Used 2019 Lexus LX

Built on the same rugged body-on-frame chassis that underpins the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser, the 2019 Lexus LX 570 represents the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. This large Lexus SUV is as capable as they come off-road, yet it pampers you with all the amenities of a modern luxury sedan. Call it Lexus’ “Range Rover,” if you will, but with better reliability and resale. This year, Lexus offers the LX as a 2-row/5-seater or a 3-row/8-seater, both equipped with the latest infotainment and safety assists. Sure, most SUVs rarely taste terra firma, but it’s reassuring to know that the LX 570, with its multiple all-wheel-drive (AWD) settings, locking center differential and low-range gearing, can handle the toughest off-road challenges.

In spite of all its luxury, the Lexus LX 570 is a true SUV beneath the skin. Yes, it has a rugged body-on-frame chassis, but this Lexus does not drive like a truck. It’s comfortable in the everyday world, and while it will never be accused of being sporty, this big SUV corners with confidence while never feeling tippy. The V8 engine is well muted and the transmission is silky-smooth, although the big wheel/tire combo does produce a bit more rolling noise than one would expect of a Lexus. You tend to forget about such things off-road, though, where the locking center differential and low-range gearing combine to make this Lexus SUV far more capable than an Audi Q7 or a Cadillac Escalade ESV. While large SUVs aren’t exactly fuel-economy champs, the LX 570 rates near the bottom of the pack.

For 2019, the Lexus LX 570 can be ordered as a 2-row/5-seater or a 3-row/8-seater. The 5-seater offers 50.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seat, while the 8-seater has 44.7 behind its power-folding rear bench. The 2nd-row bench in both models is power-adjustable in the fore/aft directions. The interior, upholstered in rich leather with attractive wood trim, is highlighted by a huge 12.3-inch screen on the dash that can be split into three screens to show different functions, such as navigation, audio and the 4-zone climate control. There’s also an available Rear Seat Entertainment System with dual 11.6-inch screens, plus 2nd-row USB ports and auxiliary controls for the air conditioning and stereo. The standard stereo in the LX is a 9-speaker Lexus unit; a 450-watt Mark Levinson Surround Sound system with 19 speakers also is available.

The 2019 LX 570 looks much the same as last year, with LED headlights and a huge spindle grille that immediately identifies this large SUV as a Lexus. The rest of the LX 570 is classic Land Cruiser; in other words, it’s a tall and imposing box. Its rear hatch features a clamshell tailgate with a top section that opens and closes at the push of a button. Below that is a manually operated tailgate like that of a pickup truck. While the LX isn’t as long as a Chevrolet Suburban, it still takes up plenty of space in your garage.

MULTI-TERRAIN SYSTEM
This driver-selectable system allows the driver to choose among five available off-road settings that optimize the LX 570’s AWD system for the driving conditions. They include: Rock, Rock and Dirt, Mogul, Loose Rock, and Mud and Sand.

CRAWL CONTROL
With Crawl Control, the LX 570, via automatic throttle and brake adjustments, can make a slow but steady climb up steep boulder-strewn paths. Active Height Control will raise the LX about three inches if extra clearance is needed.

All 2019 LX 570s are generously equipped. Notable hardware includes full-time all-wheel drive, a V8 engine, low-range gearing, a locking center differential, a tow-hitch receiver, and the Lexus Safety system, which includes collision-mitigation braking with pedestrian protection, a lane-departure alert, intelligent cruise control and intelligent high-beam headlights. Leather and wood abound inside, where you’ll also find a power moonroof, 10 airbags, power-adjustable front seats and a large 12.3-inch multifunction infotainment screen. While the 9-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system includes HD Radio, Bluetooth, and USB and iPod inputs, the 2019 Lexus LX 570 does not come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

There aren’t as many options for the 2019 Lexus LX 570 as you might expect. A $1,190 Luxury Package includes heated and vented 1st- and 2nd-row seats, plus 4-zone climate control, seats covered in a perforated semi-aniline leather, and new door lights that project the Lexus logo onto the ground (or that puddle you want to avoid stepping in). Also available: a heated wood-and-leather-covered steering wheel, 21-inch split-spoke alloy wheels, a Mark Levinson surround-sound stereo, a head-up display and a dual-screen rear-entertainment system. Various other options include a cargo net, a cargo mat and a wireless smartphone charger, plus a trailer hitch and a box in the center console that keeps your Diet Snapple well chilled.

As with the 2018 model, one engine powers the 2019 LX 570: an aluminum-block 5.7-liter V8 that pumps out 383 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 403 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. This smooth 4-cam V8, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, endows the LX 570 with a maximum tow rating of 7,000 pounds. All LX 570s boast full-time all-wheel drive, and when you lock the center differential and engage the low-range gearing, this big Lexus SUV just keeps plugging along, no matter how rough or slippery the road. As a 6,000-pound vehicle, the LX 570 is a heavyweight, and this shows in poor EPA fuel-economy ratings of 13-mpg city and 18-mpg highway.

5.7-liter V8
383 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
403 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/18 mpg