2014 Lexus LX570
The 2014 Lexus LX570 is
among the most versatile SUVs.
Price: $81,780
The 2014 Lexus LX570 SUV is a big fella, with room for eight in a
luxurious cabin and all-terrain mobility. It's plenty rugged, being
based on the durable, upscale, go-anywhere Toyota Land Cruiser.
Car-based crossover vehicles are capturing much of the old traditional
SUV market, but the big, handsome four-wheel-drive LX570 is a reminder
that some folks want--or need--a big vehicle with lots of room. With
this Lexus, they get 8-passenger seating and typical Lexus luxury.
A large SUV such as the four-door LX570 lets occupants sit high, with
good all-around driver visibility, helped by large outside rearview
mirrors. But the step-in is quite high. The illuminated running boards,
which would help out here, are too narrow to be of much use unless you
have small feet and are wearing ballet slippers.
The quiet interior is nicely designed, although the main
gauges are hard to read in sunlight. Getting into the third-row seat,
which has power folding backrests for more cargo room, calls for adroit
maneuvering. That row is best left to kids or shorter adults.
Safety features include roll-sensing curtain air bags.
The floor of the large cargo area is too high for fast, easy loading,
and the small bottom section of the two-piece tailgate gets in the way
of putting cargo in or removing it when it's either in its normal
position or flipped down.
On the plus side, the tailgate has a power feature, and the large cargo
area is impressively spacious with the rear seatbacks folded out of the
way.
The LX570 stickers at $81,780 without a $910 freight charge or options.
But it has virtually all the comfort, convenience and safety features
you would expect from Lexus, including a leather and genuine
wood-trimmed interior.
Still, there are several costly options. The Mark Levinson audio system
with no less than 19 speakers will set you back $2,350. And the
dual-screen DVD rear-seat entertainment system with wireless headphones
is $2,005.
The LX570 is quick off the line and a happy long-distance cruiser, with
its smooth 5.75 liter V-8 generating 383 horsepower and 403 pound-feet
of torque. Power is transmitted through an 8-speed automatic
transmission with an easily used manual-shift feature. The engine seems
to be barely ticking over at 1,500 r.p.m. at 70 m.p.h.
However, the price you pay for such punch is low fuel economy. It's an
estimated 12 miles per gallon in the city and 17 on highways.
The LX570 weighs approximately 6,000 pounds, so one might think that it
would feel like maneuvering an elephant in traffic. Not so, this SUV is
agile, although its 197-inch length and considerable width must be kept
in mind.
The power rack-and-pinion variable ratio steering helps provide good
control, as does a well-designed adjustable suspension with
electronically controlled shock absorbers and stabilizer
bars. The ride is smooth ride, and roadability is good.
The power ventilated disc brakes work well, with electronic brake force
distribution, and have a good linear pedal feel.
The LX570 can tow up to 7,000 pounds and a wilderness trailhead or
deep, snowy roads don't faze it. The anti-lock brakes even have a
multi-terrain feature.
Helping keep this high, heavy vehicle safe are features including
vehicle stability and traction control. There's a height-adjustable
suspension for traversing off-road terrain, and also a "crawl control"
feature when off-road motoring gets rough.
But those features are to be expected. This is a genuine SUV, not a
half-baked or phony SUV you wouldn't want to take into tough off-road
terrain.
The question is, would you want to risk scratching the refined,
expensive Lexus LX570 during off-road excursions?
