Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
With a full week of family events on the agenda, the 2020 Lexus LX 570 5-DR SUV arrived right on time. I planned on using every cubic inch of the vehicle to get around the passengers and all of our precious cargo. An added plus is that we were now able to do this in style being that Lexus is no doubt a luxury brand. The Lexus LX is a full-size luxury SUV that has been sold by Lexus since January 1996. All based around the Toyota Land Cruiser, the LX has produced three generations. The LX 570 debuted at the New York International Auto Show in April 2007 as a complete redesign for the 2008 model year. The LX name stands for “Luxury Crossover”. The LX is Lexus’ largest and most expensive luxury SUV.
The exterior of the LX definitely steps in the luxurious look of the SUV and sparked conversations with many onlookers about the versatility between on road and off road. We received a LX with the Sport Package for review. Standard the LX is tall and wide but the Sport Package gives it an exclusive sport grille that prominently stands out, front spoilers, and a sport rear valance. The Sport Package also gives the LX chrome-accent side mirror caps, a black headliner and 21-inch rims alloy wheels. An integrated tow hitch receiver is standard along with a power moonroof, triple-beam LED headlamps, aluminum roof rails, a power rear door and running boards with integrated courtesy lights. The LX projector door lamps were a nice added touch to. Those are a part of the Luxury Package that I will touch on later.
The interior of the LX fit the luxury look of the exterior. The leather seating is comfortable and the model we reviewed came with the third row. The LX has seating for eight people in three rows. I really enjoyed how the LX’s third row of seats fold to the side, not into the floor. I had a lot of things to tote around and this allowed me the benefit of a flat cargo floor. The second row of seats is a 40/20/40-split design, while the third row has a 50/50 split.
The LX comes with power front seats, four-zone climate control and a power-sliding second row of seats. I like that the second-row glides back but with child safety seats installed on them, the front seats still have to be pushed up some. The Luxury package includes heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, four-zone climate control, puddle lamps, a heated wood steering wheel, a head-up display, wireless charging, and a 19-speaker Mark Levinson stereo. I did miss having a center console to drop things inside but a cooling box to keep my drinks cold was good substitution.
The infotainment system is sufficient but not praise worthy. There was both a touch screen and physical controls. I did not enjoy the graphics and the overall layout. Apple CarPlay smartphone integration technology is available but not Android Auto. On a positive note, features like Amazon Alexa, an 12.3-inch touch screen, Siri Eyes Free, HD Radio, Bluetooth, navigation, a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, and the Lexus Enform App Suite. The 19-speaker Mark Levinson sound system was a highlight to the package with its’ studio quality sound. Two USB ports have been added to the second-row so now passengers can charge their phones. There is a total of four USB ports now. There is also subscription-free traffic and weather updates via HD radio,
The 5.7-liter V-8 kicks out 383 horsepower and 403 lb-ft through and an eight-speed automatic transmission that is on full-time four-wheel drive. The V-8 packs a punch when going uphill and comfortable on the open road. The SUV was a bit sluggish in regards to throttle response on the highway and the handling is not dynamic. The LX has enough power for your commute or a road trip but be prepared to spend more gas money at the pump because it is a gas-guzzler reporting 12 mpg in the city, 16 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg combined. The LX has a large 24.6-gallon gas tank with a cruising range around 344 miles.
Safety is key for Lexus so for 2020 the Lexus Safety System+ comes standard in the vehicles. The package comes with a long list of safety tools such as pre-collision system/ automatic front braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, rear view camera, intelligent high-beams, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, a driver attention monitor, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and high-speed dynamic radar cruise control are part of the deal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have crash tested the 2020 GX.
The LX sits in a competitive class amongst the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, Infiniti QX 80 and the Cadillac Escalade. When it comes to warranty coverage, Lexus outpaces rivals such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz with a limited warranty that covers 4 years or 50,000 miles, a powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles and complimentary maintenance that covers for 1 year or 10,000 miles. The top-of-the-line 2020 LX 570 5-DR SUV that we reviewed comes in at $103,224.00. The LX 570 is luxurious in style and built for comfort as a family ride. Buyers will be satisfied as Lexus has hit the mark. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
