If you're among the set that spends upwards of $100,000 on an SUV, you know you have your reasons.
If one is that you're a dyed-in-the-wool Lexus fan, prepare for your heart to be warmed by the 2016 Lexus LX 570. The crown jewel in the Lexus SUV lineup, this granddaddy of an eight-passenger rig has undergone its first major refresh since 2008.
The makeover was necessary. While the blingy LX 570 has forged onward looking as trim, slim, capable and refined as possible for a hulk of its size, competitors Mercedes and Land Rover have managed to get, well, blingy-er over the past eight years. While no one would deny the luxuriousness that is the LX 570, its status had been depleted into middle-of-the-pack-mediocrity.
That status ends this model year. According to Lexus, only the door panels have been carried forward from the old 570. That's not completely true – there is a lot of good from the previous generation, including a heavy dose of familiarity, which will please drivers who were happy with the way things were and are blanching at the mention of an overhaul. Starting from the new, aggressive spindle grille – a trademark of Lexus' refreshed 2016 lineup – and stretching 'round to the new tail lights, bumper and down to the 20-inch split 10-spoke wheels, a good bit of cosmetic nipping and tucking has taken place.
For 2016, Lexus is doing away with the six-speed transmission and going with an eight-speed still with a V-8 engine. The change means this truck, which shares a platform with the Toyota Land Cruiser, doesn't feel underpowered. While driving it does feel a smidge like helming a yacht, where it was expected to chug a bit traversing steep hills and the bends that frame the St. Lawrence outside of Quebec City, it glided along without complaining or spitting brutish belches of power. This is an SUV that knows both how to dig in and how to do it with refinement.
Inside the cabin, no expense has been spared. There is a cool box in the console, two seven-inch tablet-type monitors mounted to the headrests and a navi screen larger than most laptop computers, which makes figuring out a foreign route an absolute breeze. The vehicle is compatible with Siri Eyes Free, a boon to iPhone users accustomed to asking the mobile assistant to queue up songs or dig out directions (though those with Android phones will be disappointed). It also has the expected suite of safety gadgetry, from blind-spot assist to a new 360-degree camera that will lessen the likelihood of cranking one's neck while checking to ensure all angles are clear.
If there's one frustration with this vehicle it is that the options to customize this and that, from drive style to steering, height, mode, temperature, et cetera, are a bit too much. Every surface inside the car that cannot be covered by a passenger seems to have a button with a function or or three carved into it. Those who love to dig into car manuals may appreciate this. For the rest of us, even the post-$100,000 spenders, much of that choice will likely be wasted.
You'll like this car if ... You loved the previous version of the LX 570 but had begun to develop a wandering eye towards swank, tech-savvy designs put out by competitors. Your eyes shall wander no more.
TECH SPECS
- Base price: $104,300
- Engine: 5.7-litre V-8
- Transmission/drive: Eight-speed automatic
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 18.3 (city); 12.9 (highway); 15.9 (combined)
- Alternatives: Mercedes-Benz GL class, Mercedes-Benz G-class, Land Rover Range Rover/Range Rover Sport, Cadillac Escalade
RATINGS
- Looks: This rig packs a lot of attitude for an eight-passenger bus.
- Interior: Sumptuous. Thick leather and wood, all eight passengers will feel suitably ensconced, although the front four will benefit from heated and ventilated power seats.
- Performance: Capable on road and off (although the price tag may deter adventurers from mudding adventures), this SUV has 383 horsepower and 403-lb feet of torque with a 7,000-pound towing capacity.
- Technology: The 12.3-inch navigation screen is a treat – maps are enjoyable and actually legible on it. Rear passengers have access to their own 7-inch monitors mounted to the back of both front head rests; they can use the rear USB ports to listen/watch with the aid of Lexus-branded wireless headphones stowed in the passenger door.
- Cargo: No denying cargo is king here. The third row of seats split and fold into several configurations with the help of a keypad of power buttons, meaning it won’t take work or a Jenga master to fit gear in the back.
The Verdict
9.5
This is a well-executed refresh that brings the LX 570 back into contention with its challengers. It will keep Lexus-lovers happy but it's also likely to attract newbies with its new edgy design and aggressive lines.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
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Jessica Leeder