Possibly I simply don’t get it.

The thought of a critical four-wheel-drive just like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Collection being changed into a luxurious SUV, aka the Lexus LX, simply looks as if an train in compromise.

Look, I do know the Mercedes G-Wagen exists – however the Lexus LX is a really, very completely different form of automotive.

Like, who on Earth goes to take a $175,000 SUV with 22-inch wheels off-road? Even when it has low-range, height-adjustable air suspension, Crawl Management, a digital camera that may enable you see via the automotive to the bottom forward, and a heap of various drive modes?

The ladder-chassis, body-on-frame design would possibly imply that the LX can tow 3.5 tonnes, too… nevertheless it additionally means this luxurious SUV isn’t as luxurious because it may very well be. I’ll inform you why on this overview.

How a lot does the Lexus LX 600 Sports activities Luxurious price?

The LX 600 Sports activities Luxurious examined right here is without doubt one of the extra inexpensive variations of this vary – although for those who can name this automotive ‘inexpensive’, good for you!

The Sports activities Luxurious grade has a number of very nice added gadgets over the bottom mannequin, which I’ll element beneath, however in contrast to that base grade it’s strictly a five-seater. So, for those who want seven seats you should purchase probably the most fundamental model of the LX.

In relation to rivals, the plain different is the associated Toyota LandCruiser 300, which is extra inexpensive however doubtless much less attainable given its in depth wait occasions.

The LX’s mainstream-branded sibling is priced from $92,861 plus on-road prices for the GX, and tops out at $141,461 for the Sahara ZX, which has a good few good options for lots much less money than the Lexus.

In relation to colors, not one of the paint finishes price any additional on the LX – so, you may have your choose of Liquid Metallic gray (as examined), or Onyx black, Sonic Quartz white, Graphite Black, Khaki Metallic inexperienced, or Titanium silver.

2023 Lexus LX pricing

Lexus LX 500d

• LX 500d: $153,091
• LX 500d Sports activities Luxurious: $170,091
• LX 500d F Sport: $176,091

Lexus LX 600

• LX 600: $156,591
• LX600 Sports activities Luxurious: $173,591
• LX600 F Sport: $179,591
• LX600 Extremely Luxurious: $215,091

What’s the Lexus LX 600 Sports activities Luxurious like on the within?

The entrance seat expertise within the LX is sort of good, and it feels such as you’re in your individual little pod – like a enterprise class suite on a long-haul flight.

That’s as a result of the centre console space is large, and divides the entrance seats dramatically with its bulk. A part of that’s as a result of there’s a entrance centre armrest part that features a cool field, and it takes up a whole lot of room.

In entrance of it’s a wi-fi telephone charger and a pair of cupholders as nicely, plus there are additionally controls for the peak adjustable suspension and different controls for various settings.

Close to the shifter there’s a storage tray, and the controls for the heated and cooled entrance seats and heated steering wheel, in addition to a few USB ports (1x USB-C, 1x USB-A) and a 12-volt plug.

Above it’s the display for the local weather controls, nevertheless it has a number of show functions together with the peak adjustment and a G-force meter, and brake and accelerometer, and the fan pace ‘buttons’ are there, too. It’s a busy little display, however it’s truly straightforward to get your head round.

Above it’s a large 12.3-inch touchscreen media system, which does have a little bit of a menus-upon-menus setup, so spending a little bit of time attending to know it’s one thing it is best to do for those who’re planning on shopping for certainly one of these.

There’s satellite tv for pc navigation in addition to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – accessible wired or wirelessly – in order that’s a pleasant plus. And, the 25-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system is best than glorious.

In entrance of the motive force there’s a digital instrument show that isn’t fairly as high-res as the primary infotainment display, and it additionally doesn’t have as a lot data.

However it does have some dials beside it, with a few of the standard issues that drivers would possibly need to learn about if they’re into off-roading – i.e. battery voltage, engine temperature, oil temperature, gasoline gauge.

The part-wood, part-leather steering wheel is a bit old-school, nevertheless it does match properly with the wooden finishes all through the cabin.

I’m not so positive the pink leather-based seen right here goes to enchantment to everybody, however together with the black headliner and black carpet, at the very least it provides a little bit of color and distinction to the cabin.

This could be choosy (it’s my job) however I discovered the seats to be missing in help – they’re large and large, however they don’t have a lot by way of consolation adjustment.

Within the again, the seat consolation scenario is analogous – flat.

House is okay, however actually not as accommodating as you would possibly count on it could be for a automotive of this measurement.

A part of that comes right down to the truth that there are rear leisure shows on this grade, which impose on leg-space; and for those who’re a dad or mum, your baby will in all probability find yourself making an attempt to the touch the display with their ft. Mine did.

