Overview
After 14 lengthy years, there’s now an all-new Lexus LX. That’s a very long time between drinks – greater than double the lifespan of your typical SUV – however body-on-frame 4WDs do are inclined to run a tad longer than their unibody brethren in spite of everything.
Nonetheless, with attitudes in direction of SUVs and purchaser tastes having dramatically developed over the previous decade and a half, the earlier LX was positively wanting greater than somewhat lengthy within the tooth by the point it shuffled into retirement.
Therefore the wholesale modifications introduced in with the new-generation LX. It’s not simply completely different within the mechanical sense, courtesy of brand-new underpinnings borrowed from the 300-series Toyota LandCruiser, nevertheless it differs markedly within the product providing as nicely with the significantly expanded vary construction and variety of selection that’s now being introduced to the shopper.
Beforehand the primary selection was whether or not you wished a petroleum V8 or a turbo diesel V8 (and even then, the latter was solely obtainable because the 2018 mannequin yr), however now Lexus prospects can choose from a complete of 9 completely different specification ranges.
Diesel (LX500d) and petrol (LX600) choices are nonetheless there, with the previous being shared with the LandCruiser however the latter being all-new to the platform, nonetheless each are downsized to 6 cylinders apiece and augmented by twin turbo know-how.
The ten-speed computerized and offroad {hardware} are the identical as that utilized by the LandCruiser, although the LX rides on 20-inch alloys at a minimal (the vast majority of the vary rolls on 22-inch wheels) and it options its personal distinctive suspension tune that’s designed to desire on-road driving relatively than bush-bashing.
4 specification grades are supplied – base, F Sport, Sports activities Luxurious and Extremely Luxurious – with the bottom LX500d ($148,800) and LX600 ($152,300) fashions additionally obtainable with a $5500 optionally available enhancement pack that provides 22-inch alloys, a glass moonroof and hands-free tailgate.
As for seating, the variety of seats is inversely proportional to cost, with the bottom grade solely obtainable in a seven-seat config, the mid-spec F Sport and Sports activities Luxurious being strictly five-seaters, and the flagship Extremely Luxurious providing simply 4 particular person – however extremely luxurious – seating positions.
That final one, the Extremely Luxurious, is a curious factor. Lexus has by no means performed in that upper-echelon SUV area earlier than, and four-seat high-luxury SUVs have historically been the protect of manufacturers like Bentley, Vary Rover, Rolls Royce and Maybach. Supposed to be owned by very-high web price people and pushed by chauffeurs, not homeowners, the LX600 Extremely Luxurious (it’s not obtainable as a diesel) is probably the most reasonably priced SUV of its sort regardless of its $210,800 asking value.
Astonishingly, it’s additionally accounted for round ten per cent of LX uptake up to now, indicating Lexus Australia’s product planners both have their finger on the heart beat of shoppers, or they made an adept roll of the cube on the Extremely Luxurious.
The F Sport ($171,800 in diesel kind, $175,300 for petrol) is one other gamble, being a melding of on-road efficiency virtues with a platform that’s designed with off-roading in thoughts. With its personal distinctive suspension tune in addition to a traction-enhancing Torsen rear differential and thicker facet bolsters for the entrance seats (to not point out extra aggressive F Sport-specific physique plastics and 22-inch alloy designs), the F Sport looks as if an odd mixture of elements.
However, it too has proved in style, snaring 25 per cent of the order financial institution – although that could be extra a perform of its beneficiant commonplace tools listing that brings ventilated entrance and rear seats, heated second-row seats, a centre console fridge, a fingerprint reader for the starter button, soft-closing doorways, a digital rear-view mirror and the choice of an eye catching crimson leather-based inside.
The Sports activities Luxurious occupies the midpoint of the worth spectrum and is arguably the candy spot. With premium leather-based, upmarket ‘Takanoha’ cabin trim, entrance and rear ventilated/heated seats, a heated steering wheel, fridge, power-folding second-row seats, soft-close doorways, twin rear-seat leisure screens and a hands-free tailgate, it’s not wanting for equipment.
It’s additionally probably the most reasonably priced mannequin to supply a full 110-litre gasoline capability when in LX500d diesel trim, because the seven-seat diesel base mannequin is simply in a position to tote an 80-litre tank. At $165,800 for the LX500d Sports activities Luxurious and $169,300 for the LX600 Sports activities Luxurious, it’s this spec which appears to supply one of the best steadiness of value and options.
