Important products aren’t always good or bad. Often, they fall somewhere in-between, all the while offering perspective on where a particular industry has found itself … and where it might be going.
This is the spirit driving the 12th annual GP100, Gear Patrol‘s mighty, end-of-year roundup collecting the year’s most relevant releases from tech, motoring, style and watches, outdoors and more.
Our team spent months filtering through thousands of new products, going hands-on whenever we could, to identify the innovations and updates that left the biggest marks on their respective industries. And no, not always to a better, let alone conclusive, end.
This year, we also decided to do something we’ve never done in more than a decade of publishing the GP100: rank our winners.
Admittedly, the process wasn’t scientific, or even always fair. That said, our editors were indeed guided by a few basic tenets, including novelty, popularity and impact on culture at large.
You might not agree with our selections. You definitely won’t agree with the order. But maybe, just maybe, you might agree with us on this: products have never been so dynamic, exciting and downright important to our lives.
Below, find our top cars and motorcycles, ranging from the new Tacoma to most powerful Defender ever. To see the winners from other categories, check out the full list.
14. An utterly serious attempt at having a whole lot of fun
FordGP100 Winner
2024 Ford Mach-E Rally
Specs
| Coolest Feature | RallySport drive mode allows for maximum fun factor |
| Power | 480 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque |
| Range | 265 miles |
The 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally rips through traditional value-oriented EV limitations like a lightning bolt. Far more than stickers and plastic cladding, Ford is demonstrating a serious commitment to cranking up the fun — just as it’s done with its internal combustion models like the F-150 Raptor and Dark Horse Mustang.
Ford’s tuning mavens for the Mach-E Rally, who boast rally and racing pedigrees, have transformed the vehicle into a dirt-slinging, gravel-crushing machine that laughs in the face of traditional EV expectations.
We’ve met and driven with the team leads and are happy to report that they’re precisely the kind of stoic yet maniacal talents you want tuning a rally-ready compact with 700 lb-ft of torque. There’s nothing quite reassuring as an engineer muttering, “What else kicks a Lambo Steratto’s ass for 60 thousand bucks?” while flicking out a car’s rear end on a hot lap.
In reality, a rally-oriented tune on the suspension makes the Mach-E a willing dance partner on both tarmac and rough terrain — offering up that dance of grip, power, and compliance when you demand it. We’re unsure where priorities were set, but isn’t this the story we should have about the Subaru Solterra?
Speaking of the 700 Club, the 700 lb-ft of torque available to send surging through the specially tuned all-wheel-drive system, the Mach-E is engineered for maximum laughs with specialized drive modes for gravel, mud and a Colin McRae-like rally-mode tuned after thousands of proving ground torture tests.
Here’s your Saturday: a quick trip to Costco, drop off the kids at AYSO, a couple of dirt-laden personal records at your nearest cross rally and back home with plenty of charge for heading to dinner out.
Visually aggressive, with rally-inspired body armor, perfectly inspired white wheels, a rear spoiler borrowed from the gone-but-not-forgotten Focus RS and a stance that whispers pure performance, the Mach-E Rally looks more like a tasteful enthusiast’s AI-fueled creation than anything you might expect from a Ford EV.
The Mach-E Rally is by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, and that’s something worth rallying around.
13. Cadillac electrifies the status symbol
CadillacGP100 Winner
2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ
Specs
| Coolest Feature | AKG 36-speaker sound system |
| Power | 750 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque |
| Range | 460 miles |
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ marks a monumental moment for the luxury brand and American automaking, and not just due to its hulking presence. The electric variant of Cadillac’s iconic full-size SUV is a bold, silent declaration that the words “Escalade” and “electric” can exist with unapologetic American swagger.
This is Cadillac’s first full-size electric SUV at its core, but it’s crucial to remember that the Escalade also serves as Cadillac’s cultural statement. With a staggering 750 horsepower and a range approaching 460 miles, the Escalade IQ is about having it all: size, speed, and range – price be damned.
A bellwether for GM’s strategic pivot to EVs and a clear sign of GM’s long-game with its Ultium electric-car platform, the Escalade IQ is a key salvo to test the legacy brand’s ability to usher in a new era of status-conscious consumers into an electrified future.
To accomplish this, the IQ is packed with features. Unlike the current gas Escalade, essentially a dressed-up Tahoe or Suburban, the Escalade IQ proffers a clean sheet design, sharing its platform with the new GMC Hummer EV. It oozes advanced technology inside and out, including a massive pillar-to-pillar 55-inch curved LED display that functions more like a digital canvas than a driver interface. A Gulfstream-worthy “executive-class” second row ensures that first-class status now runs two rows deep. And yes, it comes standard with one of our favorite hands-free assistants, SuperCruise.