There’s a HDMI port to attach as much as these screens, however who makes use of HDMI today? You possibly can mirror smartphone menus there, however you may’t watch YouTube or something on them. Possibly hooking up the youngsters’ Nintendo Swap through HDMI is the perfect wager.

There’s additionally a pair of headphone jacks and USB-C ports for backseat riders, and people within the again have heated and ventilated seats just like the entrance. Plus ,there may be dual-zone local weather management with a fan controller, and central directional air-vents in addition to overhead vents – it does really feel like these within the again are getting an excellent expertise.

I even had two associates and my daughter within the again at one stage, and the middle-seat rider stated that it was the perfect middle-seat expertise they’d ever had.

The area isn’t too unhealthy, nevertheless it’s not as accommodating because it may very well be for a automobile of this measurement as a result of the rear seats don’t slide fore and aft, so you may’t make it so that you’ve acquired extra legroom if you would like it – which appears very foolish.

Nevertheless, there’s a respectable quantity of storage on provide, together with a flip-down armrest with pop-up cup-holders, storage crannies on the backs of each seats, and massive bottle holders within the doorways. There are outboard ISOFIX factors and three top-tethers as nicely.

One remark from all of the individuals who I drove with over the week I had this automotive was concerning the top of the cabin. It’s on air suspension, so you may decrease it down while you’re parked, besides, it’s a hike to rise up in to the seat for those who’re small or much less agile.

It can’t conceal its body-on-frame design in that regard, regardless of having a set of facet steps and entry handles close to the doorways to assist help ingress and egress.

The cargo space is big – correctly for a automobile that’s designed to have three rows of seats however solely has two.

There’s ample room to suit a pram and baggage… or tenting gear, for those who insist. However there’s additionally a full-size alloy spare wheel underneath the physique of the automotive.

The boot space additionally has a 220-volt powerpoint, buttons for the rear seats to electronically launch to fold, and – although it doesn’t have third row seats – it nonetheless has third row air-vents and cup-holders within the wheel-arches.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

This model of the LX comes with a 6.0-litre engine – no, no… WRONG. That’s what the title suggests it ought to include, for the reason that previous 5.7L mannequin got here with the LX 570 badge.

As a substitute, LX 600 fashions have a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 – that’s one factor that units it other than the the LandCruiser 300 in Australia, which is diesel solely.

The petrol engine makes an enormous 305kW of energy (5200rpm) and 650Nm of torque (2000-3600rpm), which implies it has 35kW and 120Nm greater than the previous naturally-aspirated 5.7-litre V8.

It has a 10-speed computerized transmission with a full-time all-wheel drive system, a low-range switch case for off-roading, and a centre differential lock, too.

There’s an array of off-road options, just like the Multi-Terrain Choose system with a number of modes – Auto, Dust, Sand, Mud, Deep Snow and Rock. Plus, the chassis options energetic top management suspension with Regular, Excessive 1 and Excessive 2 settings.

Nevertheless, this overview isn’t going to be an off-road take a look at. The insurance coverage extra and potential for injury put me off the concept of taking it via the tough stuff. You possibly can see the way it went in our 4WD SUV Mega Take a look at right here. 

For individuals who plan to tow, there’s a trailer wiring harness with towing hitch fitted to all grades. The utmost braked towing capability is 3.5 tonnes (or 750kg unbraked).

How does the Lexus LX 600 Sports activities Luxurious drive?

Properly, it doesn’t drive like a BMW X7, Volkswagen Touareg, a Vary Rover, or perhaps a Land Rover Defender.

In my view, it drives like a ladder-chassis SUV with wheels which can be too large and suspension that can’t sustain with the edges.

The journey of this $175,000 SUV just isn’t practically pretty much as good correctly, and for context I had an Isuzu MU-X on the identical time I used to be driving this LX, and the journey in it was way more managed and fulfilling. Yep – you learn that proper.

It feels as if the load of the physique is working towards the suspension while you hit sharp bumps or lumpy sections of highway, and it by no means feels as settled because it arguably ought to, contemplating the fee.

I’ve pushed a decrease spec mannequin with the 20-inch wheels earlier than, and it was higher. Nevertheless, I’ve additionally heard luxurious manufacturers say that journey consolation just isn’t a excessive precedence for high-end SUV patrons – they’re extra involved about energy and ease of driving, in addition to standing (clearly).

And in these regards, the LX makes a number of robust statements. 

The petrol powertrain is a corker, with greater than sufficient grunt for each day duties, and it has a pleasant snarl to it while you ask extra of the engine, too.

