Check Out the Hat Rack of SUVs: 2022 Lexus LX600 F Sport Review
The Lexus LX600 wears many hats, be it as a people carrier, SUV or luxury cruiser.
The Toyota Land Cruiser lives on in the United States, albeit with a luxurious slant, in the form of the 2022 Lexus LX600. Built on Toyota’s global GAF platform, the big fourth-generation Lexus SUV shares the same bones as the newest tundra and Redwoodtree. And indeed the Toyota Land Cruiser in those parts of the world where the legendary Overlander is still sold.
Lexus is first and foremost a luxury brand. And yet the 2022 Lexus LX comes with a combination of specs and modern engineering that make it a potentially potent off-roader.
But if you prefer, just think of it as a big SUV, with plenty of room for people and stuff. Not to mention the ability to do so tow large recreational toys around – worth up to £8,000. Or maybe you want a uber luxurious land yacht that offers minimal space while maintaining the ultimate in comfort. If chosen correctly, the LX600 will play there too.
That’s a wide range of strengths, to be sure. And yet this latest LX adapts and stands up for each of them. Well, almost all, which brings us to this particular example you see here.
Sports model… Really?
This is a 2022 Lexus LX600 F Sport, one of two new trims added to the LX this year. F Sport is the brand’s nomenclature for “a sportier version of something”.
And at least at first glance, this LX has what it takes: 22-inch forged alloy wheels, adjustable shock absorbers and Torsen limited-slip rear differential. All of this pairs well with a 3.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 producing 409 horsepower, 479 pound-feet of torque.
On paper at least, it’s understandable to think that the Lexus LX, at least in F-Sport trim, also wants to be a sporty SUV. Unfortunately, the physics still carry a lot of weight here, and speaks disapprovingly of hurling a nearly 3-ton mass with a high center of gravity through a few corners at high lateral G. Despite an “F Sport-tuned suspension” and rear anti-roll bar, bluntly, the physics say “no.”
On the other hand, F Sport looks good and includes several features to play in the other areas. You know, wear the other hats.
Wade through more than 2 foot figures
Off-road suitability begins with the frame. The GAF platform is a body-on-frame piece – a fully boxed piece of metal built to withstand all the shenanigans of full-size truck and SUV buyers.
From there, Lexus attached the body so you get at least 7.9 inches of ground clearance. And in the case of the F Sport, 8.3 inches.
Additionally, Lexus offers an adjustable suspension system aptly named Active Height Control for $1,300. With such a system, engineers can program many different driving modes for the road – Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Sport+, Custom – as well as offer four different driving heights – Lo, Normal, Hi1, Hi2.
At its highest setting, the LX600 offers a respectable 27.4 and 26.3 degrees of approach and departure angles, respectively. They can also traverse up to 27.5 inches of water.
All bikes go
The drive helps too. The 2022 Lexus LX 600 features permanent four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case to give you low-speed, high-torque options. And that ties into another technology called Multi-Terrain Select, or MTS, which uses the braking system, drivetrain and variable suspension control to help you along your path, be it dirt, sand, mud, deep snow or rocks. Or trust the system completely and choose Auto.
But we’re still not done with the ones and zeros, as you’ve got a low-speed off-road cruise control called Crawl Control that also manipulates the same systems as MTS. And to give you a sense of the speeds we’re talking about, it only works in 4Lo.
Then there is the self-explanatory Downhill Assist Control. And to keep everything in view, a multi-terrain monitor. This monitor uses four different cameras mounted on the LX to eliminate blind spots and keep a keen eye on what’s exactly in front, to either side or behind you.
Downsized, but power in abundance
To keep all those wheels turning, Lexus fitted a more powerful version of the new 3.4-liter twin-turbochargers found in the 2022 Toyota Tundra. With a bit of tweaking, the LX gets an extra 20 horsepower to peak at 409.
Torque remains stable at its peak at 479 pound-feet compared to the Tundra, but lasts longer. You get 479 pound-feet from 2,000 rpm — 400 earlier than the Tundra — and then hold peak twist at 3,600 rpm. Nice!
All of this is backed up by a 10-speed automatic gearbox that offers a nice wide range of gears with lots of small steps in between. In other words, you’re never far from peak performance from this new turbocharged V6.
Overall, Lexus claims the LX will hit 60 mph from a standstill in 6.9 seconds. And yet you’re driving at well under 2,000 rpm on the Autobahn.
Reducing the displacement and additional gears also contribute to fuel savings. Admittedly still not great, the new LX manages 17mpg in the city, 22mpg on the highway and 19mpg combined on a gallon of gasoline.
That’s a massive improvement over the outgoing powertrain, however, which couldn’t do better than 12 mpg city, 16 highway and 14 combined. Yes, you would need to take out a second mortgage on your home to fill the tank! (My first and last dad joke of the review.)
what about my friends
Measuring more than 200 inches from bow to stern, the LX offers three rows of seating or two rows of seating and an abundance of 44 cubic feet of room. No, it’s not as big as a Tahoe or a expedition. But that just makes it big instead of gigantic.
You’ve got space, it depends whether you want to carry seven people and 11 cubic feet of material, five and 44, or two and 64 people.
The key is to be comfortable carrying your people and gear. And that despite a solid rear axle, again like the Tundra.
Technology also plays a role here. You finally get adjustable shocks and springs, giving the LX a variety of ways to tune suspension stiffness. Indeed, the LX glides smoothly over bumps while maintaining an even keel, yet never feels floaty or undersprung.
interior comfort
In it you will see several more options and adjustments. The LX F-Sport offers four-zone climate control as well as heated and cooled seats for the front and two outer second-row seats. In addition, the seats themselves are comfortable, supportive and roomy.
Front passengers also have easy access to a 12.3-inch touchscreen in the center console with myriad controls and an additional 7.0-inch screen just below for additional information.
I should mention that the third row seats two comfortably as long as the people sitting there are under 4.5 feet tall. This is one of the smaller super-sized three-row SUVs, after all. A body-on-frame at that. If you load your LX with seven people, four of them will be pretty comfortable.
New 2022 Lexus LX ultra-luxury trim
But with the new Ultra Luxury trim for 2022, you can take comfort one step further. This LX ditches the third row, swaps out the second row of benches for captain’s chairs, and adds a center console in the second row to play around with.
In addition, these seats recline up to 48 degrees, have curved and padded headrests, and are heated, ventilated and massaged.
You also get footrests, and interior materials are super chic name things, like the “diamond stitch semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats.” Just be ready to drain $127,845 from your bank account.
Your parcel shelf: 2022 Lexus LX600
Expensive! I know, but that’s high end. The LX starts at $88,245, or just a few grand more than the options list on the recently reviewed list Rolls Royce Cullinan. The F-Sport LX you see here starts at $102,345. Still fairly pricey, but a touch tastier than the $127,845 Ultra Luxury trim version.
But when you need a do-it-all and you have a family, the LX ticks a lot of boxes off your to-do list. Hit the road with your big caravan in tow and ensure crew comfort with charging ports and temperature controls for everyone.
Once the campsite is set up, venture off-road to a more scenic view to capture the sunset. And you have room for all your hats.
Build your own 2022 Lexus LX600.