Crucially, Cadillac understands that electrification isn’t about abandoning heritage. The Escalade IQ honors the commanding road presence its target owners expect but modernizes it with swoopy, muscular proportions that communicate power and presence. A long hood and low-slung roofline give off a distinctly 1940s Mercedes 260D mafia vibe, and 24″ wheels are the largest ever fitted to an Escalade from the factory.
Enormous, opulent, and now electric, the Escalade IQ is in a class of its own. But from our seats (and oh my, are they nice in here), the Escalade also serves as Detroit’s declaration that the electric revolution will be luxurious, powerful, and unequivocally American.
12. A clean-sheet take on an iconic adventure bike
BMWGP100 Winner
2025 BMW R 1300 GS
Beyond a mere evolution of engineering, the 2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure arrives on the scene as one of the most important bikes to be released in the segment.
A true companion for the adventurer, the BMW GS, or “Gelände/Straße” (terrain/road), is renowned among adventurists as the gold standard, turning cross-continental treks into playgrounds for hundreds of thousands of riders across millions of miles each year. A dual-purpose, do-it-all motorcycle, the newest iteration sees BMW’s most ambitious overhaul in the series’ history and a bold redefinition of the premium adventure touring motorcycle.
With a substantially redesigned 1300cc engine delivering 145 horsepower, the bike offers unprecedented power along with the remarkable refinement BMW Motorrad is known for. The increased displacement and newly advanced electronics represent an enduring commitment to push the boundaries of what an adventure motorcycle can achieve, both on-road and off.
Technologically, the 1300 GS is a marvel. Its adaptive ride modes, semi-active suspension and advanced traction control transform challenging situations and terrain from intimidating to exhilarating.
In other words, it’s a bike that doesn’t just traverse landscapes, it interprets them, responding with intuitive intelligence that allows the rider to be more in sync with the machine. Advanced or predictive response technology is a through line among many of the enthusiast vehicles in this year’s GP100, and the BMW GS is no exception.
Ergonomically reimagined, a new boxy gas tank has a myriad of mounting points, encouraging riders to load and head out for as long as possible. Lower available seat heights make it the most approachable, inclusive GSA to date, and improved wind protection and reduced weight render the most comfortable ever experienced on a BMW GS.
While featured to the gills, the new GSA isn’t about specifications. It’s about enabling riders to dream more ambitiously and venture out further — and a chance to both ride and write out new far-flung narratives.
11. One hugely ambitious, highly successful two-wheeled reboot
Indian MotorcycleGP100 Winner
2025 Indian Scout
Specs
| Engine | SpeedPlus 1250 V-Twin |
| Transmission | 6-speed, constant mesh / foot shift |
| Variants | 5, with 3 trim levels |
Rebooting a bestselling bike with 104 years of history that helped sextuple your market share (to 13 percent) since a 2015 re-introduction is challenging enough. Launching not one new version but five, well, you’re asking for a miracle.
And yet somehow, under design director Ola Stenegard’s watchful eye, Indian pretty much nailed it with May’s release of the 2025 Indian Scout family, a quintet of new models offering multiple trim levels to suit every rider and budget.
While it’s difficult to encapsulate in brief — we covered extensively upon launch and again once we’d ridden them all — the general improvements to the platform are huge for the brand and its fans.
All five bikes feature accessible seat heights (under 26 inches), user-friendly mid controls, steel tube frames and standard ABS. They also manage to shed 10 pounds while gaining strength: A new 1250cc liquid-cooled V-Twin engine delivers 11 percent more power and 14 percent more torque.
Four outta five deliver 105 ponies while the top-of-the-line 101 (which could probably crack the GP100 on its own) has been tuned up to 111. In our experience, every single family member delivers smiles for miles — at prices that won’t make you frown.
10. The best-handling Corvette in history, powered by a beast of an engine
ChevroletGP100 Winner
2025 Corvette ZR1
Specs
| Coolest Feature | Exposed carbon fiber wheels |
| Starting Price (Expected) | $180,000 |
| Power | 1,064 horsepower |
The 2025 Corvette ZR-1 may be the second Corvette to utilize the glorious flat-plane-crank LT-6 V8 (the first being the C8 Z06), but it has the distinction of being the first factory-turbocharged ‘Vette. And these are no mere baby snails.
