By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmeria.com

(September 5, 2022) All-new and totally redesigned from the ground-up inside and out Lexus has launched its fourth generation LX 600 that replaces the outgoing LX 570 that was first introduced back in 1995. It’s worth noting that Toyota has discontinued the Land Cruiser for 2022 after a 65-year continuous run, from which the LX is derived. Toyota is hoping Land Cruiser loyalists will step up to the Lexus LX.

The last generation LX 570 had a 13-year run having last been redesigned for the 2008 model year, and thankfully the latest LX gets a long-awaited update to design, technology, structure, powerplant and just about everything else.

The LX is being offered in Standard, Premium, and Luxury trims, plus the new Ultra Luxury and F Sport versions. All are powered by the same 409-hp twin-turbocharged V-6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and limited-slip rear differential, rather than the V-8 with standard locking center differential offered in years past.

The base LX 600 has a starting price of $88,245 however, our LX for the week was the top shelf Ultra Luxury trim package ($127,345) that deletes the third-row jump seats making room for the airline-style La-Z-Boy recliners with dedicated dual media screens and an operational function center console. The kids will love playing with all the buttons.

This huge Lexus is meant to compete with such competitors as the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Mercedes GLS and Land Rover Range Rover. All these vehicles broadcast presumptions of class-based prestige, status and wealth. Of course, this is still several floors below the penthouse vehicles where you’ll find the royalty of ultra-luxury saloon carriages such as the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga Speed, Ferrari Purosangue and Lamborghini Urus all several times the price.

Exterior styling is self-evident love-it-or-hate-it including the mammoth seven-dual bar spindle grille, leading way for its “hail to the chief” sense of arrival. Out back, the look is clean, understated with connecting tail lamps that some have indicated reminiscent of (gasp) a minivan. Ouch! That hurt.

The new interior doesn’t disappoint and is what we’ve come to know and love about Lexus, a look befitting a well-tailored Giorgio Armani suit replete with its requisite diamond-stitched leather seating with embossed headrests, second row heated & ventilated, massaging and aforementioned power reclining captain’s chairs with ottoman and dual-screen rear seat entertainment system.

Other grandiosities include a heated wood and leather steering wheel, rear seat sunshades, Mark Levinson Surround Sound system, thematic ambient illumination.

On the road our LX powers with ample authority and whisper quietness, smoothly and impressively when summoned to do so via the 409-hp powerplant. In case you’re wondering, this behemoth of a vehicle is actually quite easy to drive with excellent visibility and electric-assist power steering that makes parking a breeze. While our window sticker indicated a combined EPA fuel economy of 19 mpg, our observed number ranged between 15-16 mpg in our week of testing.

Given the LX’s Land Cruiser legendary off-road underpinnings, capability and durability, it remains true to the heritage with its body-on-frame construction and solid rear axle. We didn’t take our LX for an off-road beating to conquer but we’ve no doubt it stood ready to tackle the challenge with remarkable ability. We just couldn’t bring ourselves to possibly adorn our gorgeous Nori Green Pearl exterior paint scheme with “Arizona pin striping” courtesy of extreme off-road trails strewn with giant native saguaro, Texas iron wood trees, and jagged granite outcroppings to say nothing of the metallic painted 22-inch forged alloy wheel at each corner.

The new LX is complimented with redesigned infotainment and is now outfitted with a new dual-touch-screen system with a main 12.3-inch screen that responded quickly to inputs with excellent graphics. There’s a 7-inch touchscreen just below that controls the climate and seat settings that can also be controlled by redundant physical buttons and knobs.

The LX comes with Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, a suite of features that includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, lane centering assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights.

Overall, the all-new LX is a significant improvement over the outgoing third-generation model it replaces. But when compared to competitive rivals in this class aside from its exceptional off-road dynamics, the LX doesn’t bring anything new or unique to claim it’s superior or a standout in the class.

Vital Stats
2022 Lexus LX 600 Ultra Luxury
Base Price: $126,000
Price as Tested: $128,030
Engine/Transmission: 409-hp 3.5-Liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive.
EPA Fuel Economy: 17/22/19 MPG – City/Highway/Combined
Seating: 4

Crash Test Safety Ratings: Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash tested the 2022 Lexus LX. This is common for high-end vehicles.

Where Built: Aichi, Japan

Competes With:
BMW X7
Cadillac Escalade
Infiniti QX80
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Land Rover Range Rover
Lincoln Navigator
Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Highs:
First-class luxury interior
Smooth, quiet, powerful engine
Iconic off-road capability

Lows:
Thirsty observed fuel economy
Polarizing exterior styling
Some unrefined driving dynamics