Off-road enthusiasts suffered a huge blow this year when Toyota announced that the next-gen Land Cruiser wouldn't be sold in the States. But the silver lining is that this legendary off-roader will live on as the 2022 Lexus LX 600.
Since 1996, the LX has stood as the Lexus-badged version of the Land Cruiser allowing Lexus to rival plush SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and Infiniti QX80, yet it still has the off-roading capability to go up against luxury off-roaders like the Range Rover, Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. With the new LX 600 going on sale early next year, I had one last chance to check out the current version of this full-size luxury SUV, and it's obvious why it has such a following.2021 Lexus LX 570 Exterior
The current LX debuted back in 2008, and a refreshed design launched in 2016, so there are few surprises when it comes to the styling of the 2021 Lexus LX 570. The two exceptions are the availability of a Sport package and the new-for-2021 color, Nori Green Pearl (neither of which were found on my tester).
With its large LED headlights and its massive spindle grille, the LX has an imposing face that fits in quite well with the more modern cars and SUVs in the Lexus lineup. The LX 570 looks regal in the Eminent White Pearl paint job with the standard 20-inch alloy wheels, and there's a tasteful amount of chrome, along with molded, integrated running boards to make it easier to enter and exit this big SUV. One way the LX differentiates itself from most other full-size luxury SUVs is its nifty split liftgate design. The upper section is a power liftgate, while the manually operated lower section serves as a tailgate.2021 Lexus LX 570 Interior
Despite being the oldest SUV in its segment, the inside of the 2021 Lexus LX 570 features a luxurious interior. My tester boasted beautiful red leather on the seats and door panel, along with dark, glossy wood and brushed metal trim. The standard navigation system features a wide, 12.3-inch screen that's easily controlled through the mouse-like Remote Touch Interface. An array of buttons, knobs and switches are used to control all the various off-road functions and drive modes, and this tester also had a $170 cooled center console storage area.
For maximum comfort, the LX comes standard with leather seating, a 14-way power adjustable driver's seat, a 12-way power front passenger's seat, four-zone climate control, and a power-sliding second-row seat. Opting for the $1,190 Luxury Package makes the cabin even more upscale, as it includes perforated semi-aniline leather seats, heated and cooled front seats, heated and cooled outboard second-row seats, and a heated, wood-trimmed steering wheel. Additional options on this tester included the $2,350 Mark Levinson 19-speaker audio system, $2,005 dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, $900 head-up display, and $75 wireless smartphone charger.There's plenty of space for adults to sit comfortably in all three rows, but unlike most other modern three-row SUVs, the rear row of seats doesn't fold flat into the cargo floor. Instead they fold up against the wheel wells, which limits cargo volume.
2021 Lexus LX 570 Powertrain
The 2021 Lexus LX 570 is powered by a 5.7-liter V-8 rated at 383 horsepower and 403 lb-ft of torque. That big mill is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive. With EPA-rated fuel economy estimates of 12 mpg city and 16 highway, this old-school engine returns old-school efficiency. But it also returns a factory-stated 0-60 mph acceleration time of 7.3 seconds, which is decent for a luxury off-roader weighing close to three tons. Obviously, those aren't stellar fuel economy numbers, but my tester was able to beat both the official estimates and deliver 16.1 mpg after a week of driving.
Even with its big, 20-inch wheels and rugged body-on-frame design, the LX 570 has a surprisingly smooth ride, and with great sight lines and advanced driver-assist technology, it's extremely easy to drive. When it comes to off-roading, the LX is even more at home, as the full-time four-wheel drive and Torsen limited-slip locking center differential provides a torque split of 40:60 under normal driving conditions.
Since it shares its underpinnings with the venerable Toyota Land Cruiser, the 2020 LX incorporates off-road elements into its design, including 8.9 inches of ground clearance, 25 degrees of approach angle, and 23 degrees of departure angle. Plus, the standard Crawl Control feature made easy work of tough terrain, as I was able to do some light off-roading on sandy, rutty Florida trails, and it performed flawlessly.2021 Lexus LX 570 Safety
The 2021 Lexus LX 570 has not been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is normal for vehicles in this price range.
Lack of ratings aside, it does come standard with ten airbags and the Lexus Safety System+. This suite of safety features includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert and Intelligent High Beam.2021 Lexus LX 570 Overall
Today, there are plenty of full-size luxury SUVs on the market. But if you're looking for something a little more rough and rugged, your options become more limited. And that's where the 2021 Lexus LX 570 comes into play, as it combines the off-road capability of a Toyota Land Cruiser with Lexus-level luxury.
That said, such luxury and exclusivity comes at a steep premium. The 2021 Lexus LX 570 is priced starting at $86,930 for the two-row model and $91,930 if you want three rows of seats. The three-row LX 570 used for this review came loaded with plenty of options, and it had an as-tested price tag of $100,465.
Jeffrey N. Ross | Oct 14, 2021