Thanks to two of the largest turbos ever fitted to a production car, the power equation adds up to two staggering results: over 1,000 horsepower and a top speed of 233 mph. Maybe there is such a thing as a replacement for displacement.
ChevroletEasily the most audacious performance statement made by an American automaker this century, the ZR-1 is the pinnacle of Corvette engineering. It’s a mid-engine American hypercar that punches far and above its weight class and price point. If a NATO for automakers existed, the ZR-1 would be cause for emergency meetings in Brussels.
Further distinguishing the ZR-1 from its already formidable C8 Corvette siblings: a sculpted wide body with comprehensive aerodynamic and structural engineering solutions. Extensive carbon fiber construction, active aerodynamic surfaces that dynamically adjust at speed and a track-tuned suspension system developed with input from Corvette Racing engineers result in a machine that feels equally at home demolishing lap times as it does cruising smooth boulevards in Buckhead.
The ZR-1 is a technological tour de force that proves domestic manufacturers can create a world-class performance machine that doesn’t just keep up with European supercars but bests them at their own game.
Chevrolet has thrown down the gauntlet before, but this time feels different. It feels precise, calculating and ready to throw down the gauntlet. The ZR-1 is a car you can’t help but beam with pride at its audacity and sheer performance.
Who out there dares step up to the new king of American supercars?
9. Protection you can forget about, until it saves your life
DaineseGP100 Winner
Dainese Smart Air
Specs
| Weight | 3 pounds, 4 ounces |
| Battery life | 12 hours |
| Airbag deployment time | 45 milliseconds |
When it comes to adrenaline sports, protective gear is wonderful, but there’s generally a very high bar to clear before it becomes de rigueur.
That hasn’t stopped Dainese from continuously innovating on the life-saving motorcycle airbag tech first dreamed up by founder Leo Dainese in 1994. And building on the success of its airbag suits (compulsory for world-championship class riders since 2018), the brand’s latest consumer-level vest makes a hell of a case.
DaineseLike the suits, the Smart Air did not happen overnight. The brand has hocked some version of a vest for five years. But this new one is the first you can throw on for a ride without feeling slowed down.
We know because we’ve tried an earlier iteration. Weighing well over four pounds and extending to the waist, it felt almost like a weight training vest, and we never took to it.
At just over three pounds and stopping near the navel, the Smart Air has a much, ahem, airier form factor, while also packing Dainese’s latest tech. The level 2 certified chest and back airbag is re-deployable (up to three times), pairs with the same D-air app the pros use and deploys four times faster than the blink of an eye.
That de rigueur enough for ya?
8. The Volvo everyone loves finally goes all-electric
VolvoGP100 Winner
2025 Volvo EX90
Specs
| Coolest Feature | Up to 80 percent charge in about 30 minutes |
| Power | 402-510 horsepower |
| Range | 300 – 310 miles |
Volvo’s long awaited electric counterpart to the carpool-lane smash-hit has arrived.
Like a flag of Scandinavia, the 2025 EX90 touts sustainability, safety and human-centered design as its core tenets. But it’s no slouch, either, offering up to 500 horsepower — more than plenty for a family oriented three-row SUV.
A Volvo to the max, the EX90 also embodies the brand’s longstanding commitment to protecting human life on the road with industry leading safety features and an even smaller carbon footprint. Crucially, it’s beautifully packaged and offers the quietest cabin this side of a Rolls Royce.
VolvoThe EX90’s cutting edge driver assistance systems include a roof mounted lidar system that will be activated in 2025 following regulatory approval in the US. Utilizing an array of interior and exterior sensors the EX90 anticipates potential risks with near-prescient intelligence.
The interior is straight down the fairway Scandi design: minimalist, purposeful and profoundly humane. High-quality, sustainable materials swath the interior like an Instagram-ready arctic bath house, while Volvo’s latest digital interface seamlessly integrates technology without overwhelming the human-centered experience Volvo has become known for.
The company’s most ambitious electric vehicle yet, the EX90 is a flagship for Volvo’s vision and its march upmarket as a brand. We expect the EX90 to sell in droves as a key benchmark in the highly competitive 3-row family electric SUV segment.
Everyone’s looking, and that’s a good thing.
7. A benchmark for supercars raises even higher
McLarenGP100 Winner
2025 McLaren 750S
Specs
| Power | 740-horsepower, 590 lb-ft of torque |
| 0-60 | 2.3 seconds |
What happens when a benchmark evolves?
