How I Got Lexus’ Most Capable Off-Roader Stuck on Wet Grass

By Jerry Perez - January 30, 2017

Perhaps Due to Its Whale-ish Size and Weight, the 2017 Lexus LX570 Also Gets Beached

It all started in 2015 when I had the opportunity to tackle an off-road course aboard a 2016 Lexus LX 570. My professional guide sat on the passenger seat as he dictated the best line around the rocky terrain. He also advised me on the various off-road controls. Together, and with the help of several high-tech nannies, we conquered gnarly hills in the Texas Hill Country. As a result, I was in love.

What’s not to love about a luxury SUV that looks like Darth Vader himself? One that can climb jagged hills and cross deep river streams, all while surrounding you in supple luxury. If you don’t think the Lexus LX 570 is all that capable off road, just watch this video of it tackling the Grand Canyon.

With all this in mind, did I think twice to park my 2017 Lexus LX 570 press car on wet grass? Of course not!

Last night, I gave the Lexus LX 570 a proper wash and headed out with the family to tour my daughter’s future high school campus. By the time we arrived, parking was limited, so I followed suit and parked on a stretch of grass parallel to the road, as others had done. I remember getting a “mushy” feeling through the steering wheel, but then again, what surface other than concrete wouldn’t feel mushy with a 6,000 lb. behemoth on top of it?

Shortly after going inside, it started raining pretty heavily. My only concern was that it stopped raining before it was time to head out. And it did! Two hours later, we walked back toward the car anxious to head home. Nothing caught my eye initially. However, I noticed the rain had made things a bit muddy and slippery, but nothing to be alarmed of. We hopped in, buckled up, and put it in gear.

Uh, Wait a Minute…

“What the heck?” I said. My wife responded, “What’s wrong?” I looked at the shifter to make sure I was in gear, because I could hear the engine rev but we weren’t moving. Then it hit me: We were stuck. I don’t mean slipping and sliding, trying to power-slide out of our spot. I mean we weren’t moving an inch. Right away, I thought, no biggie, I’ll lock the differential and put it on 4-low. I did, and we did not move an inch. Okay? I was starting to fear the worst, and by this time the parking lot was nearly deserted.

My kids and wife helped by standing on the running boards and rocking the vehicle side to side. Sadly, three females adding up to 240 pounds didn’t even tickle the situation. And pushing the luxury mammoth was nearly impossible.

I proceeded to activate the crawl-control, chose the mud setting and set it on the lowest speed possible. I put it in gear and let technology do its magic. But after 30 seconds of weird clunking noises…nothing.

It was at that point that we gave up. I hated that such a capable SUV sported Dunlop GrandTrek tires, which are far from capable for anything other than highway driving. Even so, TireRack rates the $385 rubbers two out of five stars due to ride quality and reliability.

We found ourselves stranded on a leveled chunk of grass, muddy and beached.

On day two of my seven-day test of the 2017 Lexus LX570, my nearly $100,000 SUV had to be pulled to dry land by a Ford Super Duty pickup. Embarrassing? Yeah, just a bit.

What will the next five days bring? Stay tuned to Club Lexus.