If Lexus’ aim was to make an all-wheel-drive luxury SUV that could go anywhere, then they’ve succeeded. The LX range, based on Toyota’s Land Cruiser 300 series, is as near to perfect as a desert-crossing, mountain-climbing, river-fording vehicle is going to get.

First, we deal with the elephant in the room, the looks.

Lexus LX is no raving beauty. Sure, there is no mistaking a Lexus grille. Like BMW’s M series shocker, there is such a thing as overdoing a design concept. Instead of looking like a gracious adornment to allow air flow into, and around the engine for cooling, it looks like a gaping chasm into which an SUV the size of the moon is being sucked.

LX doesn’t look particularly svelte regardless of angle, but onlookers are left with the impression that the front of LX had to be enlarged in order to maintain the aspect ratio of a grille designed for a sleek sedan.

Just as Kia has slowly done away with the distinctive Tiger Nose grille, Lexus’ spindle grille should be chucked into a pasture, where an oak tree will grow through it, raising it out of eyesight.

Aside from Toyota’s slightly different window designs, only the front and rear have been made over to fit the Lexus family. To that end, the ball-room-like cabin retains the capacious proportions of the Toyota, but the decorators were given carte blanche to use as much butter-soft leather as possible.

The driver dials are a throwback to Lexus of the past. The part-LCD screen keeps the distinctly Lexus look, but falls short of a 12.3” display one expects for this kind of dosh. The CinemaScope-sized HUD more than makes up for it, and is where you’ll have your eyes most of the time.

The centre console feels and looks like it is more modern than its more pedestrian Toyota sibling. The disappointingly old-fashioned Toyota Landcruiser design is gone, streamlined into a thing of grace and elegance, and it too is covered in cow.  The landscape 12.3” media centre is supported by a 7” screen below it for ancillary functions, but the whole shebang would look a little tidier with a 14” portrait screen instead.

Our LX 500d had 7 seats, with the 3rd row having nifty powered adjustment.

It would be churlish not to mention the range-topper, a 4 seat affair with a pair of captain’s chairs in the 2nd row. The chauffeur’s function places the front passenger seat far forward, and the rear seat far back, while deploying a large pouffe. Lexus calls it an ottoman but gay cars have lots of pouffes in them, right?

Like the rest of the market, SUVs are slowly the sedan market, even the ultra-posh ones. Like the delicious LS500 limo, the LX500d has side sun/privacy screens, operated by pulling up on the tab, manually raising them into place.

LX500d sits at the bottom of the range. Our posh paddock-basher had the enhancement pack, raising it to the 3rd rung of the LX ladder

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ABOVE: 2023 Lexus LX Range

On the Road:

LX 500d is a prize fighter in a dinner suit, and once on the move, floats like a butterfly on its fancy air suspension. The height depends on drive mode, on or off-road, with the mode dialled up via the settings screen. It then settles to the lowest position to allow passenges to step elegantly from their lofty perches, showing as little ankle as possible.

The superb 25-speaker Mark Levinson sound compliments the standard Apple CarPlay, Android auto, and DAB radio. Sadly, the CarPlay is via USB-A, a hideous oversight.

LX 500d has a Euro 5, 3.3L twin turbo V6 diesel, and LX600 uses the new Euro-5 3.5L twin turbo Petrol engine. Both have more power than the old Toyota/Lexus V8 engines they replaced, and both have AWD and a 10-speed automatic.

There is the full suite of driver and safety aids, including those needing active steering. The latter is now possible thanks to the new electric rack assistance has been adopted. Hoorah!

Shifting into drive using a slightly clunky leather knob on the centre console feels a bit old fashioned, and has a cheap feel to its movement. The rest of the switch gear has a quality movement worthy of a Swiss watch.

I cannot understand why a $154,000 Lexus SUV doesn’t have the 12.3” driver’s display a base model Kia does. Enough of this bitching, let’s move on.

LX500d inherits the cool features from Land cruiser including the off-road Crawl, and the ability to skid-steer, something everyone should experience once in their lifetimes.

LX500d feels frisky, and is surprisingly easy to thread through Sydney’s notorious afternoon snarls. When you get where you’re going, a 3600-view parking camera gives the driver a birds-eye of the situation. Steering is nice and light, a spirited 8 second 0-100 acceleration, drives like a much smaller 4×4, and has the space for a small football team.

3rd row seats are for tiddlers, and as David and I would have slipped 3 discs trying to get in, we took pictures instead.

LX500d wafted along, gliding in regal elegance. While the highway are where big SUVs are most at home, LX500d handled the twisting magnificence of the Royal National Park and Grand Pacific Drive in a delightfully relaxed way. You simply don’t rush things, when taking it easy is so much easier. It makes you want to stop to smell the roses.

Fuel consumption was excellent on the highway, and the 10-speed automatic was as smooth as silk.

Lexus LX was able to cash every cheque it wrote.

Settling in to the Lexus Life

I took a small cottage for the weekend, high on the cliffs overlooking Pacific.

What was once a working-class mining area, is now some of the most expensive real estate along the coast. We pulled in to the garage sited above the house, with the house and pool terraced below. The next stop after the pool deck, is New Zealand. As the ocean’s angry waves dash themselves against the 100m high cliff face, I admit to feeling a slighting sense of impending doom.

We pushed through the doom with a vat of gin and tonic, then went for a walk. The house next door had a Lexus RX and an electric Fiat, and on the other side, a Lexus UX and Lexus IS. We detected a pattern.

The street was awash with pomposity, but a prestige badge does not equal reliable motoring. Not only that, out LX500d was among the only SUVs on the block with proper off-road credentials.

Our Lexus represented a preference for Japanese luxury amidst a market mind-washed by slick European ads. You know the ones: handsome couples sipping wine where the med kisses the sand. Bah Humbug!

Technology, convenience, and luxury:

Although the Landcruiser 300 is dripping with the latest tasty tech Toyota has to offer, the best is saved for the luxury of the Lexus badge.

The 4-seater, is by far, the most beautiful set of seats the top of a mountain can offer. The 5 and 7 seaters have a more practical side, and suits brave adventurers who have more friends.

There is a set of menus that access the drive modes, including complex off-roading technology, and the Crawl Control and a skid-steer functions have their own buttons. Their importance will only be appreciated when they are needed, trust me, I’ve been up to pussy’s bow in sand.

Lexus has one of the best head Up Displays in the business, and now joined by a digital rear view mirror, but the small driver display looks a bit twee. If it sounds like I am banging on about it, I am, and with good reason.

Conclusion:

5 gay lads are bound to find something to whinge about, but there was more than enough space for each discerning passenger, and a careful driver. No body grumbled. The luggage space was ample, the cabin felt like a luxury lounge, and the ride was sublime.

Even if you don’t fancy the looks, there is nowhere off limits when you’re in a Lexus LX500d.

2024 Lexus LX 500d

Price: $151,561 – $213,561 (we quoted the 2023 prices in the video as we were driving the 2023 model)

Engine: 3.3L twin turbo V6 Diesel

Power: 227kw/700Nm

Trans: 10-speed auto

Econ: 8.9L/100k (comb)

CO2: 235g/km (comb)

Emissions: Euro 5

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