 | Positives: Big and luxurious, solid street cred, huge off road chops, powerful V8 engine, excellent standard safety features, feels like a tank. |
 | Negatives: Drives like a tank, looks are a bit extreme, interior ergonomics are less than stellar, as thirsty as a whale. |
 | Bottom Line: There's plenty of reasons to like the biggest Lexus in the fleet, of which newness is not one. The dated luxe SUV is still comfortable for occupants and powerful with its monster V8 engine. But its tech is lagging way behind, and its looks remain awkward and out of place in the Lexus lineup. |
Driving Experience
Though the big V8 engine with 383 horsepower helps move this beast, the weight keeps it from cornering half-decently. IT's a lot of truck, and it feels that way whenever you try to turn. Aside from that, it's a plush ride and does well in a straight line.
Ride Quality: Super cushy and comfortable, pretty much what customers expect from Lexus in this segment.
Acceleration: Not slow but also not quick. 0-60 comes in a bit over seven seconds. The new 8-speed transmission at least upshifts imperceptibly and downshifts quickly.
Braking: The brakes are mushy, and pedal feel is poor. It's not exactly confidence inspiring when you're helming something this big. Braking distances are about average.
Steering: The LX's steering is strangely heavy and not at all progressive with effort. It's a strange setup that feels odd.
Handling: Though the body roll is kept in check by the adaptive suspension, the thing just feels heavy. Turns are imprecise and ponderous.
Technology
The LX 570 is the priciest SUV Lexus has, but its tech looks and feels ancient. There's not much to say about the functionality, either. We know they won't give the 2020 any changes, so we can't wait until it gets redesigned because the tech (and a lot more) needs it.
Infotainment System: Great 12.3-inch screen gets betrayed by a bad system. The Enform system controls are poorly placed to the far right on the center console, and the mouse is way too vague for our liking.
Controls: The controller is as vague as they come. The fact that there's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to mitgate this is pathetic. You get a better system in the UX 200 that cost's half as much. At least they audio and climate controls are decent.
Styling
If there's any evidence this thing is getting old, every year that passes makes it look like it's getting dressed up for Halloween as a defunct intergalactic spacecraft. The rest of the vehicle is less dramatic, but the overall it's now been reworked too many times.
Front: The fascia has gone through a lot over the past few years, and any attempts to updated it have made it busier and uglier. We're not fans of this garish face with the overstyled grille and more chrome than a warehouse full of toasters.
Rear: Though it's not as busy as the front end, there's still a lot going on back there. The bulging taillights and the tall glass just make it look awkward.
Profile: This is actually it's best angle, but that's not saying much. There's nothing to keep things interesting except for the well-styled wheels.
Cabin: You can tell the materials are high quality, but the big vertical styling just looks old. The center stack's shiny black plastic is very early 2000s, and the stuffiness due to the big center console and thick dashboard don't help.
Comfort
In five seater trim (two rows), the space doesn't grow in the back seat, but it's still roomy and conveniently slides. The big cushy seats have great leather, and the thing is solid on the road. It's just too bad that the cabin's actual design doesn't match its feel.
Front Seats: Big and cushy, they lack some lateral bolstering, but are great flor long cruises.
Rear Seats: There's ample room back here, and the added ventilated rear seats are a nice touch for those sweaty summer passengers.
NVH (noise/vibration/harshness): As quiet as a bank vault. Road noise is handily kept at bay, and there are no vibrations to speak of.
Visibility: Good visibility out the front and sides, though the big rear pillars tend to obscure. The 360 degree camera is a huge plus.
Climate: Great heating and cooling from the vents and the seats in both rows.
Safety
The LX hasn't been tested by the IIHS or the NHTSA.
IIHS Rating: Not available.
Standard Tech: The LX 570 has a robust set of safety features that include Lexus Safety+, Pre-Collision System, Automatic Braking System, All-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, blind spot monitor, Multi-Terrain Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, Crawl Control with Turn Assist, Active Traction Control w/ Multi-Terrain Select, Trailer Sway Control, Dual-swivel Adaptive Front Lighting System, Rain-sensing Variable Intermittent Wipers/De-Icer, Lexus Enform Safety Connect, Service Connect
Optional Tech: None.
Storage/Cargo
The LX 570 in two-row trim gains some cargo space after the jump seats have been deleted. The 8,100-pound towing capacity, though, isn't exactly great but probably more than most folks need.
Storage Space: A big, deep armrest between the seats is pratical, as are the large door pockets and capacious glove compartment. We would've liked the binnacle in the center stack to be bigger and easier to access.
Cargo Room: 83.1 cubic feet of cargo space is pretty big, thanks to the deletion of the third row.
Fuel Economy
The V8 is thirsty, and the LX is heavy, which makes for less than great efficiency. Plus, we drove it in Sport mode, which made it even thirstier. It wasn't even laden with gear, and the numbers were lackluster.
Observed: 13.5 mpg.
Distance Driven: 107 miles.
Audio
The 9-speakers system sound premium, though it's not the booming Mark Levinson system. t's not the best system we tested, but it delivers full sound and great bass.