Lexus LX570 2013 Review

I go weak at the knees just thinking about big 4WDs with V8 engines. When you get down to it they're basically trucks and trucks -- as we all know -- are designed to run on diesel, or at least that's what I thought until recently. A 2000km round trip from Sydney to Byron Bay in the Lexus LX570 gave us pause for thought.

VALUE

The eight-seater is priced at a whisker over $140,000. That's 25 grand more than the top of the line Landcruiser and still a step up from the recently released, luxury-focused Nissan Patrol at $114K. But it's less than a similarly equipped Benz or Range Rover -- much less. And the top of the line Patrol is only a seven seater.

TECHNOLOGY

The 5.7-litre V8 produces 270kW of power and 530Nm of torque, less than the Patrol's 298/560. It's tuned to produce its best results on premium 98 RON unleaded, but will run happily on 91 too. The engine is paired with a six-speed automatic, electronically controlled with flex lock-up torque converter and artificial intelligence shift control.

Fuel consumption is a claimed 14.8 litres/100km. But we were getting 13.2 after 2000km of motorways, byways and back roads, with plenty of stops along the way.

DESIGN

At a shade under five metres and just over 2.7 tonnes the Lexus is no light weight. The LX has been around for some time but has been updated with the new Lexus "spindle" grille and the lineup rationalised to one model, along with other changes.

SAFETY

The LX 570 has a comprehensive safety package, with 10 airbags and active front-seat head restraints. It's fitted with a host of electronic aids including blind spot awareness and active cruise control with automatic braking.

DRIVING

The big Lexus is built for the open road and off road too if that takes your fancy, because as we all know it's a Land Cruiser under the skin. The big difference is in the fit and finish, level of luxury appointments and the fact that it's got a bigger V8 than the Cruiser. All that adds up to a refined effortless drive experience and better fuel economy than we might have expected out on the open road.

Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) is fitted which automatically adapts to the conditions to provide the most comfortable ride, with three driver selectable settings. We don't normally get to spend a lot of time in the back seat of any car, but gladly relinquished the driving chores during our Byron odyssey. There's plenty or rear legroom back there where you can either sleep or watch a movie on one of the two DVD screens that come standard.

The Mark Levinson sound system is one of the best and three sets of wireless headphones are supplied for rear seats passengers. Off road it sits lower than a Landcruiser with 225mm of ground clearance, so it's off road ability is artificially limited.

VERDICT

Does what it does without any fuss. At this end of the market it represents excellent value for money but will come under pressure from Nissan.

Lexus LX570
Price: from $140,045
Warranty: 4 years 100,000km
Engine: 5.7-litre 8-cylinder, 270kW/530Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto 4WD
Thirst: 14.8L/100Km, CO2 350g/km