In case you haven't heard, Lexus has announced that they will be discontinuing the iconic LS sedan after the 2026 model year. Since it originally launched the brand in 1989, the LS has been the flagship vehicle for the Japanese luxury automaker. With the LS gone, the large three-row Lexus LX, which has been the brand's flagship SUV, effectively steps up as the standard-bearer and primary flagship vehicle for the entire Lexus brand. Is it worthy of that role? Let's look at one and find out.
The Lexus LX is nothing short of extravagant - featuring a cabin filled with exotic wood and plush leather, all while providing a quiet and smooth ride along with amazing off-road abilities. That has summed up the Lexus LX600 since 2022 when the fourth generation of the LX came out. Last year, Lexus expanded the LX lineup with the LX700h - a hybrid version of the LX.
First, some background on the LX. It made its debut back in 1995 as the LX450 and was Lexus' first entry in the SUV market. It was based heavily on the Toyota Land Cruiser with its inline six-cylinder engine and full-time four-wheel drive system. A V8 soon found its way into the engine bay, along with many luxurious amenities. The Land Cruiser was eventually dropped by Toyota leaving the Lexus LX as the top off-road SUV from the Japanese automaker. Since then, the Land Cruiser has returned, but as a smaller, completely different SUV from what it once was.
Today's Lexus LX continues to use an old-school body-on-frame construction - riding on the same platform as the Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck. As the LX600, the big Lexus uses a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 that makes 409 horses and 479 pound-feet of torque. As the LX700h, it combines the same engine as the LX600 with an electric motor using a nickel-metal-hydride battery. The electrification pushes output to 457 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. But while the gas-electric combo is gutsier, it isn't much more efficient than the gas-only LX 600, providing just 1 mpg better than its nonhybrid sibling.
Both the LX600 and the LX700h use a 10-speed automatic transmission and come standard with four-wheel drive.
Lexus offers the LX in five different trim levels. The base is the Premium, which has three rows of seating along with an adaptive suspension, center console refrigerator, 20-inch wheels and a heads-up display. Move up to the Luxury and the LX is fitted with 22-inch wheels, massaging front seats and a Mark Levinson audio system. The F Sport Handling is the performance-oriented LX, with 22-inch wheels, aerodynamic body kit and a sport tuned suspension. For those that are serious about off-roading, the Overtrail fits the LX with 18-inch wheels on 33-inch all-terrain tires, front and rear locking differentials and a front skid plate. Then there is the Ultra Luxury. It transforms the LX into a luxury suite on wheels. The middle seat in the second row is removed along with the entire third row (making it strictly a four-seater) and gets a height-adjustable suspension, power adjustable second-row seats with massagers in them and a rear-seat entertainment system. Both the Overtrail and the Ultra Luxury are available only on the LX700h.
The tester is an LX700h Ultra Luxury. Wearing an Atomic Silver exterior, it carries an MSRP of $143,801. Starting price for the LX600 is $108,550.
As mentioned before, the Ultra Luxury sacrifices three seats, leaving you with two seats in the front and two seats in the rear. But those two rears seats are the real Ultra Luxury experience, featuring chauffeur-level opulence. Sitting high up in what feels like enormous seats and perched on a throne, there is a center infotainment screen shared by both rear passengers, where they can control their own independent air conditioners, seat heating and cooling, and the entertainment courtesy of two large screens. Both seats have pillow-like headrests and can recline up to 48-degrees and feature seat massaging with multiple settings. If you haven't figured it out yet, the rear seat is where it's at in the LX700h Ultra Luxury.
Since Lexus didn't send a driver with the LX700h, I am having to handle that task myself. Controlling functions is easy thanks to two touchscreen displays. A 12.3-inch upper screen is used for audio or navigation, while a 7-inch lower screen is used for secondary HVAC and off-road controls. Often used climate-control switches are physical buttons on the center console. The console itself is quite large with a phone charging pad.
On the road, with 479 pound-feet of torque on tap, this 6,000-pound SUV can hit 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds, about a half-second quicker to 60 mph than the LX600. But while the LX700h is quick for its size, its size is hard to forget. The steering is heavy and it handles like what you would expect a big heavy truck would. However, it is easy to drive, as visibility all around is good and there are plenty of driver aids to keep you alert and informed. And let's not forget that the off-road capabilities of the LX700h are undeniably impressive.
As sad as I am to see the Lexus LS go, the writing was on the wall. No one wants sedans. Even more, no one wants big, expensive sedans. So, moving the LS and passing the torch to the LX, makes perfect sense, as the LX showcases the very best of Lexus - and it doesn't disappoint.