Car Review: 2014 Lexus LX570

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Lexus has been upfront with the innovations and capabilities of the 2014 Lexus LX570, and for very good reason. The Lexus LX was the first premium, full-capability prestige three-row luxury utility vehicle, and the latest edition wears the bold, brand signature spindle grille front design. We had a full week to test this hulking SUV to find out exactly what you can get for close to 90K these days!

EXTERIOR

You will notice the 2014 Lexus LX570 immediately once you see this beast on the road, and with the sleek designs of Lexus brand vehicles these days, this SUV goes in a different direction. There is a true off-road look to the LX 570, which is fine, but you kind of get the feeling that this huge SUV might have came out of the 90s. There are also some very good looking exterior features on the Lexus LX570, such as a very aggressive-looking front fascia and a high-end side view. The 20-inch, 5-spoke wheels with liquid graphite finish really pop on this SUV. At night, you can see the LX570 from afar with the high intensity discharge headlamps (HID) and integrated fog lamps with LED daytime running lights and LED tail lamps. We also liked the illuminated running boards with tow hitch and ball mount.

INTERIOR

There is as much leather as a Texas boot shop in the cabin of the 2014 Lexus LX570! The Luxury package delivered semi-aniline leather trimmed interior with contrast stitching, driver and passenger heated and ventilated seats with second row heated seats, center console mounted cool box, smart access card key and wood-trimmed door switch plates. When full 8-passenger seating is not needed, the Lexus LX 570 can open up a large, useful cargo area. With the 50/50 split power-retractable third row seat folded into the floor, the LX 570 provides 41 cu. ft. of carrying space, and this expands to 83.1 cu. ft. with the 40/20/40 split middle row folded. The clamshell-design tailgate, which features a power upper section, is much more versatile than a typical one-piece hatch. Cutting-edge multimedia abounds in the Lexus LX 570, providing something for everyone onboard. Lexus Enform can make a compatible Bluetooth smartphone even smarter. The available Enform service, with Destination Assist, eDestination and App Suite, comes with the Navigation System/Mark Levinson Audio Package. Lexus Enform provides access to the subscription-free App Suite. These voice-enabled apps let you search the Internet through Bing, make restaurant reservations through OpenTable, get movie tickets via MovieTickets.com, listen to Internet radio including Pandora and iHeartRadio, search business reviews on Yelp, and check in on Facebook Places.

Lexus Enform with Safety Connect is available by subscription. Complimentary one-year trial subscriptions are available on all purchases of new Lexus vehicles equipped with these features. Safety Connect is standard on all vehicles, while Lexus Enform with Safety Connect is on all vehicles equipped with the optional Navigation system. The Lexus Enform and the Safety Connect response centers operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. Lexus Enform vehicles are factory ready for subscriptions to a variety of innovative SiriusXM services, including NavTraffic, NavWeather, Sports, Stocks and Fuel Prices. SiriusXM services offer complimentary one-year trial data subscription.

Whatever the suspension setting, everyone aboard rides in the lap of luxury, as the Lexus LX 570 comes equipped with such standard amenities as a driver’s 14-way power adjustable front seat, four-zone independent climate control, front power seat cushion extenders, navigation system, a rear back-up camera, a power-sliding second-row seat and power-retractable third-row seat. The LX 570 can even help make getting in and out of the vehicle easier. When the ignition is turned off, the Easy Access system automatically retracts the steering wheel and moves the driver’s seat rearward. Both return to their preset memory positions the next time the driver is seated and turns on the ignition. Active Height Control, which is engaged for off-road travel, lowers the LX 570 by about two inches to assist when entering or exiting. Normal height resumes automatically when the vehicle begins to accelerate.

The standard navigation system features Voice Command casual-language voice recognition. Music plays in the LX 570 via iPod/USB connectivity, HD Radio with iTunes tagging, and streaming music via Bluetooth through a nine-speaker Lexus Premium Sound system or the available, sonically stunning 19-speaker, 450-watt Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound audio system. An available dual screen rear seat entertainment system allows two sources to be viewed at the same time. A 120-volt power outlet in the middle row can power a video game, laptop computer or other device.

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PERFORMANCE

The LX 570’s capability to handle heavy loads and rutted roads is rooted in its high-strength body-on-frame construction and plenty of power. The 5.7-liter V8 engine produces 383 horsepower and 403 lb.-ft. of torque and is teamed to a six-speed automatic transmission with standard, full-time four-wheel drive. Ninety percent of peak torque comes on stream at just 2,200 rpm, giving the LX 570 exceptional responsiveness and also making it an outstanding tow vehicle.

The full-time four-wheel drive system in the Lexus LX 570 employs a Torsen limited-slip locking center differential that splits the power 40:60 under normal driving conditions. The rearward power bias contributes to on-road agility. The Torsen differential responds to changing conditions, adjusting the power distribution as necessary, with no input needed from the driver. The driver can, however, lock the center differential to handle especially challenging off-road trails. Working in concert with the 4WD system, the four-wheel Active Traction Control system (A-TRAC) helps to control wheel slip. The Multi-Terrain Select system lets the driver select the type of terrain — Rock, Rock & Dirt, Mogul, Loose Rock or Mud & Sand – to optimize Active Traction Control. A driver-selectable low range for the transmission, something many other luxury SUVs lack, provides low-speed crawling capability for handling steep off-road declines. Shifting into low range engages Active Height Control, which raises the vehicle to increase ground clearance by two inches.

Low-range capability is augmented by Crawl Control with Turn Assist and Hill-Start Assist Control. Crawl Control carefully manipulates the throttle and brakes to help maintain a steady slow, even pace on steep declines or while maneuvering over rough, uneven or difficult surfaces. The Hill-Start Assist Control can prevent the LX 570 from rolling backward when moving from a stop on an incline. While on trails, the LX 570’s Turn Assist feature helps tighten the vehicle turning circle by applying brake force to the inside rear wheel. The Variable Gear Ratio Steering gives the LX 570 optimal steering response in slow, rugged trail driving situations and enhances directional control in highway driving.

What’s really remarkable about the Lexus LX 570’s capability is that it’s paired with the brand’s renowned silken ride quality. High-strength construction establishes the foundation for such comfort, and it’s aided here by Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS). This technology continually adjusts the shock absorber damping rates on the move, ensuring optimal comfort even as the road surface changes. Selectable Comfort, Normal and Sport modes allow the driver to tailor the system’s ride firmness and comfort.

OVERVIEW

There is so much in and out of the 2014 Lexus LX570 with the luxury package as tested that we could go on for quite some time here. There is a serious investment with a sticker price of $88,645, but one would be hard-pressed to find a vehicle like the 2014 Lexus LX570 in today’s market. If you need what the LX570 can deliver, you should also be okay with a somewhat dismal 12mpg in the city and 17mpg in highways driving, but we suspect that those buyers in the market for this SUV aren’t expecting big time fuel efficiency.