In the premier luxury class, it is often a challenge to find something awful in a vehicle. Perhaps in most cases, "awful" simply does not exist unless you get really fickle. But high-end luxury vehicle owners can be just that - fickle - and luxury manufacturers are used to thinking about form as much, if not more than, function. It comes with the territory, and Lexus has a big homestead on that territory.
Anytime a restyled, retooled version of a Lexus comes along, I often find myself wondering aloud: Just how much better can it really be? Never one to disappoint, Lexus has taken the LX 470, an amazingly capable off-road SUV, and made it even more impressive at moving off the pavement. As for the cabin, well, it is certainly a Lexus.
Tinkering with the former LX 470, Lexus certainly did not need to raise the bar on an already-impressive SUV. The new incarnation, the LX 570, is an off-road warrior with all the pomp and circumstance (read: leather and high-tech goodies) expected from Toyota's luxury brand.
For years the Toyota Land Cruiser was thought of as the go-to guy for full-sized off-road prowess. Everything on the "Cruiser" was big, and that suited Lexus just fine. It was only 10 years ago that Lexus re-badged the Land Cruiser and created something capable of competing with the LandRover brand.
I really like the exterior design cues of the new LX 570. Making a vehicle this size look anything other than enormous and bulky is tough. But Lexus and their L-finesse design adaptations give the LX 570 an aggressive and athletic stance.
Monster 20-inch 10-spoke rims are wrapped by 285/50R20 mud and snow tires. You wouldn't want to lose traction in this SUV, and with these treads digging in, and the four-wheel-drive system plugging away full-time, you won't.
This new eight-passenger LX 570 is bigger (4 inches longer, 1 inch wider) than the 470. This bodes well for interior space and the configuring of seats for utility purposes. One of my favorite features on my LX 570 tester was the ease with which seating was moved around inside the cabin. Power-sliding second-row seats as well as power-folding third-row seats make "making room" as easy as pressing a button. The seats move fast and slip into neutral positions, creating ample additional utility space for storage.
At a base price of $73,800, you sort of expect to be wrapped in cozy convenience, and luxury is ample in the LX 570 cabin. Supple leather seating and trim, real wood accents and a list of standard power features are longer than the SUV itself. Four-zone controls give everyone the option for custom climate comfort while delivering front-row power seating and memory options.
High-tech gadgetry like Bluetooth, a rear-view camera and one of the industry's best navigation systems make long trips a breeze in the LX 570. My tester had a couple interior options worth mentioning. First, the climate-controlled seats ($890) blow cool or hot air to the front seats. This is great in summer when leather can get sticky.
A technology package ($4,200) was a stunner with outlandish audio quality delivered via a Mark Levinson 19-speaker system. A rear entertainment system was an appreciated add-on ($1,990) for the kids.
When it comes time to tame gravel roads or wintry conditions, the LX 570 can cope with its 5.7-liter V8 engine, a new six-speed sequential shift transmission mated to a full-time four-wheel-drive system. The new engine meets ULEV II emissions standards and, compared with the LX 470, it has the same fuel efficiency with more ponies - 381. |
