Lexus LX570 2019 Review

Far from being an unloved super-sized SUV with a face only a narcissistic car designer could love, the $168,089 Lexus LX 570 S is the second-most popular vehicle in its segment (large SUV over $100,000) after the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, finding just over 400 buyers in Australia in 2018 – an increase of almost 25 per cent.

Perhaps the folks who missed-out on the Mercedes-AMG G-wagen, which is sold out until 2020, may stray towards something like this?

Whatever the case, the Lexus LX is still finding favour with well-heeled customers in Australia and has sold more than 5500 units since it arrived in Australia in 1999.

Presenting the sort of blunt-nosed design that will divide opinion, there's enough luxury, just enough technology and the sort of practicality that will appeal to buyers with big families, big burdens and (potentially) big egos.

The seven-seat Lexus LX can tow up to 3500kg (braked) and has seating for eight and when you see one in your rear-view mirror, a double-take is the most likely response.

It runs a 5.7-litre petrol V8 (270kW/530Nm) that is rare in the luxury car world because it doesn't have a turbocharger or two. That's good for throttle response and acceleration linearity, but not so good for power output or fuel economy.

Lexus claims the car has a 14.4L/100km fuel consumption rating but unless it was tested on the moon, I have no idea how that figure was attained. After a week in the saddle and driven fairly gingerly, my best was 24.2L/100km. E-gads!

But what the big Lexus does have up its sleeve are bullet-proof mechanicals and a massive fuel tank.

Because the Lexus LX 570 S shares its underpinnings with adventure-ready Toyota LandCruiser underneath, that brings reliability and parts availability but also a 93-litre main fuel tank backed up by a 45-litre sub tank.

That means the total fuel capacity is 138 litres of petrol which, even at 24.2L/100km, will get you where you want to go without too many stops.

If you want to make a strong impression with your neighbours, park the Lexus LX 570 S – with the Sonic Quartz paint job – in the driveway.

A big machine by anyone's standards – it stretches to just over five metres (5080mm) long – the 'S' designation of the biggest Lexus SUV money can buy brings out a bit of storm trooper attitude by adding gloss black 21-inch alloy wheels and an sharp body-kit.

New-look front and rear bumpers with contrasting black inserts, likewise on the side skirts, deliver the sort of "get out of my way, peasants!" visuals that will communicate your intent to other road users – whether you like it not.

Up front the bold 'spindle' grille motif will be a love or hate proposition, a bit like choosing sides in politics, while the rear's poignant angles, sharp LED brake lights and roof spoiler are less likely to offend sensitive eyes than the LX 570 S' face.

It also gets alloy pedals inside and a few other sporty touches, including stiffer dampers designed to improve driving dynamics. Heavily tinted windows add a bit more mafia mystique to the recipe as do dynamic LED indicators.

All told, there's enough aesthetic drama to start – and possibly end – many conversations.

To be honest, this is not a weapon in the same league as the Audi SQ7. True, it runs a 5.7-litre V8 that is smooth in operation and has a nice exhaust note, but it's neither fast nor agile. Just big.

Motivating a corpulent 2680kg kerb mass – plus the rest when it's full of people and their belongings – is not easy for the Lexus LX 570 S's ageing petrol 5663cc, 90-degree V8. With just 270kW at 5600rpm and 530Nm and 3200rpm, big 'Lex is slow.

Not even the eight-speed automatic transmission can save this whale, which feels lethargic at full throttle.

The automatic transmission is up to the task of rationing what meagre torque the car presents (the diesel version has a more appropriate 650Nm by comparison) but like some elements of the car it feels outdated. It thumps physically and audibly when shifting between reverse and drive for example and the paddle shifters are pointless because gear changes take forever. Click the shifter, waiting, waiting, waiting… oh there it is!

But in its defence, the V8 sounds great. It's the sort of subdued eight-cylinder warble we'll all pine for by 2040 when internal combustion engines – and most certainly V8s – are very rare.

Factor in ride comfort that is almost without peer in this class and the Lexus LX 570 S is not an unpleasant vehicle to drive. Slow and thirsty, with wooly steering and average dynamics, yes. But despite riding on big 21-inch alloys, the wheels dip in and out of man hole covers and roll over road ructions with such poise and control you'll think you're in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, not a tizzied-up Toyota.

