What Is Lexus Overtrail? Charting a Dirty New Direction
Peek inside Lexus’s new off-road trim level for its GX and LX SUVs.
Hugely capable off-road SUVs don’t need to have the driving manners and creature comforts of a farm tractor. These days, factory-built trail rigs are equipped with hardware to take on tough terrain, along with dynamics and luxuries that work for daily driving. Just see what Lexus offers—its Overtrail line of SUVs combine upscale refinement with all-terrain capability.
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After making its debut in 2024 on the Lexus GX, the Overtrail treatment is now being applied to the Lexus LX for 2025. It seems like Overtrail is here to stay, so we met with Richard Hollingsworth, who’s worked in Lexus product marketing for decades. Through him, we learned all about Overtrail, how it came to be, and what path it might take.
Lexus Overtrail: What Is It?
Put simply, Overtrail is Lexus’ off-road trim level. Overtrail models are based on normal Lexus vehicles but have hardware and technology that increases off-road capability, along with distinctive design cues that convey their rugged nature. Think of it as Lexus’s TRD Off-Road or TRD Pro branding, as its corporate sibling Toyota applies to its trucks and SUVs; or a less extreme version of Ford’s Raptor lineup.
Lexus has long built SUVs with good fundamentals for off-road driving, such as body-on-frame construction, a live rear axle, and four-wheel drive. That’s an outcome of the company’s relation to Toyota and its legendary Land Cruiser, 4Runner, and Sequoia SUVs, which have historically shared key mechanicals with the GX and LX.
According to Hollingsworth, Overtrail lets Lexus “showcase our vehicles’ capabilities that we know they have” relative to the automaker’s typical road-oriented engineering. But Overtrail isn’t meant to diminish a Lexus’ luxury and instead takes it in a different direction. “This means capability. Overtrail means I can take the vehicle anywhere I need to go. I could start on the road, then instantly go off-road. Overtrail models cover that spectrum—they're capable of doing it all,” said Hollingsworth.
Roots in the Aftermarket
Lexus’ first SUV was the LX, which arrived in 1995 essentially as aluxurious Toyota Land Cruiser offshoot. But despite its decades of experience building vehicles with off-road potential, Lexus didn’t consider equipping them for that performance until it saw what its fanbase was doing on its own. Individuals started modifying their GX and LX SUVs like they were backcountry Toyotas, a pursuit that really took off after 2020 as people sought ways to enjoy the outdoors under constraints of the COVID pandemic.
Hollingsworth recalled observing changes at off-road meetups and expositions, saying “as we started seeing more GXs and LXs, we started to understand how there’s a market for these types of vehicles besides Toyota.” That was the inspiration for Lexus to create Overtrail, so it learned from innovators in this space to determine how to equip its own vehicles.
Such enthusiasm came as a surprise for Lexus, and influenced decisions in creating its latest SUVs. “We know our vehicles had what it takes, but even our own marketing didn’t showcase that potential,” Hollingsworth said. “We’re a luxury brand first. But now the market has changed in the last five years post-COVID. There’s been an overlanding explosion and other entries built for the segment, across mainstream and luxury. We saw that opportunity—and now the looks of our vehicles back up their off-road credentials.”
Are You the Overtrail Type?
Drivers of off-road Toyotas might prefer function over form, and want to test their rigs on precarious trails. Off-road Lexus drivers are different, instead wanting higher material quality and more amenities to stay comfortable on a longer unpaved journey. “A GX Overtrail customer is adventurous, willing to stay out in the wilderness exploring for a few days,” said Hollingsworth, who continued “an LX Overtrail customer is more about the destination, whether that’s a remote campground or cabin only accessible by going off-road.”
Overtrail drivers aren’t so focused on extreme capability that they’ll forgo the refinements expected from a Lexus. Hollingsworth thinks “the thing that makes Overtrail different is how we do it with a lot more luxury and more comfort.” They might also like the Overtrail SUVs’ undeniably cool looks, with distinctions like dark trim, chunky tires, and exclusive Earth brown exterior paint.
Legit Off-Road Upgrades
Don’t take this to mean that Lexus skimped in transforming its vehicles to Overtrail spec. “We didn't want it just to be just a nice look, an appearance package,” Hollingsworth said. Wheels and tires are crucial for any off-road vehicle, and Lexus Overtrail models come with rims smaller than those on their roadgoing counterparts, but thick all-terrain rubber for a larger outer diameter. Ground clearance also increases; the LX Overtrail has height-adjustable suspension. On the GX Overtrail, an automatic disconnecting anti-roll bar is added, while the LX Overtrail boasts three locking differentials—front, rear, and center. Both SUVs have drive modes for different types of terrain and exterior cameras to help spot obstacles.
What Is Overtrail+?
With the GX, Lexus offers a high-end Overtrail+ trim, but none of its upgrades increase its driving capabilities over the standard Overtrail version. Instead, the GX Overtrail+ gains niceties like massaging front seats, heated second-row seats, extended ambient lighting, a wireless phone charger, motion-activated power tailgate, and more.
Deciding Which Off-Road Direction
With Overtrail now part of its portfolio, Lexus unlocks its vehicles’ potential and sets itself apart from other luxury automakers. Yet with how new Overtrail is, Lexus is still working to determine exactly what direction it’ll take.
The automaker should be realistic about the wants and needs of its customers, says Hollingsworth: “It’s one thing to have it all—triple lockers and adjustable suspension, for example—but the No. 1 thing is having a good wheel and tire combination. If a vehicle has enough of that to make it up a certain trail, the rest is moot.”
Tough appearances alone draw people to off-road SUVs, and Lexus could still leverage the Overtrail in that way. Hollingsworth points to exclusive colors or accessories like roof racks as aesthetic goodies that Lexus might use to increase the Overtrail’s popularity. Even so, “it starts with wheels and tires” he said.
Overtrail could be applied to other vehicles in Lexus’ lineup, but Hollingsworth acknowledged how the GX and LX are best for it, saying “these two are body-on-frame, while our other vehicles are unibody, so it’s trickier—we're not going to put Overtrail on a hypothetical UX or LC. That just doesn’t make sense.” This performance-focused strategy has already led to some impressive factory-built off-road rigs—although in our opinion an LC Overtrail would make a wild rival to the Porsche 911 Dakar or Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato. Regardless, we’re excited for whatever might come from Lexus Overtrail in the future.
Alex's earliest memory is of a teal 1993 Ford Aspire, the car that sparked his automotive obsession. He's never driven that tiny hatchback—at six feet, 10 inches tall, he likely wouldn't fit—but has assessed hundreds of other vehicles, sharing his insights on MotorTrend as a writer and video host.
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