2024 Lexus LX SUV

　　

2024 Lexus LX Review

byJosh JacquotCorrespondent

　　Josh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　As the Lexus flagship, the LX envelops occupants in leather and serenity like few other vehicles. It's available in four-, five- and seven-seat versions; it offers ample power and buttery acceleration; and it can tow 8,000 pounds. But not even the LX's premium build quality and safe-room silence can make its driving experience as fun or as modern as most of its competitors.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Lexus LX 600 4dr SUV 4WD (3.4L 6cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$245/mo  for LX 600

　　LX 600

　　600 4dr SUV 4WD (3.4L 6cyl Turbo 10A) - $92,565 MSRP600 Premium 4dr SUV 4WD (3.4L 6cyl Turbo 10A) - $100,515 MSRP600 F SPORT Handling 4dr SUV 4WD (3.4L 6cyl Turbo 10A) (Most Popular) - $106,775 MSRP600 Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (3.4L 6cyl Turbo 10A) - $108,515 MSRP600 Ultra Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (3.4L 6cyl Turbo 10A) - $133,140 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Beautiful, well finished and … heavy

Lexus isn't messing around when it comes to making the LX luxurious. The top trim — the appropriately named Luxury version — comes with amenities reserved only for ultra-high-end vehicles. It sacrifices the third row — in a massive SUV, remember — to accommodate second-row seats that recline nearly flat. But even lesser trims wrap leather around nearly every surface, and not many vehicles today offer a 25-speaker, 2,400-watt audio system. Still, the LX can't escape physics. Its height and weight conspire to relieve the big SUV of any fun that its 409-hp twin-turbocharged V6 may have injected into the driving experience. The LX wallows on freeway on-ramps and struggles with less-than-smooth corners, two aspects of handling most competitors have tamed.

　　

Competitors to consider

There's no shortage of three-row luxury SUVs, many of which start at a lower price than the LX. Our favorites include the Mercedes-Benz GLS, which directly addresses our biggest gripe with the LX: It handles like a smaller and more manageable vehicle. The Lincoln Navigator, BMW X7 and Cadillac Escalade all offer plush, leather-clad, three-row "luxtility."

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　7.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the LX drive? The off-road capability of this 6,000-pound SUV is undeniably impressive, but it isn't very enjoyable to drive on a daily basis. The turbocharged V6 is powerful and the 10-speed automatic has smooth upshifts, so no problems there. The steering and braking are uninspiring, though, compromised by the sheer size of the LX. The steering feels heavy and disconnected, while the brakes feel lazy under a light foot and then too grabby as you apply more pressure.

　　Handling is also disappointing. The LX 600 leans dramatically as you drive around turns and feels unstable, especially if you drive over a midcorner bump. There's a general unwillingness to change direction with any urgency.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the LX? The LX's comfort and quiet clash with its floaty and uncontrolled highway ride. The excellent front seats are wide, cushy and supportive. They're built like armchairs and great for long drives. Get in that executive-style second-row passenger-side seat of the Ultra Luxury trim and you'll feel like you're in business class on a transcontinental flight. It's excellent and even tall adults can recline almost flat. The Lexus LX is also very quiet, and the climate system can cool and heat the cabin quickly.

　　The ride, however, seems very out of place in such an expensive rig. Lexus' available height-adjustable suspension soaks up bumps, but you feel bouncy and floaty on freeway surfaces and it can be slightly nauseating.

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