The Toyota Land Cruiser is lifeless. Long dwell the Toyota Land Cruiser 2022 Lexus LX 600 — the flagship SUV introduced kicking and screaming into the 21st century with a much-required overhaul. Back again with a new powertrain, new shell and new prospects, the LX is aimed at the leading of the luxurious SUV segment, taking the battle back again to the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes-Benz GLS.
The Land Cruiser isn’t really lifeless, mind you we just never get it below in the U.S. — at least not but. Fortuitously, considerably of that new SUV’s engineering lurks beneath the LX’s skin. The new twin-turbo V6, for case in point, offers 409 horsepower and 479 pound-ft of torque and serves below as a baseline V8 alternative it’s paired to Toyota’s new 10-pace automated. The hybrid engine available in the new Toyota Tundra and Sequoia is rumored to be on the way to the LX in the coming product a long time.
But though the Land Cruiser is customarily known for its off-street prowess, the LX we tested was most definitely not. In spot of a robust 4×4 method with locking front and rear axles meant to conquer unexplored terrain, we bought a Torsen constrained-slip differential, an F Sport suspension with efficiency dampers, and massive 22-inch wheels. Sure, the middle differential lock and LSD will get you just about anyplace you could possibly need to go, even on filth, but which is not the F Sport’s intended use situation.
That is not to say the LX 600 can not cling when it comes to common SUV responsibilities. It is practically 17 feet prolonged and outfitted with a fold-flat third row, but it truly is also in essence a foot shorter than a standard Escalade. That partly points out why that 3rd row is basically utility seating as opposed to constant relatives transportation. It also delivers reasonable headroom at the expenditure of cargo space – just about all of it, in reality. If you actually want to use the third row and bring some stuff alongside, you can often rent a trailer it’ll tow 8,000 lbs.
Luckily, the typical total-time 4WD and restricted-slip differential do not need to have to be paired to the LX’s off-highway Crawl Manner to be worthwhile. Even though our loaner’s enormous 22-inch wheels were being wrapped in all-season rubber, the LX dealt with common Michigan winter rubbish with aplomb. Clean snowfall was constrained in the course of the week we had the truck, but there was a great deal of leftover, inches-deep crust and slush in the suburbs north of Detroit exactly where we took the LX out to play.
Competent even though it could be above the tough things, comfy it is not. This F Activity would be far a lot more at dwelling on flatter, cleaner and probably curvier pavement. While we would not contact it a performance SUV for each se, it undoubtedly rides like a single. Individuals 22s can be felt over just about every crack, seam and expansion joint, and while the F Activity suspension is the sportiest Lexus delivers, this is nevertheless a huge, softly sprung SUV. In a way, that character is at odds with the engine, which feels taut and punchy. The LX accelerates so simply that it feels a little bit unexciting. We suppose that is variety of the level when it will come to 6-figure luxury motor vehicles, but the downside below is that the rear finish squats appreciably with any remotely authoritative shove of the throttle and the entrance dives in equivalent proportion when you throw out all the anchors.
We’ll take note that our F Activity Dealing with model wasn’t equipped with the optional Energetic Peak Control, which is a hydraulic suspension technique (as opposed to air), but its “Low” method is meant only to make it easier to get in and out of the LX, and just can’t be utilized at standard speeds. We’re not confident its existence is consequential. No matter, despite accelerating like a lesser car, the LX does not sense like a person. On sleek streets with small website traffic, it is pure suppleness mess with that formula way too significantly and matters get a bit disjointed.
The good thing is, the LX’s inside mission is a little bit far more coherent. Our F Activity Handling product signifies the middle tier for LX and even it is quite amazing. It comes with heated and ventilated first- and next-row seats, a ability sunroof, variable ambient lighting, a 12.3-inch infotainment procedure with wireless Android Automobile and Apple CarPlay, a HUD and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster exhibit. Our tester also arrived with the $2,600 Mark Levinson audio process (its only selection), and it’s as wonderful below as it is in the brand’s other vehicles.
By and big, we have good points to say about the infotainment program alone. Toyota, and by extension, Lexus, has ultimately settled on a selection of hardware and software that seems superior and performs admirably. Voice controls are straightforward to use, even though sometimes aggravating as the program doesn’t feel to constantly decreased the quantity of what you’re listening to when you deal with the laptop. This doesn’t look to impede the microphone or the infotainment’s skill to comprehend instructions, but it’s a lot like hoping to speak about the buzz of a crowded nightspot.
The other nits we’d select incorporate the absence of a focused household screen (in the LX, the default see is the navigation map) and split-screen performance, which signifies you’ll have to flip involving prevalent functions relatively than acquiring them display screen facet-by-facet, as in quite a few competitors and aged Lexus products. However, the LX uniquely rewards from a next screen below the principal infotainment panel that shows car or truck status details and incorporates some controls for the heating and cooling programs. You won’t come across this on the lesser NX, but it is in the long run a bad substitute for a configurable aspect-by-aspect screen.
Though the F Sport’s Circuit Pink upholstery may perhaps not be to everybody’s liking, it’s just a single of a multitude of interior remedies readily available. Even the F Sport can be experienced with black leather-based, and the 4 other variants offer you a lot more distinctive seems to be. The Ultra Luxury’s open up-pore wooden seems specifically tasty. And contrary to the Escalade, whose inside good quality trails off the farther rearward you go, the LX’s cabin exhibits just as properly in the again seat. Mid-quality however it might be, our exam model rang the till at $105,005, together with $1,345 for vacation spot. Pricing operates the gamut from $88,245 for a base product up to additional than $127,000 for the Ultra Luxurious. And there is not even an motor up grade out there still.
The LX is bookended on the reduced conclusion by the Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and on the substantial end by the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7 and Selection Rover. The massive Americans provide a large amount much more value for the dollars, checking in with a lot more cabin space (for passengers and cargo alike), more tech attributes (like GM’s Tremendous Cruise and Ford’s Blue Cruise) and arguably more satisfying on-street general performance for about $10,000 fewer, like-for-like. The Europeans — the new Array Rover in distinct — are sized a lot more likewise to the LX, but run the other direction when it arrives to pricing.
Its value proposition may not move the needle, but the LX’s energy will come from its luxury pretensions. Its Land Cruiser DNA will give it extra than ample trustworthiness for the SUV group, in particular people who are by now Toyota/Lexus loyalists. The addition of a hybrid choice would make the LX that considerably much more persuasive, so we hope Lexus seizes on that option as quickly as achievable. As it sits, the F Sport’s effectiveness veneer is not unattractive, but the tradeoffs will only be tolerable to individuals blessed with open, nicely-manicured roadways. If your likely at any time gets rough, stick with 1 of the luxury trims. Your spine will thank you.
Relevant Online video
