2009 Lexus LX 570

PROS  Luxury fittings, Quiet interior, Lots of safety features

CONS  Poor fuel economy, Narrow cargo hold, Too many buttons and knobs

The LX 570 is Lexus' entry into the large SUV market. It shares chassis and powertrain with the Toyota Land Cruiser and was last redesigned in 2008. LX 570 comes only as a four-door wagon with a two-piece rear tailgate and three rows of seats for up to eight passengers. LX competes with vehicles like the Audi Q7, Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX56, Land Rover LR3, Lincoln Navigator, and Mercedes-Benz GL.

A single trim level is offered. It comes standard with full-time four-wheel drive and has a low range for severe off-road driving. Also included are a hill-decent/ascent control, height-adjustable suspension and adaptive suspension. The sole engine is a 383-horsepower 5.7-liter V8, which mates to a six-speed automatic transmission. Maximum towing capacity is 8500 pounds.

Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, front-seat active head restraints, tire-pressure monitor, daytime running lights, rear-view camera, and dual-front, front- and second-row side, curtain-side, and front-knee airbags. LexusLink assistance, PreCrash safety system, and front- and rear-obstacle detection system are optional.

LX 570 lists for $74,700 and comes standard with the following equipment: front and rear dual-zone automatic climate controls, power tilt-telescope wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, hated front bucket seats with lumbar adjustment, 14-way power driver seat, 12-way power passenger seat, center console, memory system (driver seat, mirrors, steering wheel), power-sliding second-row split-folding seat, power-folding third-row split folding seat, wood interior trim, heated power mirrors with automatic dimming, power windows, power door locks, keyless access and starting, sunroof, navigation system with voice recognition, Bluetooth cell-phone link, AM/FM radio with in-dash 6-disc CD changer and digital-media player connection, satellite radio, universal garage door opener, rain-sensing variable-intermittent wipers with deicer, automatic day/night rearview mirror, illuminated visor mirrors, power liftgate, rear defogger, floormats, theft-deterrent system, steering-linked adaptive headlights with washers, running boards, rear privacy glass, fog lights, roof rack, rear spoiler, tow-hitch receiver, 285/50R20 tires, and alloy wheels.

Options include Mark Levinson sound system, adaptive cruise control, rear-seat entertainment system, heated and cooled front seats, and remote engine start. The LX 570 has an $850 destination charge and is assembled in Japan.

Get Up and Go  Lexus quotes a 0 to 60 mph time for the LX 570 of 7.2 seconds. That seems a bit optimistic given the luxury SUV's portly 6000 pound curb weight and the engine's sub-400 horsepower rating. Still, the V8 provides enough grunt to power the LX off the line with a lurch and has above-average passing response. The V8 is as smooth and silky as any in the class.

The automatic transmission shifts with unobtrusive precision and seems to be in the right gear all of the time. Stomping on the go-pedal elicits an almost instantaneous downshift from the transmission, which isn't always the case with some of the competitors' automatics.

As low as they might seem, the LX 570's EPA fuel economy numbers of 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway are the norm for large SUVs. Real-world urban driving is likely to yield about 14 mpg. As you might expect, the LX achieves its best economy in steady-state highway cruising. In that mode, owners are likely to average 13-18 mpg. Lexus recommends premium-grade fuel for the LX.

People might not think "off-road" when you mention Lexus, but you have to remember the LX 570 is a Toyota Land Cruiser at heart. That means it has all of the prerequisites to be a rock-crawling champ. New this year is CRAWL, which limits speed in low range to settings of 1, 2, or 3 mph. When combined with the low-range gearing, high ground-clearance, and adjustable suspension the LX should be quite competent off the beaten path. The only things holding it back are the standard running boards and street-tuned tires.

On the Road  As you might expect the LX is extremely softly sprung, but the adaptive suspension does an excellent job of filtering out secondary suspension oscillations that are so common in large SUVs. Though small bumps induce a bit of side-to-side sway, the ride is composed and befitting of a large luxury SUV. Drivers can control the firmness of the shocks with a center-console-mounted switch. There is a slight difference in the ride quality, but it's not all that apparent except on extremely bumpy roads.

No one will ever confuse the LX 570 with a sport-SUV, but, thanks to quick steering and a fairly tight turning radius, the vehicle is more maneuverable than most large SUVs. There's lots of lean in quick turns and the top-heavy nature keeps speeds down on fast on-ramps and the like. The brakes have ample stopping power and are easy to modulate.

The LX 570 is very quiet inside, perhaps the quietest large SUV on the road. Wind rush is nicely muted and the engine is a subdued afterthought. About the only chink in the armor is coarse-surface tire thrum.

Behind the Wheel  LX 570 sports an attractive and well-executed interior that impresses with high-quality materials and top-notch assembly. The deep colors and soft-touch surfaces exude quality befitting a vehicle with a $75,000 price tag.

Unfortunately, the interior is awash in buttons and switches, no fewer than 50 to my count. While that's not uncommon in this class it is somewhat off putting. Thankfully, gauges are large and quite legible. The standard navigation system is easy to program and features a large screen. It does absorb some audio and climate functions, but for commonly used operations there's a single-touch button or knob on the center stack or steering wheel.

The front seats are quite supple but lacking in lateral support. Head and leg room are generous. The standard power tilt-telescope steering wheel and memory system make it easy to get (and stay) comfortable behind the wheel. The high build gives a commanding view of the road but hampers rearward visibility. Thankfully, a rear-view camera is standard. Also available is a park assist system that features front and side cameras.

Second-row seats are adult size and quite comfortable. Head room is good. The seat cushions power fore-and-aft to increase leg room from adequate to generous. Third-row seats are small and best suited to children, though average-size adults can squeeze in for shorter trips.

All occupants face a tall step-in. However, running boards are standard as is an "Easy Access" feature that lowers the suspension two inches to facilitate entry and exit.

Ultimate cargo volume is disappointing. One problem is third-row seats that don't fold into the floor. Rather they fold awkwardly to the sides, making for a narrow cargo bay. Second row seats fold forward and down, but they are still quite bulky. Interior storage is ample with lots of open and covered storage bins and large map and seatback pockets.

Bottom Line  Despite the recent refresh, the Lexus LX 570 feels a bit dated when compared to newer designs like the Audi Q7 and Cadillac Escalade. Still, it is a very comfortable and capable vehicle. Positives include a nicely finished interior, whisper quite interior, and fantastic dealership reputation. The biggest downside is a cramped and hard to exploit cargo area.

Prices are on par with competitors, when comparably equipped. It's true that no one needs to spend $75,000-plus on a large SUV, but the LX 570 offers quite a bit more than the Toyota Land Cruiser on which it is based, and that's enough to merit strong consideration when shopping for this type of vehicle.