The Lexus LX600 wears many hats, be it individuals provider, off-roader, or luxurious cruiser.
The Toyota Land Cruiser lives on in the US, albeit with a luxurious bent, within the type of the 2022 Lexus LX600. Constructed on Toyota’s international GAF platform, the fourth-generation giant Lexus SUV carries the identical bones because the newest Tundra and Sequoia. And, certainly, the Toyota Land Cruiser within the elements of the world the place the long-lasting overlander continues to be offered.
Lexus is, initially, a luxurious model. And but, the 2022 Lexus LX comes with a mix of specs and trendy tech to make it a doubtlessly potent off-roader.
However, in the event you desire, simply consider it as a big SUV, with numerous area for individuals and stuff. To not point out a capability to tow large leisure toys round — as much as 8,000 kilos price. Or, maybe, you need an uber-luxury land yacht, with area for however just a few whereas offering excessive ranges of consolation. If optioned appropriately, yeah, the LX600 performs there too.
That’s a large breadth of strengths, to make sure. And but this most up-to-date LX adapts and makes a case for itself for each one among them. Nicely, nearly each one, which brings us to this explicit instance you see right here.
Sport Mannequin … Actually?
It is a 2022 Lexus LX600 F Sport, one among two new trims added to the LX this 12 months. F Sport is the model’s nomenclature for “sportier model of a factor.”
And, at first look not less than, this LX has the issues to make it such a factor: 22-inch solid alloy wheels, adjustable shock absorbers, and Torsen limited-slip rear differential. All that pairs properly with a 409-horsepower, 479 pound-feet of torque, twin-turbocharged 3.4L V6.
On paper, not less than, it’s comprehensible to suppose that the Lexus LX, not less than in F Sport trim, desires to be a sporty SUV too. Alas, physics nonetheless carries a number of weight right here and speaks disapprovingly of chucking round a high-center-of-gravity, practically 3-ton mass by a bunch of corners at high-lateral G. Regardless of an “F Sport tuned suspension” and rear anti-roll bar, bluntly, physics says “no.”
Then again, F Sport appears good and consists of a number of options to play within the different fields. You realize, put on the opposite hats.
Wade By way of Extra Than 2 Ft of Figures
Off-road worthiness begins on the body. The GAF platform is a body-on-frame piece — a totally boxed hunk of metallic constructed to face up to all of the shenanigans of full-size truck and SUV patrons.
From there, Lexus connected the physique such that you simply get not less than 7.9 inches of floor clearance. And, within the case of the F Sport, 8.3 inches.
Furthermore, Lexus gives an adjustable suspension system aptly named Energetic Top Management for $1,300. Such a system permits engineers to program many alternative on-road drive modes — Eco, Consolation, Regular, Sport, Sport+, Customized — in addition to provide 4 totally different experience heights — Lo, Regular, Hi1, Hi2.
In its highest setting, the LX600 sports activities a good 27.4 and 26.3 levels of strategy and departure angles, respectively. You too can traverse as much as 27.5 inches of water.
All Wheels Go
The drivetrain helps too. The 2022 Lexus LX 600 comes with full-time four-wheel-drive and a two-speed switch case to offer you low-speed, excessive torque choices. And that ties into one other chunk of expertise referred to as multi-terrain choose, or MTS, which makes use of the braking system, drivetrain, and variable suspension controls that can assist you alongside your path, be it filth, sand, mud, deep snow, or rocks. Or put full belief within the system and choose auto.
However we’re nonetheless not achieved with those and zeros, as you may have a low-speed, off-road cruise management of types referred to as Crawl Management, which additionally manipulates the identical methods as MTS. And, to offer you a way of the speeds we’re speaking about, it solely works in 4Lo.
You additionally get the self-explanatory Downhill Help Management. And, to maintain sight of all of it, a multi-terrain monitor. This monitor makes use of 4 totally different cameras mounted on the LX, to get rid of blind spots and provides a eager eye to what’s precisely in entrance, to both aspect, or behind you.
