Range Rover is possibly the first manufacturer that springs to mind when talk turns to large, super luxury SUVs. Of course, Toyota has a very significant player in the form of its Land Cruiser 200. In the Toyota range it is offered with the choice of a 4,6-litre V8 petrol or a 4,5-litre V8 turbodiesel.
And then there is this, the Lexus LX570. Based on first impressions the LX570 might seem like a mere nip-and-tuck job of the Toyota, but, that is fortunately not the case. As you might have gathered from the name, the Lexus is not fitted with the same V8 engine as the Toyota, but a much bigger, and more powerful, 5,7-litre developing 270 kW at 5 600 r/min and 530 N.m at 3 200 r/min.
Design
The LX’s brash design will split opinion, without a doubt. Although it is quite clear that the Lexus is based on the 200, it features a lot more “bling”. The spindle grille is a recent addition and brings the LX in line with other Lexus models, while the nose section as a whole is sharper than the Toyota’s, and less generic. This theme is continued along the side of the vehicle where the test car’s side steps gave this SUV a much lower stance. However, being painted the same metallic body colour as the car, you might not want to venture too far off the beaten track, as the steps will undoubtedly get damaged rather quickly. That said, the Lexus is equipped with almost every possible 4×4 technology imaginable, should you wish to go on a serious off-road trip. Maybe just remove those side steps first.
Interior
Jump inside, and although there are several switches and buttons that are shared with the Land Cruiser, Lexus’ designers have done a reasonably good job in giving this model its own personality. The entire centre console and facia is different compared with the Toyota. The switches for the drivetrain settings and off-road systems are neatly stacked next to one another in a row.
Although the pictures above show the interior in a lighter beige colour, the test unit had the darker, and more practical, interior trim. The seating position is high and affords perfect outwards visibility – needed, since the LX is huge (5 005 mm long, 1 970 mm wide) and you don’t want to end up playing guessing games where the corners of car are.
The level of attention to detail in the LX is also noticeable. The interior door handles have a smooth and flowing design and the wood trim on the steering wheel, transmission tunnel and other places contributes to the upper-class ambiance.
On the road
My time behind the wheel was spent only on the highways of Gauteng, which is probably just as well – this is where most SUVs of this nature will spend their time anyway! One of the first things any driver (or occupant) will notice are the low levels of wind and road noise, followed quickly by the superbly absorbent ride. Here the 285/50 R20 size tyres definitely have a roll to play.
This is no performance SUV, but even so I was a little disappointed with the straight-line acceleration on offer, as the engine appears to take a while to “wake up”. That said, be forceful with the throttle pedal and you’ll eventually unlock the power. Far better, however, is to sit back, relax and let the LX570 transport you in a very high level of comfort at a respectable pace.
Summary
Make no mistake; the LX570 has all the bells and whistles. These include four-wheel active height control that is connected to the air-suspension, and which manages the ride height according to the terrain. This is only one of several helpful off-road technologies that the driver can play with manually or which is automatically active. Furthermore, the LX is spacious and the kids in the second row of seats will have a ball watching their DVDs on the screens on the long drive to the coast. If the need arises there is even a third row of seats that can be folded down.
This Lexus is playing in a segment that has been dominated by Range Rover for years. With the new Range Rover arriving in SA within weeks, the Lexus LX570, impressive as it is in some areas, will have its work cut out to even more.
Specifications*
Model: Lexus LX570
Engine: 5,7-litre, V8, petrol
Power: 270 kW at 5 600 r/min
Torque: 530 N.m at 3 200 r/min
0-100 km/h: 7,8 seconds
Fuel consumption: 14,8 L/100 km
Fuel tank capacity: 93 litres
CO2: 350g/km
Top speed: 220 km/h
Price: R1 178 600
Service plan: 4 years/100 000 km
Warranty: 4 years/100 000 km
Service intervals: 10 000 km
*According to the manufacturer
