable suspension works wonders, too. Elsewhere, a section of man-made bumps allowed us to appreciate the fine job performed by the new Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS), which can disengage the anti-roll bars for extra wheel travel and articulation.
By the way, the E-KDSS is exclusive to Overtrail models, which are the ones you want for tackling more challenging terrain, especially with their more generous ground clearance and sturdy 18-inch wheels (down from the 20- or 22-inch alloys) mounted on 33-inch Toyo all-terrain tires. They also include skid plates, tow hooks and those precious camera views helping you steer the vehicle when your eyes aren’t enough.
A final word about the engine. Unlike the Toyota Land Cruiser, which uses a hybrid system comprising a turbocharged four-cylinder and an electric motor, and every other Lexus model, the new GX banks on a twin-turbo 3.4-litre V6 that generates 349 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. It was music to our gearhead ears and a real treat to push in any situation, never seeming to run out of breath and beautifully paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission that operates with both smoothness and urgency.
Granted, fuel consumption could be improved (13.5 L/100 km officially), while certain materials and parts of the cabin are less Lexus and more Toyota, but considering the GX's playful nature and adventurous aspirations, we don’t mind that much and actually applaud Lexus. Now, as for prices, that's another story...