The 2025 McLaren 750S arrives this year as a philosophical statement about pushing boundaries. When is too much too much? Where are the lines of design, mechanical performance, and supercar purity drawn? Where does a driver stop and a car start?
Far more than a successor to the 720S, the 750S represents McLaren’s most refined expression of pure driving. The lightest and most powerful series-production McLaren to ever come out of Woking, UK, the 750S is equally important as a demonstration of the brand’s commitment to approachability. McLarens are as shockingly easy to live with and drive as they are shockingly high in performance — something rarely said about supercars.
McLarenThis isn’t a vehicle that just goes fast. Yes, it does that too (2.3 seconds to 60mph), but in an era where you can buy EVs at a mall with that kind of acceleration, the McLaren stands out more as a testament to the sensational experience of transforming fuel into kinetic energy in a vehicle stripped of unnecessary complexity: a twin-turbocharged V8 generating 740 horsepower, power directed to the rear wheels, and a mere 3,062 pound curb weight.
Technologically, it represents the pinnacle of McLaren’s racing DNA. The advanced adaptive suspension, precision-tuned transmission, and revolutionary monoblock brake technology aren’t just specification boxes to be ticked — they’re part of the brand’s manifesto to performance. This vehicle assumes, perhaps demands, that the driver understands the difference between speed and velocity.
6. The mini-truck is now hybrid and AWD
FordGP100 Winner
2025 Ford Maverick Hybrid
Specs
| Coolest Feature | 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque |
| Towing Capacity | Up to 4,000 pounds |
| Power | 8-speaker B&O sound system |
The 2025 Ford Maverick Hybrid w/AWD transcends its compact pickup origins to become a symbol for those who take pride in choosing practicality and versatility without compromise. It’s one of very few “IYKYK” vehicles left out there.
The Maverick Hybrid AWD speaks directly to urban adventurers, weekend warriors, and conscious consumers who seek a balance of both efficiency and capability. With its new intelligent hybrid powertrain, the Maverick delivers an impressive 40 mpg in city driving while still offering the flexibility of a true utility vehicle. More importantly, it doesn’t feel like a forfeiture of credibility for motoring enthusiasts to drive one. In fact, the Maverick oozes street-cred.
Ford’s engineering brilliance shines through brightly in the Maverick. The true compact pickup feels equally at home navigating tight city streets and tackling light off-road challenges — all with plenty of gear in tow. The power and delivery are just right.
FordBy combining Ford’s excellent hybrid powerplant with all-wheel drive, the Maverick vaults from a limited-use-case commuter tool into an essential tool capable of everything from city pragmatism to camping utility to long road trips. It’s the MacBook Air of pick-ups.
What truly elevates the Maverick to GP100 status is its democratization of automotive technology. It’s not just an entry-level truck; it’s a gateway to segment-leading hybrid efficiency and usable versatility, all at a price point that’s accessible to enthusiasts of all stripes.
The Maverick Hybrid AWD exceeds expectations, defies categorization, and represents a fresh take on an overlooked enthusiast in the US market.
5. The most powerful Land Rover Defender ever
Land RoverGP100 Winner
2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA
The Defender OCTA arrived this year as a bold statement in the frothy realm of luxury off-road performance vehicles. More than just ambitious engineering, this isn’t just another special edition Defender; it’s the ultimate expression of Land Rover’s adventurous heritage with a healthy dollop of hooliganism. After all, the man behind the OCTA was responsible for the Ford Raptor.
Powered by a 626-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8 (two snorkels!) paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, the OCTA, which demarcates high-spec versions of Defenders, is an audacious interpretation of the popular new Defender. 60mph comes in just under four seconds. Its capabilities were developed and stress tested across the globe, including — listen up, enthusiasts — the Nurburgring race track.
Land RoverFurther distinguishing the OCTA from other performance SUVs is its holistic approach to off-road. Power, factory-equipped all-terrain tires, and an adaptive air suspension offering up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance are combined with a new “6D Dynamics” suspension first seen in the SV Range Rover Sport, which uses clever engineering and tech to communicate and react to imperfections before you even realize they’re present. It’s your very own off-road precog Agatha.
The Defender Octa’s offers a sense of occasion without losing the plot. It marks a moment for Land Rover to express its chops in luxury, performance, and capability — and flash some muscle. Those elements have all converged in the OCTA, yielding something legitimately special. It’s a bold debut for a pinnacle line of Defenders just as the “SV” has become for Range Rover. With this move, Land Rover’s strategy of separating their two iconic nameplates into distinct sub-brands may be looking pretty wise, after all.
