Club Lexus Review: 2017 LX570, It’s All About Status
Big Grille, Big Cabin, Big Attitude and Big Price Tag. Is Lexus’ LX570 All That and the Kitchen Sink?
There comes a point when a vehicle has about everything you could imagine, and much more that you would ever need. Horsepower, luxury, technology and comfort features abound in vehicles in the $60k to $70k price range, and they’re usually pretty stellar.
Because this is a Lexus review, it’s fair to include the LS, RX and GS series as proper vehicles that are worth their sticker price. When it comes to the competition, there are several examples by Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi that stand out as regular “best buys” in said price range. In other words, you don’t typically need to spend over $70,000 to get a first-class vehicle and a luxurious driving experience. So why do people do it?
Status. People that can spend six figures without worrying about fuel-economy or insurance premiums love status, and that’s what the LX570 delivers. The press vehicle Lexus kindly loaned us for a week came with a $93,340 sticker price, and all the attitude in the world. We have no idea how much it would cost to insure such a beast, but we certainly couldn’t afford it. Furthermore, you’re probably wondering: What’s it like pretending to belong to the upper crust for a week? Well, let us tell you…
It’s Big
At nearly 200 inches long, 78 inches wide, and 75 inches tall, it’s not compact by any means. And tipping in at 6,000 pounds, it’s extremely heavy, too! In fact, to see just how heavy it is, you may want to check out our exclusive Club Lexus story on how I managed to get stuck on soggy grass due to its sheer weight!
The mass of the Lexus LX570 hampers lots of things, but none quite like it does fuel efficiency. During my week-long test I averaged 10.6 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway. That’s a deficit of 2.4 mpg city and 1 mpg highway, according to the EPA estimate.
One area where this behemoth shines is at maneuvering and parking. It’s hard to believe it, but Lexus worked wonders with the turning radius and overall dynamics. We’ve struggled more while parking a Honda Civic than this SUV. Of course, the 360-degree bird’s-eye view and backup camera make the task even easier.
It’s Glamorous
In the history of automobiles, glamour has never come cheap. The Lexus LX570 isn’t exactly a head turner like, say, the RC F, but it doesn’t go unnoticed. We mean, how could it? Arrive to your destination and the massive grille makes the initial introduction for you, and by the time you get out of it, people already know you mean business.
On the other hand, when this writer’s wife drove the LX around town, she perfectly fit the “rich soccer mom” stereotype. A stereotype only surpassed by Range Rovers and Escalades.
The 21-inch chromed wheels are shiny enough to dazzle bystanders, but not ostentatious enough to look gotti. On the other hand, opening the split tailgate screams, “single-piece tailgates are too cool and simplistic for me.”
It’s Comfortable and Powerful
Lexus’ 5.7-liter V8 engine cranks out 383 horsepower, which we initially thought would make for a relatively bland ride because of its weight to power ratio. It turns out that’s not the case — unless you’re on ECO-driving mode. On Comfort and Sport-Plus mode, the LX570 moves swiftly and quickly despite its weight. A stab at the throttle rewards you with silky-smooth acceleration reminiscent of a Rolls Royce. Oftentimes Lexus tends to subdue the engine in exchange for comfort, but not in the LX. There’s no hiding 403 lb-ft of torque and a 7,000 lb. towing capacity.
The 2017 Lexus LX570 is at home cruising on the highway, where it can easily maintain triple-digit speeds without creating the slightest turbulence. As you’d expect from a vehicle of this caliber, the cabin is quiet and plush. Definitely a vehicle to enjoy on long road trips, if you can afford the gas tab!
Standard Luxury
It’s hard to sum up the LX’s interior. It’s not opulent like most would expect, it’s not high-tech like the Germans, but it’s also not economy. For example, a direct competitor of the LX, the $90 grand Infiniti QX80 Limited, has a much more simplistic and almost economy-looking interior.
It’s nice, we suppose. The leather is supple, the center console isn’t great but it’s functional, and the seating position is alright. (The seat wouldn’t go as low as we’d like.) In fact, the only things that remind you that you’re driving a $94k SUV are the 12-inch center screen and the wood/leather steering wheel. Funny enough, the fancy steering wheel is 40 percent wood, which doesn’t feature heating coils inside it, so you really only have a 60 percent heated steering wheel.
The rear is about as spacious as it gets without crossing into limousine territory. The second row features built-in window shades and a control pad built into the armrest. From there, passengers can operate the rear climate system as well as the heated and cooled second row seats. The rear seats are the best seat in the house, period.
Verdict
It’s hard to sum up a vehicle like this. Making a case for buying an SUV this expensive and elaborate isn’t easy, and not just because of its price. It’s difficult because it really doesn’t excel at much, which in turn, makes it feel sort of worthless.
The 2017 Lexus LX570 doesn’t offer the driver any satisfaction at the wheel. It’s smooth and powerful, but it doesn’t evoke any emotion. It’s the same story for the passenger. There aren’t massaging seats, heated or cooled cup holders, or even adjustable armrests. In the back, kids do without a rear entertainment center (optional!), and there aren’t even any ottomans. Yes, we just went there — ottomans! These are the kind of things you expect when you spend nearly six figures on an SUV.
Lastly, the split tailgate is a pain in the rear, and so are the lateral folding third-row seats (though they are power-folding). In the end, the only reason to buy the Lexus LX570 is because you absolutely don’t care about anything that we just said. Oh, and it’s rather handsome, and it can off-road like a champ (with the appropriate tires).
So there you have it — status. That’s the reason why you’d by the 2017 Lexus LX570.
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