New car review: Lexus LX570

Price: From $140,900
Engine: 5.7-litre V8 270kWk/530Nm
Fuel use: 14.8 L/100km
Emissions: 350 g CO2/km
Most people don’t spend mega-bucks on a luxury SUV to venture into the really rough stuff. That explains why many of them have off-road styling cues but only basic off-road ability.
The LX570 flies in the face of this convention. Based on the 200 Series Toyota LandCruiser it is a traditional go-anywhere 4WD, albeit laden in luxury and recently updated.

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Price and equipment

Most obviously, the LX’s mid-life makeover includes the new Lexus “spindle” grille, which certainly presents more ostentatiously and aggressively than its predecessor.

There are some equipment and spec changes that come with the update, but the fundamentals of the 570 remain; an eight-seat wagon powered by a 5.7-litre V8 engine permanently driving all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

Lexus now offers just one model priced at $140,900, an $8500 chop from the old Sports. An Enhancement Pack costs an additional $16,000, but this still undercuts the deleted Sports Luxury model by more than $8000.

Being a Lexus the standard equipment list is interminable. Selected highlights include 20-inch alloys (including spare), power sunroof, sat-nav, quad-zone climate control, 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio, dual rear DVD screens, keyless entry, 10 airbags, active cruise control, reversing sensors and a reversing camera.

Important new gear centres on off-roading. Drivers can now pick from five off-road traction modes via a system dubbed Multi-Terrain Select. “Turn-Assist” aids in-tight manoeuvring while updated “Crawl Control” offers more speed settings. There are also more surround-view cameras (Multi-Terrain Monitor).

The Enhancement Pack includes pre-crash anticipation, active cruise control, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and paddle shifters.

There is no NCAP safety rating for the LX or the Land Cruiser it is based on.

Under the bonnet

The 5.7-litre all-alloy V8 delivers a hefty 270kW and 530Nm. Trouble is it must haul along 2.75 tonnes.

The result is performance that is solid rather than super. However, it engages well with the six-speed auto, making the paddle shifters superfluous and hills and over-taking non-threatening.

Our testing included a Sydney-Coffs Harbour-Sydney round trip of more than 1300km (including stop-start urban traffic), producing a final fuel consumption average of 13.6L/100km. That’s surprisingly good, especially as Lexus only claims 14.8L/100km. Dual tank capacity of 138 litres means a range of 900km or more.

An urban driving diet would inflate that average appreciably, as would the use of anything approaching the LX’s 3500kg braked towing capacity.

How it drives

A ladder frame chassis is designed to conquer the toughest off-road conditions, and we have no reason to doubt the LX can do just that.

But our testing was limited to a few rocky sections on an otherwise unchallenging and scenic bush track.
There was no need for low range or manipulation of Multi-Terrain Select, just drive sensibly and let the plush air suspension and substantial ride height deal with the issues.

On-road, it was a case of setting the variable damping to auto and enjoying the supple ride. A serenely quiet cabin adds to the LX’s credentials as a highway cruiser.

Unsurprisingly, there are body wobbles and a sense of roll and pitch, but the only times it ever felt less than secure was when the live rear axle hopped around after encountering mid-corner bumps.

Steering is loose and light, the former good for off-roading, the latter for navigating tight urban spaces. Big windows, big mirrors and the reversing aids help here too.

Comfort and practicality

Within its 5-metre body the LX can carry up to eight passengers in three rows. The outboard seats in row one and two are powered, the row three seats flip up or down with electrical assistance and the tailgate upper-door also opens at the press of a button.

Naturally, the interior is daubed in leather and there are also liberal doses of a fake mahogany wood trim (if you option the Enhancement Pack).

There are trinkets and touches galore of course. A new “Easy Access” system retracts the steering wheel and driver’s seat when the ignition is switched off; a touch-screen stands imperiously atop a bluff centre stack; there is an imposing row of buttons for suspension comfort, ride height and off-road switches at the base of the centre console; dual sliding armrests cover a huge chill box between the front seats.

But the LX cannot avoid its 4WD origins. Unlike almost all current day off-roaders it is based on a ladder frame chassis (the 200’s of course), and that raise the floor height, so second and third row passengers sit knees up. Otherwise, space is good for two adults in row two and two kids in row three. Filling the middle seats is possible, but not recommended.

Luggage capacity is limited with all three rows in place. Folding even one half of the third row helps significantly.