Downsized, however Energy A-Loads
To maintain all these wheels turning, Lexus mounted up a stronger model of the brand new twin-turbocharged 3.4L discovered within the 2022 Toyota Tundra. With a little bit of tweaking, the LX will get a further 20 horsepower to peak at 409.
Torque holds regular in comparison with the Tundra at 479 pound-feet at its peak, but it surely lasts longer. You get 479 pound-feet from 2,000 rpm — 400 sooner than the Tundra — it then holds peak twist to three,600 rpm. Beautiful!
All of the above is bolstered by a 10-speed automated transmission, which supplies a pleasant, broad ratio vary, with loads of small steps in between. In different phrases, you’re by no means removed from peak outputs of this new turbocharged V6.
Altogether, Lexus claims the LX reaches 60 mph from relaxation in 6.9 seconds. And but, you’ll cruise on the freeway spinning effectively below 2,000 rpm.
Displacement downsizing and further gears additionally assist gasoline financial system. Admittedly nonetheless not nice, the brand new LX manages 17 mpg within the metropolis, 22 mpg on the freeway, and 19 mpg mixed utilizing a gallon of gasoline.
That’s, nevertheless, an enormous enchancment over the outgoing powertrain, which may do no higher than 12 mpg within the metropolis, 16 on the freeway, and 14 mixed. Yeesh, you’d need to put a second mortgage on your own home to fill the tank! (My first and final dad joke of the overview.)
What About My Buddies?
Measuring greater than 200 inches bow to stern, the LX gives three rows of seating or two rows of seating and an abundance of area, 44 cubic ft price. No, it’s not as large as a Tahoe or an Expedition. However that simply makes it giant as an alternative of gargantuan.
You will have room, is the purpose, whether or not you select to make use of it to hold seven individuals and 11 cubic ft of stuff, 5 and 44, or two and 64.
Critically, you’ll carry your individuals and equipment in consolation. And that’s regardless of having a strong rear axle, once more just like the Tundra.
Once more, expertise performs a job right here. You do, in any case, get adjustable shock absorbers and is derived, which supplies the LX all kinds of the way to regulate stiffness of the suspension. Certainly, the LX glides over bumps easily, all whereas sustaining a fair keel, and but by no means feels floaty or below sprung.
Inside Consolation
You see a number of extra choices and changes inside. The LX F-Sport gives four-zone local weather management in addition to heated and cooled seats for the entrance and two outer seats of the second row. Moreover, the seats themselves are comfy, supportive, and spacious.
The entrance passengers even have quick access to a 12.3-inch middle console contact display screen with myriad controls and a further 7.0-inch display screen just under that for added data.
I ought to point out, the third-row seats two comfortably, so long as people sitting there are lower than 4.5 ft tall. That is, in any case, one of many smaller super-big three-row SUVs. A body-on-frame one at that. In the event you load up your LX with seven people, 4 of them will probably be fairly comfy.
New 2022 Lexus LX Extremely Luxurious Trim
However you may take consolation a step additional with the brand new for 2022 Extremely Luxurious trim. This LX ditches the third row, swaps out the bench second row for captain’s chairs, and provides a second-row middle console to mess around with.
Furthermore, these seats recline as much as 48 levels, have curved and cushioned headrests, and are heated, ventilated, and massaging.
You additionally get footrests and the supplies within the inside are super-fancy named issues, just like the “diamond-stitch semi-aniline leather-based–trimmed seating.” Simply be able to empty $127,845 out of your checking account.
Your Hat Rack: 2022 Lexus LX600
Costly! I do know, however that’s high-end. The LX begins at $88,245, or only a few grand greater than the choices listing on the not too long ago reviewed Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The F-Sport LX you see right here begins at $102,345. Nonetheless fairly costly, however a contact extra palatable than the $127,845 Extremely Luxurious trim model.
However in the event you want a jack-of-all-trades sort of automobile and have a household, the LX ticks a number of bins off your to-do listing. Hit the street together with your giant camper trailer in tow, and preserve the crew comfy with cost ports and temperature controls for everybody.
Then, as soon as the tenting website is about, enterprise off street to a extra scenic vista to catch the sundown. And also you’ll have area for all your hats.
Construct out your personal 2022 Lexus LX600.
