Is the Redesigned 2022 Lexus LX 600 a Good Luxury SUV? 4 Things We Like, 4 We Don’t | News

Buyers of luxury SUVs have certain expectations for their chariots of choice, which is justifiable given their lofty price tags. An opulent interior is a given, along with lots of tech features and a suspension capable of delivering either a comfortable ride, sporty handling or (ideally) both. Unfortunately, the newly redesigned 2022 Lexus LX 600 comes up short on all but the price part.

Related: 2022 Lexus LX 600 Review: A Flagship Needs to Be Better

As before, the LX 600 is based on the venerable Toyota Land Cruiser, although the LX’s mass-market sibling is no longer offered in North America. That’s probably just as well given some of the shortcomings with the new LX 600.

Make no mistake: The redesigned Lexus flagship is not without its virtues, which include a smooth and potent powertrain, a comfortable ride, lots of tech features and real off-road capability for those brave enough to take their $100,000 Lexus SUV into the woods. But the LX 600 interior is neither as well appointed nor as roomy as some competitors, and others provide even more tech features. It may be a redesign, but the LX 600 feels dated right out of the box.

For a deeper dive into the 2022 Lexus LX 600, hit the link above to read Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman’s full review. For a quicker look, read below — here are four things we like about the 2022 Lexus LX 600 and four we’re not so crazy about:

Things We Like

1. Powertrain Refinement

The old V-8 engine is a thing of the past, replaced by a more fuel-efficient — and more potent — 409-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. In Lexus-like fashion, power is silky smooth and shifts are virtually seamless. Overall, the powertrain is one area where the big Lexus is fully competitive with others in the category.

2. Driving Position

One upside of the old-school feel of the LX 600 is a high and relatively upright seating position for the driver, with a big, comfortable perch swathed in high-quality leather. A large glass area and low beltline help make for excellent visibility on- or off-road, aided by multiple cameras for tight spots.

3. Serene Ride

The LX 600 does a commendable job of concealing its trucklike roots with a smooth, quiet, controlled ride around town or on the highway; that’s especially impressive given that our F Sport test vehicle came with a sport suspension and big 22-inch wheels. We noticed little difference in performance with the F Sport, but ride quality remained excellent.

4. Real Off-Road Chops

The LX 600 has long been known for having real capability off-road, and the newly redesigned model carries on the tradition. In addition to standard four-wheel drive, the LX comes with an assortment of electronic bushwhacking aids, including a terrain monitoring system with multiple cameras, several electronically controlled modes to optimize systems for off-road conditions, and crawl control for when the going gets particularly gooey.

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Things We Don’t Like

1. Big Outside, Small Inside

In spite of its rather large footprint, the LX 600 is not nearly as roomy inside as you might expect in a big SUV. There’s plenty of room up front, but things get more cramped as you move back. There’s not much legroom in the second row, where things are tight enough that front-seat occupants should expect to slide forward to make room. The third row isn’t large enough for adults, and raising or lowering the third row requires sliding second-row seats forward, too.

2. Luxury Lite

The Lexus’ interior quality is a bit of a mixed bag, with quality leather, premium materials and plenty of tech and convenience features — it’s just not as nice as you might expect in a $100,000 vehicle. There’s more hard plastic than is expected in the category, and some pieces seem right out of the Toyota corporate parts bin.

3. Screen Issues

The LX 600 gets two center screens in the dash, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen mounted high for things like entertainment and navigation and a lower screen for climate, vehicle information and more. While a definite improvement over the old Lexus joystick system, the touchscreen is not as slick or sophisticated as competing systems. We’re also not convinced two screens are better than one.

4. Fully Priced

With a starting price just below $90,000 and a top Luxury trim pushing $130,000, the Lexus LX 600 doesn’t come cheap. To put that in perspective, the entry price for a base model is around $10,000 more than a Mercedes-Benz GLS450 or a BMW X7. Options can easily make those competitors considerably costlier than the Lexus — but those competitors arguably deliver more luxury and tech features even with entry-level models.

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