2008 Lexus LX 570 Review - First Drive

In 2003, the Lexus GX 470 was crowned our 4x4 of the Year and we firmly stand behind giving that vehicle the top-dog award. We had written: "This is the year that the Lexus raised the technology bar and marked the end of the off-road Stone Age." In '08 Lexus didn't just take the 470 and rename the high-end SUV the LX 570; it completely re-engineered the vehicle and turned it into a sleeker, faster, more luxurious, and capable high-end luxury utility vehicle. We were told by Group Vice President and General Manager of Lexus Mark Templin that the completely redesigned vehicle "constitutes a significant upgrade over the 470 in all areas."

The LX 570 is a state-of-the-art,... 

   

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The LX 570 is a state-of-the-art, high-end SUV that can drive or crawl just about anywhere. The sophisticated suspension and Crawl Control technology make it one of the most capable vehicles on the market today. The price point for the LX makes it a little out of reach for most consumers, but those lucky few who are able to afford one will cruise the highways in style with luxury appointments like a four-zone climate control system, 10 airbags for safety, and a premium 19-speaker surround-sound audio system designed by Mark Levinson. This is definitely a daily driver and adventure vehicle for the affluent.

We love the new LX 570. Outfitted with a 383hp, 5.7L V-8 engine with 403 lb-ft of torque, it can really move. That's 115 more horsepower than its predecessor. It also features a new six-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission. Lexus tells us with the additional horsepower and a 22-percent increase in torque the vehicle will reach 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds. That's a respectable track speed of 15.8 seconds in the quarter-mile. Our testdrive of the third-generation SUV proved it definitely has more seat-of-the-pants power.

The LX 570 comes with more luxury interior appointments and gadgetry than ever before. It also sports an all-new four-wheel active height control, which allows the LX to react more quickly and variably to changing driving conditions. The new cross-linked, electro-hydraulic suspension system helps improve on-road handling by reducing chassis roll more than 30 percent. Off-road the suspension offers 24 inches of articulation. Our favorite feature is the highly advanced Crawl Control system, which allows the SUV to go just about anywhere off-highway. The LX now has a tow capacity of 8,500 pounds, more than any other SUV.

We may be known as guys who like to rough it in the great outdoors, and we aren't really happy unless we have dirt in our teeth, but we do appreciate the finer things in life and this vehicle fits right in. Although not many people will be purchasing the all-new, full-time four-wheel-drive LX specifically for trail-running, we feel it has the ability to handle any weather and terrain thrown at it.