Review and Photos by Justin Mastine-Frost
As hard as the auto industry is pushing towards increasing fuel economy and seeing emissions plummet to near-zero levels, there are still a few behemoths left roaming in 2013. Lexus’ flagship SUV, the LX 570, entered its third generation back in 2008 and to this day is one of the biggest on the block. When I first contemplated taking it out for a week of testing I couldn’t quite place where it fit in the luxury SUV landscape.
Standing slightly longer and taller than most of its competition and loaded with the luxuries expected from a $100K Lexus, the LX presents itself as the ultimate urban-socialite status truck. Dig a little deeper though and you’ll come to realize its underpinnings are anything but urban. This is because the LX sits on the same chassis as the ever-rugged Toyota Land Cruiser, which means it is equipped with more all-terrain conquering gear than you would ever imagine. This strange bi-polar personality piqued my interest just enough for me to get behind the wheel and see where the LX 570 really fits in.
  2013 Lexus LX 570. Click image to enlarge |
Aesthetically the LX is an odd one to peg. Lexus has done an interesting job of integrating their trademark spindle grille into the nose of the SUV for 2013, however the remainder of the bodywork seems a bit bland. Just about every other SUV in the full-size luxury segment is uniquely distinguishable based on their exterior styling whereas the Lexus just seems to blend it a bit too much. It still looks like miles better than Infiniti’s whale-like QX56, but a bit more character wouldn’t hurt. The illuminated side-steps and 3/4 length roof rails add a nice detail to an otherwise conservative side profile, and the integrated rear LED taillights are stylish but still quite understated. Styling qualms aside, one thing is certain, from just about every angle the new LX 570 is ridiculously large.
Climbing into the grand hall that is the LX 570’s passenger cabin, it’s rather obvious that Lexus wanted to maintain their larger-than-life stature. From the driver’s seat, it’s almost a stretch to reach across to the far side of the centre-stack controls, and even if I could reach the pedals with my seat all the way back, second row passengers still have miles of legroom. The powered third rows seats even have a tolerable amount of legroom for those last three passengers as long as you’re not planning on being on the road all day. Having spent a reasonable amount of time with the latest BMW X5, Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and Land Rover LR4, I can say with confidence that the LX has them all beat when it comes to a spacious interior. I’m not saying the competition is compact by any stretch of the imagination, but they seem to do a better job of masking their large stature from behind the wheel.
  2013 Lexus LX 570. Click image to enlarge |
From a functional standpoint, there’s a lot to take in from behind the wheel. Sure there’s the usual four-zone automatic climate control, Lexus’ still-out-of-date touchscreen navigation with voice control, and the optional Mark Levinson 450W surround sound system (which is one of my favourites in the industry), but lined up beside the gearshift lever sits a row of fascinating switches that seem slightly out of place. Of course there’s a toggle switch for the variable damping system to tighten up suspension and steering feel when cruising around town. Ride height control comes next, offering low, normal and high modes depending on the terrain ahead. There’s also Toyota’s Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain switch, which will set the crawling speed when you’re getting into trouble and want steady throttle control, or adjust traction control settings based on the type of road surface selected. The final switch in the row is simply there to change between high and low gear ranges. This whole setup has an almost aircraft-cockpit vibe to it, and much like the built-in armrest cooler the novelty of it all didn’t really wear off by the end of my test week.
The problem with all this high-tech off-road kit is that the driving experience of the Lexus simply doesn’t speak to it. Unlike the 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, or even the LR4, there’s something about the whole package that discourages adventure. At the wheel of the Lexus, surrounded by luxurious wood trim and seated in large cushy heated and cooled leather seats, it just doesn’t speak to any kind of exploration beyond a gravel parking lot.
 2013 Lexus LX 570. Click image to enlarge |
Beyond the interior feel, the LX’s massive proportions make it an even less viable off-roading candidate, unless you’re eager and willing to scuff up the pristine paint on your shiny new luxo-barge. Sure, its 5.7L V8, which delivers a respectable 403 lb-ft of torque is able to propel you up and over any rough terrain, but when you get right down to it, that output is most likely to see more use when overtaking subcompacts and big rigs on the freeway. By the time the weekend rolled around any motivation I’d once had to trace the LX 570’s history back to the Land Cruiser’s off-road heritage had dissolved into the ether.
With my dreams of wilderness and adventure long behind me I set out to see how the LX would handle duty as an urban utility cruiser. Cruising through the city proved to be pretty entertaining, as pedestrians, cyclists, and even other motorists seemed content to steer clear of the big truck. With the suspension and steering set to Sport, the LX drives quite respectably for its size. Because Lexus didn’t go the route of low-profile run-flat tires, they are able to firm up the suspension quite nicely without it becoming abusive over bumps. Steering feel is reasonable as well in Sport mode, without being too heavy, however, when dialed back to Comfort it starts to feel like you’re stirring a pail of water with a twig. Unless you’re suffering from chronic back pain or have a broken tailbone, the Normal setting will provide all the comfort you need.
Thanks to its tall stance, visibility is tolerable from the driver’s seat, however when the third-row seats are folded up they wind up blocking part of the rear window. The third-row seating design overall isn’t the greatest. As much as they free up some space underneath the vehicle for added ground clearance, they eat up valuable width in the rear cargo area. When people are shopping for a vehicle of this size, cargo space is a consideration so this may be a deterrent for some buyers. When taking the LX in for the necessary Costco test, there was still room to spare, but if you were shopping for a family of four or more, you might wind up having to fold the second row seats up.
 2013 Lexus LX 570. Click image to enlarge |
When you boil it all down, the LX 570 is a tough one to peg. If nothing else, it reminds me most of my recent testing of the Nissan Pathfinder which I found to have lost its original truck-like charm, but now does quite well as an oversized people mover. The LX definitely falls into that category, however with a starting price of $87,500 there are quite a few options. If you’re planning on staying on pavement, the Q7 and X5 are a nicer drive on the road, and if you want an off-road option I’d be looking towards the likes of Land Rover.
That being said, where Lexus always wins fans is in overall dependability, and the LX is likely to be the most reliable of the bunch in the long run. If it were up to me, all those extra off-road bells and whistles would be pushed into the Toyota 4Runner and FJ Cruiser, leaving the LX to keep its sights on buyers who care about comfort and space above all else. Until that time, anyone shopping the full-sized luxury SUV segment should take their time and weigh out all the options.
Pricing:2013 Lexus LX 570
Base price: $87,500
Options: $7,580 (Ultra Premium Package: heated wood steering wheel, Mark Levinson 450W Reference Surround Sound audio system, rear seat entertainment w/ wireless headphones, premium leather, dynamic cruise control, centre console cooler, illuminated Lexus scuff plates – $7,350; Block heater – $230)
Freight: $1,995
Green Levy: $2,000
A/C tax: $100
Price as tested: $99,175
Competitors
Audi Q7
BMW X5
Cadillac Escalade
Infiniti QX 56
Land Rover Range Rover
Lincoln Navigator
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Porsche Cayenne
Crash test ratings:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