The ten-speed computerized was additionally faultless throughout my time within the automotive, with easy shifts and a pleasant logic that enables the engine to make use of its torque when it ought to, relatively than always shifting up and down via the ratios as another 10-coggers can.

Likewise, the steering is surprisingly good. It’s straightforward to show at decrease speeds, making parking strikes extra easy than you’d count on, and that’s aided by the standard-fit surround-view digital camera and parking sensors entrance and rear – which come on robotically at low speeds, in contrast to some that require you to have interaction reverse earlier than the entrance sensors activate.

And at larger speeds the steering is respectable too. Not as involving or inspiring as a few of the different like-priced SUVs on the market, nevertheless it’s predictable and responsive sufficient.

It’s additionally extremely quiet at tempo, with freeway driving over disagreeable coarse-chip surfaces being a non-issue, as there’s fairly minimal tyre roar intrusion into the cabin.

What do you get?

The Sports activities Luxurious grade is fairly candy by way of customary gear, with a complete vary of kit.

LX 600 Sports activities Luxurious highlights:

• 22-inch alloy wheels
• Tri-beam LED headlights, adaptive high-beam
• 12.3-inch central touchscreen
• 7.0-inch decrease display
• 8.0-inch digital driver show
• Head-up show
• “Hey Lexus” pure speech recognition
• 25-speaker Mark Levinson sound system
• 4-zone local weather management
• Premium leather-accented seats
• 10-way driver, 8-way entrance passenger energy seat adjustment
• Heated, ventilated entrance seats
• Heated, ventilated rear seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Sunroof
• Centre console cooler field
• ‘Takanoha’ ornamentation – wooden veneer
• DAB+ digital radio
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Wi-fi telephone charging
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Multi-terrain monitor
• Digital rear-view mirror
• Twin 11.6-inch rear-seat screens
• Delicate-close doorways
• Fingerprint identification push-button begin
• Lexus Related Companies
  • Stolen automobile monitoring
  • Auto collision notification
  • SOS name performance

Is the Lexus LX 600 Sports activities Luxurious secure?

There isn’t a ANCAP security score for the Lexus LX, regardless of the actual fact the Toyota LandCruiser 300 it’s primarily based on scored the utmost five-star score towards 2022 standards.

Commonplace security options embrace:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian detection (day/evening)
  • Bicycle owner detection (day)
  • Intersection flip help
• Parking Help Brake incl. impediment, automobile detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Adaptive cruise management
• Lane Tracing Help
• Visitors signal recognition
• Emergency steering help

There are 10 airbags fitted to most grades: driver and entrance passenger, driver’s knee, front-centre, entrance and rear facet, in addition to curtain airbags. The Extremely Luxurious top-spec mannequin has 12 – the rear seats are fitted with further cushion airbags.

How a lot does the Lexus LX 600 Sports activities Luxurious price to run?

Clearly for those who’re spending this type of cash on a luxurious SUV, the operating prices in all probability aren’t going to be a dealbreaker for you.

Lexus now covers its vary with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee which is the trade customary today, however simply notice that the LX 600 is a thirsty factor.

It has an official mixed cycle gasoline use determine of 12.1 litres per 100 kilometres, and in my testing on this Sports activities Luxurious – which was primarily freeway and freeway driving – I didn’t see that low. My week-long common was 12.3L/100km.

It wants 95 RON premium unleaded, and it’ll take some time to replenish on the servo – gasoline tank capability is 110 litres (80L predominant tank, 30L sub-tank).

Nevertheless, for individuals who realise that point is the one luxurious we really have in life, the service intervals on this large rig could be a bit irritating. That’s as a result of the LX requires servicing each six months or 10,000km, not yearly and 15,000km like most different vehicles in the marketplace.

The providers price $495 per go to, too, that means you’re bombing a grand a 12 months simply to have it serviced, and the service plan solely runs to a few years/60,000km – lower than lots of Lexus’ different fashions.

The model does have an ideal status for possession stuff, although, together with the choice to have your automotive collected and returned to you, and the selection to have a mortgage automotive for the interval it’s away, too.

The Lexus Encore possession plan included at buy additionally incorporates three years of roadside help.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Lexus LX 600 Sports activities Luxurious

There are many explanation why you may want a Lexus LX.

It has an enormous quantity of expertise and tools, an outstanding petrol powertrain, an enormous boot, and it’s surprisingly habitable in day-to-day driving, for probably the most half.

So, simply because I don’t personally perceive how you may spend this sum of money on one thing like this, doesn’t imply you shouldn’t if it’s precisely what you need.

And if what you need is a extra luxurious petrol-powered five-seat tackle the LandCruiser 300, then that is the proper automotive for you!

Click on the photographs for the total gallery

MORE: Every part Lexus LX