Lexus and luxury share more than just their first letter, and Lexus has truly shown what they are capable of with their newest SUVs.
For the uninitiated, Lexus is the luxurious brother of Toyota. However, to say that Lexus is simply a re-badged Toyota or a Toyota in disguise could not be further from the truth. Lexus has taken what everyone loves about Toyota, namely reliability, and created a premium line of Japanese cars that flaunts luxury, comfort and basically the very best that Japan has to offer, but without sacrificing the reliability that the Japanese manufacturer is known for. Lexus was still regarded as the most reliable brand in 2021, and it looks like they will be holding on to that title for a very long time.
Lexus has updated their flagship LX line of SUVs for 2022, and they are truly a different category of luxury. Let's look at the newest 2022 Lexus LX series and imagine what it would be like to own the lavish luxury of the top model.
Tremendous Trims Escalate The Levels Of Luxury
Besides updating the LX series for 2022, Lexus has decided to diversify the lineup, providing 5 different trims for 2022; LX 600, LX 600 Premium, LX 600 F Sport, LX 600 Luxury and the top of the range LX 600 Ultra Luxury. In terms of the powertrain, there is only one option, but it is more than enough considering its performance. The engine that powers all the LX vehicles is a twin-turbocharged 3.5-Liter V6, creating 409 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to all four wheels, yes it is a fully-fledged 4WD, through a 10-speed automatic transmission.
So what is the difference between the different trims?
The Lexus website states all the differences between the different trims, but in a general sense, it is the level of luxury. The quality of the leather seating goes up in the different trims, culminating in only four massive seats for the Ultra Luxury trim but each of which features "diamond-stitch semi-aniline leather-trimmed seating." Furthermore, the Lexus Safety System is included in the base LX 600 and continues up through all the models. Moving up to the LX 600 adds 2 extra seats, increasing seating to 7, as well as adaptive suspension and hands-free boot operation. Jumping up to the F Sport trim adds special F Sport-tuned suspension, a limited-slip differential and a rear stabilizer bar. Things get really exciting when you move up to the LX 600 Luxury trim, which includes a premium 25-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, 22-inch alloy wheels, upgraded leather trim and ventilated second-row seats. Jumping to the top LX 600 Ultra Luxury trim, seating capacity is reduced to four people but those four people are seated in maximum comfort, with the passengers having massive reclining, massaging chairs. Furthermore, there is also a rear infotainment unit, center pop-out console and the right chair is a power Ottoman.
Insane Interior Rivals The Best Of European SUVs
The level of luxury available in this latest series of Lexus is truly a different class.
The stereotype goes that the most luxurious vehicle are European ones and while a lot of European vehicles are truly more luxurious than other vehicles in their class, especially more affordable American cars, this view cannot be upheld anymore. For starters, all the LX models feature leather-trimmed seats, headlamp washers, windshield wiper de-icer and a 10-way heated power seat for the driver. Furthermore, the infotainment unit is on par with the best of the European cars, if not even better. The dashboard is made up of three displays: an 8.0-inch screen that shows the gauge cluster, a 12.3-inch screen for the infotainment and another 7.0-inch screen for climate and vehicle control. Additionally, the infotainment unit integrates Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and USB phone connectivity just to name a few.
Lexus doesn't just stop at luxury however but integrates a variety of intelligent safety and assistance systems to ensure that the driver and passengers are not only comfortable but safe for the entirety of their journey, be it a short drive or a long trip. The LX series features 10 airbags, a Pre-Collision System, All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Intelligent High Beams, Hill-Start Assist, Lane Tracing Assist and a variety of other systems, all of which come standard in the LX 600 and are present in every trim level.
Hefty Price Tag For The Best SUV Japan Offers
So, how much does it actually cost to acquire such luxury?
Firstly, it is important to flag that there is a destination charge of $1,345 that is added on to the price of every LX, but for convenience’s sake let's discuss the prices with this charge included. The prices are as follows: $88,245 for the base LX 600, $96,345 for the LX Premium, $102,345 for the F-Sport, $104,345 for the LX 600 Luxury and finally $127,345 for the LX 600 Ultra Luxury.
Ostensibly, these cars are not cheap but considering what they have to offer and the level of luxury and technology that is integrated in these vehicles, the LX series cannot simply be labeled expensive.
Sources: HotCars, Lexus, CarAndDriver and Motor1