Lexus has given the GX a small but genuinely useful update for the 2027 model year, and it’s the kind of change that’s easy to appreciate once you’re actually living with the car rather than just reading the spec sheet. The headline feature is SmartAccess, the brand’s proximity key system, which now works on all four doors and the tailgate instead of just the fronts. It sounds minor until you’re carrying groceries or trying to get kids buckled into the back seat, and suddenly not having to fumble for a key becomes a genuine convenience.
The other real upgrade is ventilated second-row outboard seats, now fitted to the Luxury, Luxury+ and Overtrail+ grades. Anyone who’s spent a long drive in the back of a big SUV during a hot day knows how much of a difference cooled seats make, and it’s a feature that’s traditionally been reserved for those up front. Extending it to rear passengers is a welcome bit of fairness. Lexus has also added an available LED cargo lamp, handy for anyone loading gear or towing gear after dark.
Read more: Lexus LS sheds its petrol V6 as flagship sedan goes hybrid-only For 2027
The mechanical side stays the same
There’s no change under the bonnet or beneath the body. The GX continues with its twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre V6, producing 349 horsepower (260kW) and 479 lb-ft (649Nm) of torque, sent through a 10-speed automatic and full-time four-wheel drive. Towing capacity remains rated at 9,096lb, or roughly 4,126kg. Essentially, the things that make the GX a genuinely capable off-roader and tow vehicle haven’t been touched, which suggests Lexus sees this as a comfort and convenience refresh rather than a full mid-cycle overhaul.
Why these updates matter
It’s a sensible approach. The GX built its reputation on rugged, body-on-frame capability rather than cutting-edge tech, so rather than reinventing the formula, Lexus has focused on smoothing out the everyday friction points that owners actually notice. Better keyless access and cooled rear seats are the sort of features that don’t show up in a brochure headline but make a real difference on the school run, the shopping trip or the long weekend getaway.
What does this mean for Australian buyers?
Lexus Australia hasn’t confirmed local specifications, feature availability or a launch timeline for the updated 2027 GX, so it’s too early to say exactly how or when these changes might land here. What’s worth noting is that if the GX does eventually arrive locally with the same updates, both the expanded SmartAccess and the ventilated rear seats are the kind of additions Australian buyers tend to value, particularly given how much of the country deals with long drives and hot summers where rear passenger comfort genuinely matters.
Cars24 Australia will keep watching for official confirmation from Lexus Australia and update this story with local pricing and availability once that information is released.
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