4. A love letter to rally racing heritage
PorscheGP100 Winner
Porsche 911 Dakar
In a marketplace saturated with collector bait, the 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar emerges as a legitimately special vehicle. Equal parts a celebration of their rally heritage and recognition of an unignorable subculture amongst Porsche enthusiasts, Porsche turned a hobbyist’s dream into a road-going reality. The Dakar isn’t simply an off-road-ready 911; it’s a love letter to Porsche’s rally racing history, where precision engineering and peak driver skill are tested against untamed wilderness.
Inspired by the iconic 953 and 959 rally machines that conquered the challenging Paris-Dakar race, the 911 Dakar goes beyond conventional sports car boundaries in requisite Porsche fashion. With a lifted suspension, robust underbody protection, and all-terrain tires, the 911 Dakar begs you to take it where Cayennes and Macans rarely go, all while maintaining quintessential Porsche driving dynamics. It is the best of all worlds, the ultimate usable 911, the kind of car you think about at least once a day. The kind of car you drive just because.
PorschePowered by a 473-horsepower variant of the GTS engine, the 911 Dakar proudly proclaims that performance isn’t confined to smooth tarmac but can now tear across loose surfaces with the same reckless abandon traditionally reserved for purpose-built 4x4s. The specially tuned PDCC (Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control) system is key to allowing the Dakar to seamlessly transition from precision cornering to unstructured exploration, a testament to the breadth of Porsche engineers’ grasp on what the chassis can do. After all, what is Porsche, if not an entire company of obsessed engineers and designers working to solve problems no one knew they had?
Limited to just 2,500 units, the 911 Dakar is easily one of the most coveted Porsches in recent history, and the starting prices reflect that. Expect reality at dealers to be far higher. That being said, the Dakar’s importance for offering a singular experience amongst singular experiences justifies the price of admission.
3. An EV for traditional driving enthusiasts
HyundaiGP100 Winner
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Specs
| Power | 650 horsepower |
| Range | 221 miles |
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a gift to driving enthusiasts that nobody saw coming. More than a car, it’s a cultural artifact. It posits that electrification doesn’t mean abandoning the pursuit of excitement but reimagining it entirely.
A hatchback with 641 horsepower and a track-tuned suspension, the Ioniq 5 N also just happens to be an EV. The 5 Nis a radical reinterpretation of what a hot hatch can be.
HyundaiHere, Hyundai has engineered something extraordinary, a vehicle that delivers the raw, tactile excitement traditional performance car enthusiasts yearn for while also embracing the pursuit of a zero-emissions future. It’s a car that challenges preconceptions about electric vehicles and succeeds in garnering all the right kind of attention.
By implementing innovative features like an artificial engine sound, digitally simulated manual gearbox and legitimate “drift mode” (just trust us), Hyundai engineers have managed to reconnect electric performance with the visceral cues of a mechanical spirit that car enthusiasts crave.
Today’s EVs have made acceleration and speed irrelevant, and it turns out that it’s the mechanical soul we drivers seek, not just power. And the 5 N has it in droves.
Wrapping the story is the design rebellion that Hyundai vehicles are bearing. The N variant makes the most of its angular, retrofuturistic lines to communicate something sorely missing in cars these days: a little bit of fun.
We love its aggressive stance and its unapologetic focus on being a blend between performance car, mobility statement and uniquely Korean optics. Turns out, the future of fun is not reserved exclusively for the well-heeled.
2. A beloved truck, ready for another decade of fanaticism
ToyotaGP100 Winner
2025 Toyota Tacoma
Specs
| Power | Up to 326 horsepower, 317 lb-ft of torque |
| Towing Capacity | Max 6,500 pounds |
| Coolest Feature | Available 6-speed manual on a TRD Off-Road (a.k.a. a recipe for pure fun) |
The champ is back in the ring and in better shape than ever. After nearly 20 years of minor changes following Toyota’s time-honored product strategy of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” the brand has introduced an all-new Tacoma with a clean-sheet build, adding new trim levels, new powertrains, and all the creature comforts one now expects even in a mid-size pickup.
Not only is it the most significant mid-size truck redesign in recent years, it’s also a pivotal response to a very competitive class of enthusiasts hungry for capability, technology and modern truck aesthetics.
