The Toyota land cruiser dead. Viva Toyota land cruiser 2022 Lexus LX 600 – the flagship SUV delivers kicks and screams at the 21st century with a much-needed overhaul. Back with a new powertrain, new skins and new possibilities, the LX aims to take the lead in the luxury SUV segment, winning back with cars like Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes-Benz GLS.
Land Cruiser is not really dead yet, mind you; We don’t get it here in the US – at least not yet. Fortunately, much of that new SUV’s engineering is hidden beneath the LX’s skin. For example, the new twin-turbo V6 delivers 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque and serves as the base V8 replacement here; it is paired with Toyota’s new 10-speed automatic. The mixture New engine provided Toyota Tundra and Sequoia To be Rumor is on the way to the LX in the coming model years.
But while Land Cruiser Traditionally known for its off-road capability, the LX we tested certainly wasn’t. In place of the powerful 4×4 system with front and rear locking to tackle uncharted terrain, we’ve got a Torsen limited-slip differential, an F Sport suspension with performance dampers and wheels. 22 inch big car. Sure, the center differential lock and LSD will get you wherever you might need to go, even on dirty roads, but that’s not the F Sport’s expected use case.
That does not mean LX 600 can’t hang when it comes to typical SUV duties. It’s almost 17 feet long and comes equipped with a foldable third row of seats, but it’s also essentially a foot shorter than Standard Escalade. That partly explains why the third row is essentially a utility seat as opposed to consistent family transport. It also offers a fair amount of headroom at the expense of cargo space – close to that, in fact. If you really need to use the third row and bring some belongings, you can always rent a trailer; it will be drag 8,000 pounds.
Fortunately, the standard full-time 4WD and limited-slip differential don’t need to be combined with the LX’s Terrain Crawl Mode to be worthwhile. Although our lender’s giant 22-inch wheels were wrapped in all-season rubber, the LX handled typical Michigan winter trash effectively. There was little snow during the week we had the truck, but there was a lot of leftover crust, inches deep and mud in the northern suburbs of Detroit, where we took the LX for a ride.
Capable although it can overcome difficult things, comfort is not. This F Sport will be more at home flatter, cleaner and probably more curved surface. While we wouldn’t call it a performance SUV, it certainly rides like one. Those 22s can be felt through every crack, seam and expansion joint, and while the F Sport’s suspension is sportiest of its kind Lexus Provided, this is still a big, soft SUV. In a way, that character is the opposite of motivation, feeling tense and strong. The LX accelerates easily, so it feels a bit boring. We think it’s a matter of concern when it comes to the number six luxury carbut the downside here is that the rear of the car jumps up significantly with any competent long throttle and the front part dives in equal proportions when you throw all the anchors.
We will note that our F Sport Handling model is not equipped with the Active Altitude Control option, which is a hydraulic (as opposed to air) suspension, but the “Low” mode of it is only intended to make it easier to get in and out of the LX, and cannot be used at normal speeds. We do not believe its existence is consequential. Despite that, despite accelerating like a smaller car, the LX doesn’t feel like one. On smooth roads with minimal traffic, it’s pure smoothness; messing with that formula too much and things get a bit disjointed.
Fortunately, the LX’s interior mission is a bit more coherent. Our handling F Sport model represents the mid-level for the LX, and even that is pretty impressive. It comes with heated and ventilated first and second row seats, a power sunroof, variable ambient lighting, a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, a HUD. and 8-inch digital instrument cluster display. Our tester also came with a $2,600 Mark Levinson sound system (its only option), and it’s great here as well as on the brand’s other vehicles.
Overall, we have good things to say about the infotainment system itself. Toyota, and by extension Lexus, have finally settled on a collection of hardware and software that looks and functions admirably. Voice control is easy to use, although frustrating at times because the system doesn’t seem to consistently lower the volume of what you’re listening to when you’re on your computer. This doesn’t seem to interfere with the microphone or the infotainment’s ability to understand commands, but it’s like trying to talk through the hum of a crowded nighttime hotspot.
Other nits we picked up include the lack of a dedicated home screen (in the LX, the default view is the navigation map) and split-screen functionality, which means you’ll have to flip between functions. functions instead of displaying them. side by side, as in many competitors and older Lexus models. The LX, however, benefits only from a second screen below the main infotainment panel that displays vehicle condition information and incorporates several controls for heating and cooling. You won’t find this one on the smaller NXbut ultimately it’s a poor substitute for a configurable side-by-side monitor.
While the F Sport’s Circuit Red leather upholstery may not be to everyone’s taste, it’s just one of the multitude of interior treatments available. Even the F Sport can be wrapped in black leather, and the other four variants offer a more distinctive look. Ultra Luxury’s hollow wood looks especially delicious. And not like Escalade, whose interior quality degrades as you move towards the rear, the LX’s cabin also shows up in the rear seats. While it may be mid-tier, our test model hit $105,005, including $1,345 for the destination. Prices range from $88,245 for the base model up to over $127,000 for the Ultra Luxury. And there hasn’t even been an engine upgrade yet.
The LX is bonded at the low end by Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and Jeep Grand Wagoneerand more advanced is the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7 and Range Rover. The American giants offer more value for money, subscriptions with more cabin space (for both passenger and cargo), more tech features (incl. GM’s Super Cruise and Ford’s Blue Cruise) and arguably more satisfying on-road performance for about $10,000 less, whichever you prefer. Europeans – especially the new Range Rover – are about the same size as the LX, but run in the other direction when it comes to price.
Its value proposition may not move the hands, but the LX’s strength comes from its luxurious designs. Its Land Cruiser DNA should give it too much credibility in the SUV community, especially those who have been Toyota/Lexus loyalists. The addition of a hybrid option will make the LX much more appealing, so we expect Lexus to seize that opportunity as soon as possible. As it is, the F Sport’s performance skin is not unattractive, but the balance will only be acceptable to those lucky enough to have clear, well-manicured lines. If your commute becomes difficult, opt for one of the luxurious decor pieces. Your spine will thank you.
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