Story | William Ha Photography | Lexus Canada, Mercedes-Benz Media, William Ha
Need a more conspicuous luxury Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) to stand out and do more?
If so, look no further than two updated all-wheel drive (AWD) choices—the Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ and Mercedes-Benz G 550. Both models feature polarizing and somewhat louche designs, but unlike most SUVs on our roads, they can also climb rocky terrain, ford water and take you through a desert.
Lexus GX 550 (Starting at $105,200)
The Japanese-built GX 550 was newly redesigned last year and serves as Lexus’s legitimately posh and capable mid-size off-roader. Of the six trims available, we drove the Overtrail+, an off-road-focused variant that conveys its identity through nicely proportioned boxy styling, 33-inch all-terrain tires, underbody protection, massaging front seats and a rugged, high-testosterone demeanour.
There is no more V8 engine for the GX line. The new twin-turbo 3.4L V6 engine produces 349 horsepower and, more importantly, 479 lb-ft of torque that increases its towing capacity to 9,000 pounds. This engine performs well, but for a Lexus, it is coarse when revved, and drivers will need to adapt to the off-road-specific side mirrors, which are tall and not wide like most passenger vehicle mirrors.
Inside, a large 14-inch touchscreen houses a 21-speaker premium audio system and an intuitive infotainment interface. Most of the climate control and seat heating/ventilation switches are also built into the screen, but front passengers get knobs to control the interior temperature and audio volume. We commend Lexus for striking the right balance between providing some straightforward physical controls and incorporating technology to produce a cleaner interior design. A see-thru overhead camera display and rear camera washer are also useful features, along with a refrigerated storage compartment under the front armrest to keep consumables cool.
The front 12-way power seats were comfortable with power thigh support extenders, and offers a five-program massage function with adjustable intensity, but the heated seats were weak compared to those in European and American vehicles. The door panels also lack large storage compartments and cupholders vs. other mid-size SUVs we’ve driven.
Along with a full suite of advanced safety features that include a voice warning of a traffic jam ahead, one unique driving feature we found valuable was Deceleration Assist, which felt like regenerative braking, and helps smoothly slow the vehicle to minimize braking effort and keep your speed in check when you take your foot off the accelerator.
We also liked that there was no engine auto start-stop system, but were surprised that when you turned off the engine, the centre screen also turns off unlike most new vehicles; retained power is only reserved for closing the power windows before you step out.
Mercedes-Benz G 550 (Starting at $189,000)
Decades ago, Mercedes-Benz raised the bar in the prestige luxury SUV space by turning a 1970s military vehicle into one of the most sought-after trucks among the elite.
For 2025, it has been refreshed with a new engine and interior. Like the Lexus, its previous V8 has also been replaced, but with a turbocharged, mild-hybrid 3.0-liter inline-six that produces 443 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. It is more fuel efficient than the Lexus in city driving and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h one second faster, but the Lexus is more efficient in highway driving. Its nine-speed automatic is retained from the previous model year.
For most buyers, they will never, (or can’t bear to), take their $200,000+ SUV through muddy trails, but the truck comes standard with key off-road-capable features, like locking front, centre and rear differentials, (these support low-speed traction and help you climb rough terrain), and with German luxury brands you get more wheel designs, exterior colours, interior materials and technology to choose from, like an available rear seat entertainment package.
A new 12.3-inch high-resolution centre touchscreen makes infotainment access easy, and its camera system is among the best in the industry.
One G 550 design feature to note: Accessing its cargo area requires operating a swing-out tailgate, which might be problematic if another vehicle is parked too close behind you. You would have to start the vehicle and move forward a bit to fully open the tailgate and access the space.
Choose the G 550 if you want to own a solid, go-anywhere tank that commands respect everywhere and offers a higher degree of luxury and tech.
Choose Accordingly
Some things to keep in mind about both these vehicles. Along with smaller, squarer dashboards and upright windshields that differ from most SUVs, their boxy exterior shapes tend to make wind noise more audible at cruising speeds, and because square designs are not aerodynamic, expect to spend more on gasoline.
Also, while their truck-based architecture (a design called body-on-frame) enables more serious off-roading, you may sometimes feel the vehicle wiggle sideways and bounce more over bumps.
Be sure to go on thorough test drives to ensure you can tolerate these unique characteristics.
