Used 2022 Lexus LX

If you’re going by the traditional belief that a luxury sport utility vehicle should be rugged and capable, yet posh and refined, then the Lexus LX may just be the ultimate SUV. Built on Toyota’s J300 platform, which also underpins the new but not-for-the-U.S. Land Cruiser, the 2022 Lexus LX 600 builds on the credibility of its predecessors. And with the Land Cruiser now discontinued here in North America, the LX serves as the lone continuation of Toyota’s legendary J-Series line of vehicles here in the U.S.

It’s hard not to look at the LX 600 as a sort of off-road grand touring SUV. This massive Lexus will be equally at home taking you through the Holland Tunnel from Lower Manhattan into New Jersey on a Tuesday evening as it will be summiting the rugged and remote 13,000-foot Imogene Pass deep in the San Juan Mountains above Telluride, Colorado.

We’d split the LX 600’s competitors into two different groups: those that prioritize off-road capability, and those that don’t.

Luxury SUVs with off-road ambitions on the level of the LX include the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and a number of Land Rover models, namely the full-size Range Rover, the Discovery, and one might even argue, the Defender.

If you don’t care about off-road capability, you might also cross-shop the new LX 600 with the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, and the Audi Q7 and Q8.

Previously, we’d have included the Toyota Land Cruiser as a competitor as well, given that aside from styling, the two vehicles are essentially the same. But while the Land Cruiser soldiers on in a new 300 Series generation elsewhere in the world, Toyota has made the controversial decision to discontinue its flagship SUV here in the U.S., leaving the LX to bear the torch going forward.

The new 2022 Lexus LX 600 is some 440 pounds lighter than the outgoing LX 570, and it feels that way. With a suspension that features coil springs and air springs, plus double wishbones in front and a 4-link live axle in back, the 2022 LX 600 blends excellent on-road manners with an expected high level of off-road stability.

While we didn’t take the new LX offroad, we are confident it will shine on terra firma. After all, it’s essentially a Lexus version of the new Toyota Land Cruiser, which ended its run in the U.S. last year. Also, the new LX has a bit more wheel travel than the previous LX, and the 4-link live rear axle is particularly well controlled, thanks in part to rear shocks that are mounted at an angle to better absorb road irregularities.

While the 3.5-liter engine, the same used in the new Tundra pickup, doesn’t seem all that large, the twin-turbo V6 gives the LX a surprisingly snappy feel and long grades in this big Lexus SUV are no challenge whatsoever. Turbo boost arrives quickly and smoothly, and the peak torque of 479 lb-ft arrives at only 2,000 rpm.

This power gets sent to the wheels vi via a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. In 10th gear at highway speeds, the LX600’s V6 is quiet and totally relaxed. When the engine is fed a bit of extra throttle to, say, pass another vehicle, the gearbox drops down a gear or two quickly and decisively.

Further helping the excellent overall chassis refinement is Active Height Control (AHC), which has three settings (Normal, Hi1, Hi2) while the vehicle is in motion, plus another Low setting that facilitates passenger ingress/egress. AHC also adjusts the amount of pitch and roll of the LX 600, while also stabilizing the vehicle’s attitude during turning, acceleration, and deceleration by altering the spring rate.

With the Adaptive Variable Suspension damping, which is standard, the LX 600’s overall comfort and control are improved. While the LX 600 feels soft and supple around town, the ride stiffens automatically for added stability and less body lean around corners.

What’s more, there are subtle — but noticeable — differences in feel among the LX 600’s driver-selectable drivetrain modes, which include Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Sport +, and Eco settings.

While the design is modern and all the parts are certainly new, the interior in the LX 600 follows the same philosophy as that of the outgoing model. It’s a comfortable space built with industry-leading craftsmanship.

While the previous LX also offered a plush and well-crafted interior, the tech was — and we’re not exaggerating here — among the worst in the industry. That shouldn’t be the case anymore, as the LX gets an all-new, North America-designed infotainment system that originally debuted on the new NX earlier this year (we’re betting a Toyota-skinned version is what serves in the new Tundra as well).

In the LX, the system consists of a 12.3-inch upper screen paired with a 7-inch lower screen. Touch controls replace the frustrating console-mounted control found on the outgoing LX 570. The LX’s upper screen displays traditional infotainment functions such as navigation and media, while the lower screen handles climate-control duty.

Like the LX 570, the LX 600 offers up to three rows of seats, though it seats a maximum of seven people, as opposed to the outgoing model, which could seat up to eight. The tradeoff here, though, is that the 3rd-row seats now fold flat into the rear floor where they’re out of the way. In the old LX, the third row functioned like a jump seat, folding up to the side when not in use, where it took up a considerable amount of cargo room.

The LX 600’s new Ultra-Luxury trim deviates from the rest of the lineup in that it offers a unique 4-passenger seating layout. The 2nd-row bench has been replaced by two plush, reclining captain’s chairs with a center console running down the middle.

The front passenger seat in the Ultra-Luxury can be moved forward to allow for up to 43 inches of legroom, while a touchscreen on the center console acts as a control panel for all the functions of the second row. Oh yeah, the Ultra Luxury gets a special air conditioning system that includes routing to overhead ceiling vents above the rear passengers as well.

In overall dimensions, the new LX 600 is very close in size to the outgoing LX 570.

The LX’s new exterior design is an evolutionary change rather than anything revolutionary. It has the same 112-inch wheelbase as the original LX sold from 1996 to 1997. Approach, breakover, and departure angles, along with maximum climbing angle and river fording depth are all carried over from the LX 570.

