2018 Toyota Lexus LX 570 Review

The 2018 Toyota LX 570 is a luxury SUV available in two configurations: a three-row regular model seating eight passengers or a new two-row LX 570 seating five passengers.

Both are equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine (383 horsepower, 403 pound-feet of torque), an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive. Additionally, a height-adjustable adaptive suspension that automatically balances the load is standard.

Additionally, 20-inch wheels, Crawl Control (a low-speed off-road cruise control), Multi-Terrain Select (off-road vehicle settings), and hill start aid are included as standard mechanical components.

Interior

There is plenty of space, and the enormous door apertures, handholds, and broad running boards make it easy to enter and exit. In general, visibility is decent. 

However certain audio, navigation, and climatic settings are difficult to make with the Remote Touch interface.

There is plenty of headroom and elbow room. Passengers in the second row may also stretch out thanks to the sliding and reclining seats. The third-row seats are spacious in terms of headroom but limited in terms of width and legroom. Back there, the kids should be alright.

The build quality is great, as expected from a Lexus. Inside, the interior material choices and assembly quality are difficult to criticize.

Cargo Space

When the second-row seats are folded down, the five-seater vehicle has a total cargo capacity of 53.7 cubic feet. The three-row variant has reduced cargo space, with 41.6 cubic feet behind the second row due to third-row seats that only fold to the sides of the cargo bay, compared to 16.3 cubic feet with all three rows in place. When all of the rear seats are folded down (and the third-row items in the eight-seater are physically removed), you’ll have 81.3 cubic feet of space thanks to the 120-volt socket in the back. The trunk has a split liftgate-tailgate configuration, which is convenient for loading but makes reaching deep items difficult.

Exterior 

The LX 570 attracts attention wherever it goes. The 2018 LX is equipped with superior triple-beam LED headlamps, intelligent high beams, and electrochromic (auto-dimming) exterior mirrors with courtesy lights, as well as 20-inch aluminum wheels machined in dark gray. Running boards with integrated courtesy lights are included in the standard profile, as are aluminum roof rails. This SUV also comes with a built-in tow hitch receiver.

Safety Features

The Lexus Safety System+, which comprises a pre-collision system with pedestrian recognition, all-speed dynamic radar, cruise control, lane departure alert, and intelligent high lights, is standard on the LX 570. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, intelligent parking assist, a panoramic view monitor, and a multi-terrain monitor are also standard across the range. The Enform Safety Connect and Service Connect packages are included for the first 10 years of ownership, and there are ten airbags throughout the cabin.

Dimensions 

The LX 570 spans a length of 200-inches with 112.2-inches between the wheels. At 78-inches in width, it stands 75.20-inches tall and has a ground clearance of  8.9-inches.

Handling and Braking

A luxury car should ride nicely, and the Lexus LX does just that. But handling is a different matter. The LX is poised around curves but has a perceptible body lean if you take them quickly. The steering feels a little imprecise. There is a standard Drive Mode Select system that offers three suspension settings: Comfort, Sport S, and Sport S+.

Offroad Capability 

When looking for a decent off-road SUV, people typically don’t think of Lexus, but you shouldn’t discount this LX. It has a full-time four-wheel drive, crawl control, an adjustable suspension, a locking center differential, and a two-speed transfer case. Additionally, it has a terrain selection system that lets you choose between five different types of terrain for the SUV’s traction control: rock, rock and dirt, loose rock, mogul, and mud and sand. One of the best off-road SUVs in its class is the LX.

What we like about the 2018 Lexus Lx 570 

• High off-road capability
• Premium interior
• Big on space, comfort, and features

What we don’t 

• Poor fuel economy

Cost of Ownership 

The 2018 Lexus Lx retails at around Ksh 7 million for a two-row and 10 million Ksh for a three-row. 

Conclusion 

The LX 570 is available in two variants with limited customization choices. If you have children, the three-row version is preferable to the current two-row model. Additionally, the three-row is available with a phenomenal Mark Levinson sound system. However, avoid the rear-seat entertainment system, as its screens prohibit the second-row seats from sliding entirely forward allowing access to the third row.