Lexus LX 600 F Sport Review: The Best LX Still Lacks Refinement
The Lexus LX 600 F Sport Handling is a premium SUV with improved handling and driving dynamics. But where’s the refinement?
The 2022 Lexus LX 600 debuted in 2021 to worldwide acclaim. The first fully-new flagship Lexus SUV since the 2008 model year, the LX 600 featured a new lighter, more rigid platform, twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 engine, and a revamped, more modern interior with an updated infotainment system. But long-time Lexus customers were concerned about dropping the 5.7L ‘3UR-FE’ V8 engine, one of the most reliable and refined motors in modern history. And, after reviewing the Ultra Luxury variant, we ultimately came away unimpressed with its handling characteristics and pricing (for an admittedly niche trim for limo drivers). And so it was in this context, as a Manganese Luster LX 600 F Sport Handling pulled into my driveway, we wondered if the F Sport Handling package could address our early complaints.
F Sport Handling: What You Need to Know
For 2023, the LX 600 starts at just over $92 grand. The Premium grade adds a few niceties and costs another eight before optional colors, packages, and accessories. Next up the ladder, the F-Sport Handling grade starts at $106 grand, effectively combining Premium features with sportier suspension and wheels plus unique exterior interior and exterior design elements. Here are the highlights —
- A Torsen limited-slip center differential (helps sends traction to the wheel or wheels with the most traction)
- F Sport adaptive variable suspension
- F Sport rear stabilizer bar
- F Sport heated and ventilated front seats with driver’s seat memory
- 22″ forged aluminum wheels
- 4-zone Climate Concierge with Cool Box
- Heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs
- Blacked-out front grilles
- Ambient lighting
Along with its Circuit Red semi-aniline leather and Hadori Aluminum trim interior, our loaner model included the optional Active Height Control, 25-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, cross bars, carpet cargo mat, wheel locks, and premium paint color. The total MSRP comes in just under $111,000 if you were to spec one just like it.
For pricing context in these inflationary times, a 2023 LX 600 F Sport costs roughly $8,000 more than a 2021 LX 570 Luxury grade.
Power, Suspension & Technology Upgraded
Let’s first compare the LX 600 to the LX 570, and then circle back to the F Sport Handling of it all.
Compared to the outgoing 5.7L V8, the new LX 600 produces 26 horsepower and 76 lb.-ft. of torque in a vehicle that weighs roughly 440 pounds less than the outgoing LX 570. This results in a 6.7-second 0-60 time, which is 0.6 seconds quicker, as measured by Motor Trend. Drop the hammer and the LX 600 isn’t as quick as, say, a Ford Expedition, but the new variant feels more authoritative than previous generation LXs, thanks to the way twin-turbos improve lower-end torque. (The brakes, however, are still mediocre.)
On the inside, the LX 600 also takes a massive leap forward when it comes to things like wireless Apple CarPlay and additional charging ports. The optional Mark Levinson stereo sounds pretty good too. And, thankfully, Lexus engineers kept a few carryover favorites, like the optional center console Cooling Box. The seating is plush, stylish, and comfortable with heated and ventilated front captain’s chairs as well as optional heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs.
Oddly, the front seats aren’t nearly as well bolstered and supportive as the typical Lexus F Sport front buckets (perhaps due to the LX 600’s tallness?).
On the road, the LX 600 F Sport Handling feels more planted than its siblings (and the previous generations). Where the Ultra Luxury tends to sway and wallow, the F Sport Handling is more stable and sure without any sense of sacrificed comfort. The driver who delivered our press loaner described the experience as “driving on a cloud.” And that’s not too far off. In short, the F Sport suspension tuning and the added rear stabilizer bar (not present on other models) make for a noticeable improvement.
Still, despite being the best-driving LX of the year and the one we’d recommend buying, we should point out that dubbing this large, tall, floaty SUV as “F Sport Handling” is a bit of a stretch. In other words, don’t expect to corner at high speeds akin to a German performance SUV. It’s still very much a Lexus in that regard. Which, for many LX buyers, will be exactly what they want in a luxury SUV.
Where’s the Refinement?
The overall combination of its stylish exterior, updated technology, and improved F Sport driving experience is net-positive. However, we still came away wondering if the LX 600 is refined enough for its luxury SUV class. And if it lives up to the high standards of Lexus refinement established when the brand first launched.
At the heart of the issue is the updated drivetrain. Twin-turbo V6s are terrific for towing, and, when driven mildly, sipping fuel. But they’re not as smooth as naturally aspirated V8s. This contributes to additional NVH (noise, vibrations, harmonics) which makes its way into the cabin. Toss in the auto start-stop feature, which temporarily turns off the engine while you’re stopped at lights, and it’s even more obtrusive. The LX’s transmission is also a bit fussy; better overall than the outgoing six-speed, but it loathes quick stops and starts. And while the suspension is pretty good overall, we still think too much road vibration comes in from the 22-inch wheels.
In terms of interior refinement, we’d argue that the LX lags behind other luxury SUVs from brands like Audi, Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes, and Cadillac. Naturally, those brands have other issues you won’t typically find in a Toyota product, but still, their interiors are wonderful. By contrast, the LX’s touch surfaces are less sumptuous. The stereo’s enjoyable but not amazing. And there are other missing features like massaging front seats that are common on vehicles in this price range.
Final Thoughts
The Lexus LX 600 improves on the LX 570 in many ways. And, in our experience, the F Sport is the best-driving variant currently available with its improved suspension setup. It’s also a better driver than the previous generation in terms of stability.
However, several key factors detract from the newer LX’s sense of overall luxury and refinement. The interior quality, while a step up from its Toyota siblings, lags behind other luxury SUVs. And the drivetrain itself — a twin-turbocharged V6 with auto start-stop — lacks a certain smoothness one comes to expect with flagship Lexus models.
In short, it’s a good SUV. But it’s not a great SUV. Nor is it a great F Sport Handling Lexus product.
In truth, we’d recommend grabbing the Toyota Sequoia with its more powerful and economical hybrid powertrain. It’s less fancy with more, of course, but offers a little more overall value thanks to its hybrid drivetrain. And the TRD Pro model is a blast to drive off-road and on the highway.
Photos: Michael S. Palmer