The grille is an updated version of the trapezoidal design that debuted on the LX 570 for 2016. Most models come with seven stacked chrome bars in the grille, though the new F Sport trim gets a black mesh design. The headlights are similarly shaped as well, but their designs have been focused and simplified. Two large openings flank the base of the grille and allow air to reach a pair of radiators for the new 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6.

While the LX 570 wasn’t a particularly curvy vehicle, the new one wears a more chiseled design than its predecessor, with squared-off wheel arches, a tauter beltline, and a defining crease just above the rocker panel.

Speaking of those rocker panels, they included integrated running boards on the old LX 570. On the new LX 600, though, the running boards appear to be a separate part, leading us to think they’re easily removable, which would further improve off-road geometry.

Around back, a narrow bar connects the taillights, while chrome letters at the center of the rear hatch spell out “LEXUS,” which the brand seems to be making one of its signature design elements.

Unfortunately, Lexus and Toyota have done away with the split rear tailgate featured on every Land Cruiser and LX from the past 50 years. This was likely a cost-saving measure, but either way, it’s a big loss, given the functionality it provided.

Wheel options on the new LX range from 18 to 22 inches.

ACTIVE HEIGHT CONTROL (AHC)
Standard AHC is an adjustable hydraulic suspension system marketed as “Active Height Control.” AHC is capable of raising the LX for off-road obstacles or lowering it to ease getting in and out. In its latest iteration, damping has been improved, which is said to be adaptable for everything from bumpy city streets to tight high-speed curves.

NEXT-GENERATION INFOTAINMENT
Lexus recently debuted a new infotainment system, and it’s making its way into the new LX 600. This would be big news for any automaker, but given how Lexus’ old system was critiqued, it’s a major development that should be a boon for the brand going forward.

Regardless of which of its five trim levels you choose, the 2022 Lexus LX 600 is designed to offer world-leading comfort and capability right out of the box.

Under the hood is that all-new twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine. We already know it’s significantly more powerful than the outgoing 5.7-liter V8, and we’re certain it’ll be much more efficient than that thirsty old mill as well.

An adjustable suspension, which Lexus markets as “Active Height Control” or “AHC,” comes standard on every LX 600. It offers four different height settings: Low, Normal, Hi1, and Hi2, and is also capable of automatically making little adjustments here and there to keep things stable and planted both on- and off-road.

Four-wheel drive comes standard on the LX 600, just like it has on every LX and Land Cruiser since the 80 Series came out for the 1991 model year. A locking center differential, which guarantees an equal power split between the front and rear wheels, is standard, too.

Additional off-road bits include Crawl Control, which is Toyota’s version of an off-road cruise control system, and Multi-Terrain Select, which allows the vehicle’s traction systems to be tailored to a number of different terrains. There’s also a hill-descent control, and new to the LX for 2022, a “Multi-Terrain Monitor,” which shows feeds from the front, side, and rear cameras on the center display screen during sketchy off-road situations. There’s even a “Back Underfloor View” that shows the terrain under the vehicle via a delayed camera feed.

An all-new infotainment system resides up front, presented through a 12.3-inch main screen and a 7-inch supplemental screen. The bigger screen handles main duties, while the smaller screen is used for HVAC and other controls that would otherwise typically be controlled via an array of physical buttons.

Lexus has five different trim levels for the new LX 600 — Standard, Premium, Luxury, F Sport, and Ultra-Luxury.

The Standard LX 600 is a 5-seater with a leather-trimmed interior, while the Premium is a 7-seater with a power-folding 3rd-row seat that folds flat. The Premium also comes with heated and vented front seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a head-up display (HUD), and six USB ports.

In Luxury trim, the 2022 Lexus LX 600 is equipped with vented 2nd-row seats, manual rear sunshades, one-touch fold-flat power rear seats, and a 2,400-watt Mark Levinson sound system with 25 speakers.

The new 4-seat Ultra-Luxury LX 600 is about as luxurious as you can get, sporting diamond-stitched semi-aniline leather for the front seats and center-row captain’s chairs. It also has a heated front passenger seat with memory, plus heated and vented center-row captain’s chairs with recline and massage functions. On top of that, there’s a power ottoman for the right-rear passenger.

But that’s not all: The Ultra-Luxury also comes with a digital rearview mirror, a rear-seat wireless smartphone charger, and dual 11.4-inch entertainment screens for the back-seat passengers.

And what about the F Sport? Aesthetically, the new 2022 Lexus LX 600 F Sport gets a unique black grille with a mesh insert, plus 22-inch forged aluminum wheels. Inside, you’ll find unique seats, along with F Sport-specific steering wheel and shifter finishings.

The F Sport does gain some unique mechanical bits in the form of uniquely tuned front and rear shock absorbers, a Torsen limited-slip differential, and a rear stabilizer. The power steering and suspension systems are uniquely tuned as well.

One of the biggest headlines with the new LX is the powertrain. Gone is the thirsty 5.7-liter V8 that served in the LX 570, and in its place is a new 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6. There’s a new 10-speed automatic transmission as well, replacing the 8-speed used in the LX 570.

This engine is essentially the same one used in the new Toyota Tundra, where it can be optioned with an add-on hybrid system that boosts both power and efficiency. No word yet on whether this hybrid setup will be available in the LX, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it was added to the options list in a year or so.

Premium fuel is required.

3.5-liter twin-turbo V6
409 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
479 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/22 mpg