Road Tested: The LX 570 is an 83k Bargain

The premium large-size luxury SUV segment remains a relatively small one mainly because of the audience size here in the US, where the main players include the Mercedes GL, Audi Q7, Infiniti QX80, Cadillac Escalade, and Lexus LX 570. The LX 570 carries a relatively high price tag and sales volume is relatively low by comparison, but it continues to be considered as one of the best SUVs out there. What’s so special about it?

History and Background

Everyone knows Toyota manufactures a wide range of vehicles globally. Among the different type of vehicles, they are actually one of the leaders in off-roading vehicles. They not only design and build some of the most capable off-road machines for the toughest terrains; they the are legendarily reliable. People love how these vehicles get the jobs done without missing a beat.

Here in the US, Land Cruiser is the top of the line Toyota with a base MSRP of $80k. The Lexus LX 570 is a close sibling of the Land Cruiser, and while they  share the same body-on-frame platform and drivetrain, most of the body panels are actually completely different. But even with all the extra luxury touches and amenities, the starting price of the LX 570 is “only” $83k. From that sense the LX 570 is quite a bargain already.

No vehicle is perfect, and the LX 570 is no exception to that rule. Some complain that other Lexus models received updated steering wheels design but the LX 570 facelift still uses the old style. Others have complained that being the premium model, the LX 570 still doesn’t have LED headlights as an option. Then some would question why car of this size still doesn’t have BSM (blind spot monitor). I might as well complain that the gas door cover is somehow on the passenger side which is different from the other Lexus models.

Really, you have to drill down to all tiny  details in order to find things you don’t like about the car. Or in other words, that’s how good the car is.

 Exterior and Interior 

When the LX570 received its mid-cycle updates last year, it already received the signature spindle grille which, given the vehicle’s proportions, works extremely well. It makes the front look larger and more aggressive compared to the previous, more humble look. While the car doesn’t receive LED headlights, the fog lights are have been upgraded to LED.

Simply put, the Mark Levinson Reference Sound system is phenomenal .

Currently only two Lexus vehicles receive this highest treatment, the other being the LS460. In recent years, the Mark Levinson audio systems in other Lexus models don’t seem as impressive as they once were. The system in the 2007-2009 LS was exceptionally strong, but for some reason after that the system seem toned down. But the one in the LX570 is still very well implemented especially given the large interior size. The sound is crisp, clear and the base is very strong. Even with volume cranked up there wasn’t any noticeable distortion.

Although the LX 570 is only about 5 inches longer than the GX 470, space management is far superior. The third row seats, while not as spacious as the second row, still provide respectable head, shoulder, and leg rooms. Especially with second row pushed forward slightly, there isn’t really much of a problem for passengers in third row on longer trips.

The second row seats can be flipped forward and up for a larger cargo space overall, and even with third row seats in place, there is still some room behind them to hold small luggage.

Around Town

It’s not easy to push a 6000lb vehicle around but the LX 570’s V8 does it effortlessly. Compared to the GX 46–which occasionally struggles with power– the larger more powerful engine in the LX 570 makes sure the car is able to gain speed under all circumstances. It doesn’t matter if it’s from a dead stop, local street speed, or highway speed, a slight press on the gas and the car pulls forward strongly. The car also does it in such a smooth and quiet fashion; you don’t even feel the engine is trying hard at all.

The ride quality is simply sensational in the LX 570. The suspension system provides a very forgiving ride and allows the cabin to be relatively isolated from the road even when going over uneven rocky surface. There are settings between comfort and sport which provide subtle changes on the ride quality and performance.

There is one interesting characteristic with the LX 570 suspension compared to the GX 460. For some reason when going over uneven roads or speed bumps, the LX 570 tends to have a little more sideway shaking compared to the GX 460. Moreover, possibly because of the 20″ wheels, the LX570 also seem to have a bit more road noise than the GX 460, but at the same time less wind noise.

Moving 6000lb is hard but stopping 6000lb is even harder. The brakes on the LX 570 does a decent job but on the soft side. The brake pedals also have relatively mushy feeling. It would be better if the brakes feel firmer and provide stronger initial bite. Fading was at a minimal even after long trips which is a good thing.

Given the 800lb difference, I really did not expect the LX 570 to handle any better than the GX 460, however reality proved me otherwise. It could be the wider body, the fatter tires, or even the air suspension, but the LX 570 is more stable on curves, a little more precise on steering, and even on hard corners, the car seems to stick to the ground and respond better.

At the same time, given its sheer size, the LX 570 is not an easy car to drive. By comparison, the GX 460 doesn’t feel any harder to drive than the RX350, but the LX 570 feels quite a bit larger than the GX 460. Especially when making tight turns and getting into parking spots, the LX 570 definitely requires more effort and skills.

Of course, there is a price for everything. Gas mileage is not pretty on the LX 570. Even when I tried hard, pure highway driving only yielded around 18mpg. With mixed driving the gas mileage quickly drops to 15mpg. Local driving really takes a toll as it drops quickly to 11 or 12mpg.

 True Cost of Ownership

I have been asked a lot by people without knowledge on the history of Land Cruiser or the LX whether the car is worth the typical $90k sticker price. True, there is no doubt about the price. The car is actually the shortest among Q7, QX80, Escalade, or the GL and offer slightly less space in some cases especially in the rear. But the car does offer superior interior design and comfort for maximum luxury feel. The car is also powerful and has great handling, not to mention that on the odd days when you want to go through mud and rock climbing, the car will likely does the job without breaking a sweat.

But one thing most people miss is the resale value, not many realize just how strong it is for the LX 570. While the vehicle is never in high demand domestically, the LX 570 is in huge demand globally. Lexus simply can’t build enough Land Cruiser and LX570. Therefore instead of the usual 50% depreciation on luxury vehicle prices, the LX 570 easily maintains 60-70% residual value over 3 years.

Taking this into consideration and the LX570 suddenly becomes an incredibly attractive option. Of course, the admission ticket is still expensive. So if you are looking for a large SUV, care about the overall value, and have the initial capital for the buy-in? The LX570 should be high up on your list.