New front and rear 'performance' dampers are designed to give the Japanese juggernaut a little more dynamic sizzle but it's simply too heavy, too big and too tall to dance like Kevin Bacon in Footloose. In corners it feels ponderous and languid. As a cruiser however, it's excellent. Lexcellent? No, just no…

Driver assistance systems are in abundance here, with active radar cruise control, a pre-collision safety system with pedestrian detection, automatic LED headlights with adaptive auto-dipping high beams and a head-up display. It misses out on an automatic steering system, instead armed with a lane-departure warning system and blind-spot alert.

It might be bigger than Ben Hur, but the Lexus LX 570 S is a savvy operator in supermarket car parks, with rear cross-traffic alert offering an extra pair of eyes as you reverse out of your spot. There are four cameras originally designed for off-roading that work well in 'burbs, including a reversing camera and a top-down 360-degree surround-view that helps guide the car in and out of tight car parks.

If you ask me, Lexus pushes the upper echelons of interior quality in volume luxury car segments. For instance the leather-appointed upholstery is softer and smoother than almost any other European luxury brand, Bentley notwithstanding.

The quality of materials on offer, even in this LandCruiser-based behemoth, is very good, starting with the beautiful (heated) steering wheel that is a delight to lay hands on. Okay, so the instrument panel could use a bit more 21st-century LCD-inspired eye-candy but everything works as expected.

There's a large 12.3-inch infotainment screen that has plenty of functionality for the navigation, audio and trip computer systems, but it's controlled by the zany Lexus Remote Touch input system. This curious input system is like a tiny joystick and although I personally enjoy using it – because I like a challenge – I must concede there are better ways to navigate a menu system.

Lexus, it may be time to concede defeat and opt for a touchscreen setup.

Some neat touches have been incorporated into the LX 570 S' interior, including a massive cooler box in the central storage bin up front, which is deep enough to fit a 1.25L bottle of creaming soda. Thanks LandCruiser!

Electrically operated power front seats match up with a power sliding second row and the third row seats are electrically operated. Even great-grandma can operate this rig.

Quad-zone climate control allows half the car's occupants to adjust the temperature to their individual needs, while the front and outboard second-row seats are heated and cooled as well.

A 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system pumps out high-quality acoustics, whether it's Bob Dylan, Queen or the Wiggles and second-row passenger get a pair of large entertainment screens – complete with screen covers.

All occupants except those in the third row get a generous amount of room so if you're seeking to transport several bodies in luxury, this is one way to do it.

One or two issues caught me off guard, such as the wireless phone charger bay's small size. My iPhone 8 Plus wouldn’t fit and although you can always plug it in via USB cable, this useful and frequented feature is rendered obsolete for owners of large phones.

Virtually every aspect of the Lexus LX 570 S is refined to the nth degree – except the doors, which don't quite have the soft thud of an Audi Q7.

It's not the most dynamic nor the most fuel efficient mode of transport out there, its looks will put a lot of buyers off and if you poke around you'll find plenty of evidence of car's agricultural roots via its donor car, the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series.

Even so, the Lexus LX 570 S is an intriguing vehicle on several fronts and doesn't lack for luxury.

It has the kind of buttery smooth ride quality that's rare nowadays and it has a stronger warranty than its German rivals – lasting four years, not three. This angular beast should prove to be a trustworthy steed and although its V8 engine should probably have been put out to pasture years ago, it gives the big SUV the sort of character you'll remember.

But it's an expensive vehicle and if you're not too worried about the badge or the futuristic design, there's always the option of a LandCruiser Sahara.

There are plenty of options in the this price bracket and many of them more advanced than this, but if reliability, towing and people moving are high on your luxury SUV list – along with something that doesn't have a conventional image – the big Lexus might just grill your bacon.

How much does the Lexus LX 570 S cost?
Price: $168,089 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 5.7-litre eight-cylinder petrol
Output: 270kW/530Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 14.4L/100km (ADR Combined); 24.2L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 334g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A