Every manufacturer wanted a piece of the Tacoma’s milkshake. A bold redesign signals that Toyota is reading the room and subreddits when it comes to mid-size trucks for both adventure enthusiasts and everyday consumers.
Built on Toyota’s all-too-important TNGA-F global truck platform, the 2025 Tacoma features a more muscular exterior design with sharp body lines that break decisively from its predecessor’s friendly, rounded styling. Toyota clearly looked at what Chevy, GMC and Nissan had done with their midsize trucks and put its own uniquely Toyota spin on the look, retaining enough traditional design language so as not to upset the Tacoma faithful.
ToyotaWe think it works quite well in a CrossFit body kind of way. In terms of actual muscle, the new turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with an available hybrid powertrain option is a game changer. This hybrid isn’t a Prius, folks; it’s all about power, up to 326 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a more stable chassis or optional hydraulically dampened front seats on the TRD Pro model, the on-road driving experience is radically improved, delivering a compelling blend of efficiency and performance previously unseen in a Tacoma.
Inside, Toyota has dramatically elevated the quality and available features, which were sorely lacking in the previous generation. A modern infotainment system with a massive touchscreen, advanced driver assistance features and an improved overall aesthetic finally bring the Tacoma into this decade.
Headlined by the flagship TRD Pro model and an exclusive overland-focused Trailhunter trim, the new Tacoma comes standard with advanced off-road technologies that position it as a serious contender against fierce competition in the Ford Ranger Raptor and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2/GMC AT4X. Multiple terrain modes, advanced suspension systems and purpose-built off-road hardware ensure the Tacoma isn’t just a lifestyle accessory but a genuinely capable truck right off the lot.
It’s clear that Toyota is confident there’s a Tacoma for everyone, and the all-new generation is proof that Toyota is ready for another decade atop the segment it defined.
1. A superlative SUV that checks every single box
LexusGP100 Winner
Lexus GX550
Specs
| Power | 349 horsepower, 479 lb-ft of torque |
| Towing Capacity | 9,096 pounds |
| Coolest Feature | Available E-KDSS suspension to allow for extreme articulation |
Boxy is back. And, surprise, it’s Lexus leading the charge with the all-new 2025 Lexus GX. Not only is it the best-looking Lexus SUV of the past decade, it’s one of the most capable, too.
The bold redesign confirms that Lexus has been reading the room when it comes to luxury 4x4s for both off-road enthusiasts and consumers at large. Lexus embraced a rugged yet modern aesthetic that’s normally been left to the aftermarket in the past. And by doing so, the GX has realized its full potential. It’s the Lexus that non-Lexus people want.
LexusIn our hands-on testing, we called the GX550 “boxy, brilliant, and badass,” and as 2024 has worn on, we’ve grown decisively confident in our assessment: the GX550 is a superlative SUV.
Built on a platform shared with the new Toyota Land Cruiser, the 2025 GX’s muscular exterior and semi-squared-off body lines are reminiscent of the coveted 1990s FJ80 Land Cruiser. Lexus has tastefully reimagined its polarizing spindle grill into a rugged version that works handsomely on the new GX.
Particularly noteworthy is the potent twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine, which replaces the long-running V8 and delivers a much-welcomed punchier feel to the platform.
LexusThe GX comes standard with a sophisticated four-wheel drive system and multiple terrain modes. But the Overtrail — a luxurious overlanding-inspired model — ups the ante, making it genuinely capable in off-road scenarios while maintaining Lexus’s renowned ride quality. (And if you can swing the Overtrail+ model, you’ll be greeted with one of the best sound systems out there, which only gets better as you break in the cone-based speakers.)
Advanced technologies like adaptive suspension, multi-terrain select and crawl control ensure performance across diverse driving conditions, allowing the GX to encroach on territory long held by Land Rover.
Inside, the GX offers a well-appointed yet purposeful cabin with the kind of high-quality but subdued materials and design Lexus masterfully executes. Yes, there’s an all-new infotainment system and suite of advanced driver assistance features, but the genuinely unfussy design, Land Cruiser underpinning and a distinctly Lexus ride experience are exactly what the doctor ordered.
LexusThe 2025 Lexus GX emerges from a standout year of products as a standout product. It’s bringing people closer to owning a Lexus and definitively responds to the ultimate challenge for products: that there is a way to do it all without compromise.
In a race among nothing but winners this year, the Lexus GX550 stands above them all.
You’ve reached the end of this portion of the GP100, a countdown of the year’s most significant releases. Check out the collection page to see what else made the list or browse last year’s winners.