Review of the Lexus LX 500d

We tested the massive, brutish Lexus LX, which is based on the Land Cruiser, as well as it belonged in the category of high-end luxury SUVs.

Auto | Updated: 01:08:2024 | 6:14 PM | Edited by: Newsbudy |

The Lexus LX is the brand’s flagship vehicle in India, therefore it is understandable why consumers could find this plus-sized luxury SUV with Land Cruiser styling to be a desirable offer. And also aside from its enormous size and difficult to replicate dominant road presence, and it also strikes me as being more traditional hardcore than its competitors.

Afterall, it costs about Rs 3 crore on the road, and as well as making it less luxurious and more costly than vehicles like the Range Rover. Does this mean that the Lexus LX is not a competitive quality vehicle in the upscale luxury SUV market? Well, as we found out, the response is not as simple as yes or no.

With each new LX generation, Lexus has made care to deviate more and more from the parent business Toyota’s Land Cruiser, the vehicle’s donor vehicle in terms of external and interior style. The enormous characteristic spindle grille that defines the front end of the SUV gives the LX the distinctive Lexus design. And the grille dominates the nose, with angular LED headlamps on either side.

Additionally, it lends the LX a powerful aura of dominance that makes smaller cars in front move aside more quickly than they normally do when they notice the entire grille in their rearview mirrors. And this particular aspect of the LX’s appeal is rather strong; it is not for everyone, of course, but also there are many purchasers who yearn for this kind of intimidating road presence.

Large wheel arches and a sharply sculpted bonnet add muscle to the front end, while the LX’s slab-sided shape completes the aggressive and commanding appearance. There are other defining Lexus design features in the back, such as an L-shaped stop lamp and a full-width LED light bar. And the most recent version of the vehicle features Lexus written in large, bold letters on the tailboard, and unlike the previous model that had the Lexus insignia on both the front and rear.

The first thing that strikes you when you go into the Lexus LX’s cockpit is how crowded the dashboard appears to be—a long cry from the minimalist style that is becoming more and more popular. The good news is that it differs greatly from the Land Cruiser LC300 in terms of appearance and appeal. While the smaller touchscreen between the air conditioning vents provides access to the four-zone climate control, off-road settings, ride height control, a G-meter, and other vehicle controls, the larger floating touchscreen serves as the infotainment system’s interface and receives feeds from the cameras.

Large and elegant, the front seats have extensive electrical adjustment capabilities. As well as you would expected the Lexus LX’s interior would be as roomy as a studio apartment based on its sheer size, but yet, as soon as you sit in the back seat, that is not the case. Although the LX has excellent width and headroom, it does not seem like a full-size luxury SUV with the price tag to match. And for starters, there is no way to expand the knee and leg area because the back bench is fixed and can only be tilted to a reclining position.

With the hood is a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 diesel engine that can produce up to 700Nm of peak torque and 301bhp of maximum power. The Lexus accelerates with little grace, particularly when you floor it from a stop. The back squats and the nose rises skywards as it lurches forward. It feels sufficiently fast given its size. According to Lexus, this SUV accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 8 seconds, although it is not about outstanding top speeds or rapid acceleration like other SUVs. This is the kind of vehicle that gives you the impression that it can go across countries without causing any problems.

Price and features of the Lexus LX 500d

Engine 3.3-litre, twin-turbo V6 diesel
Power 301bhp@4,000rpm
Max torque 700Nm@1,600-2,600rpm
Gearbox 10-speed AT
Wheelbase 2,850mm
LxWxH 5,100×1,990×1,895mm
Tyre size 265/50 R22
0-100kmph 8 seconds
Top speed 210kmph
Price Rs 2.82 crore (ex-showroom)

Review of the Lexus LX 500d

Price and features of the Lexus LX 500d

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