2008 Lexus LX 570 Review
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By John Stewart

Overview

The all-new 2008 Lexus LX is a true luxury vehicle first and foremost, with advanced safety, comfort and quality features. It's a big, heavy vehicle that can tow big loads, haul heavy cargo, and transport people and gear across great distances in comfort. It uses the same heavy frame and stout powertrain as the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Like the Land Cruiser, the Lexus LX 570 is designed for extraordinary versatility and an unusual combination of utility and luxury. But with the Lexus, luxury comes first.

Designed for a different kind of use, the LX offers a number of qualities and features that the Land Cruiser does not. These include technological advances such as active headrests, wide-view monitors, adaptive front headlights, and an active damping suspension control system. The Mark Levinson audio system is a Lexus exclusive, and the interior is built using a higher level of materials and finish.

The Land Cruiser is better equipped for rigorous off-road use; the LX570, also highly capable, has running boards and other conveniences that would become vulnerable in rugged terrain. The LX 570 is aimed more at the luxury car owner who occasionally needs guaranteed control on a snowy road leading to a ski resort, or safe traction on the graded dirt road leading to a ranch house or mountain fishing lodge. The ability to haul boats or horse trailers up to 8500 pounds makes this the most capable SUV offered by Lexus.

Safety features are on a par with the best luxury sedans.

Especially relaxing to drive on long trips, the LX is also equipped with a brace of thoughtful features to make around-town driving and parking more convenient.

The Lexus LX competes with the Cadillac Escalade, Range Rover, and the Mercedes GL550. The group is similar in many ways, with similar operational characteristics, but the LX caters to the distinctly American addiction to torque even more studiously than the others. Powered by a 5.7-liter V8, the LX makes most of its power early in the rev range.

Model Lineup

The 2008 Lexus LX comes as one model, the LX 570. The standard package includes a very long list of comfort and convenience features, combined with extensive engineering and safety systems. Highlights include 20-inch wheels; power rear door and tailgate; Class 4 towing hitch; moonroof; heated power outside mirrors; roof rack; programmable garage door opener; 115V outlet in rear cargo area; power door locks with anti-lock-out feature; wide-view front and side mirror; 10-way power driver seat; three-position memory driver seat; eight-way power front passenger seat and heated front seats.

The standard audio system is Lexus Premium Audio, which includes digital AM/FM tuner with auto-reverse cassette; in-dash 6CD changer to support MP3 and other digital files; MP3/iPod input plug; digital sound processing (DSP) with seven-channel, 312-watt output; nine speakers; and automatic sound leveling.

The optional DVD rear-seat entertainment system ($1990) requires the Technology Package, which includes the 19-speaker, 450-watt Mark Levinson Surround Sound audio system, with Lexus Link and Hard Disc drive CD/DVD/DVD video ($4200).

Safety features include 10 airbags, anti-rollover dynamics; tire pressure monitor system; active traction control (A-TRAC); vehicle stability control (VSC); rain-sensing wipers; adaptive front lighting (AFS); brake assist; hill-start assist control (HAC); multi-terrain anti-lock braking system (ABS); electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). The optional Pre-Collision System (PCS) is packaged with adaptive cruise control ($2850).