Lexus LX570 - oozing chic, luxury

I've often wondered what factors contribute the most to narrowing down and finally selecting the right car. A couple of decades ago it used to be engine reliability, a good transmission system and an average build quality for a mid-segment car.

Today, however, these criteria are taken for granted.

Engines don't die off as they used to, transmission systems are bullet proof, yet sophisticated and build qualityis better than average most of the time. Consumer reports are a good way of making an informed choice, but the question is ‘Do good cars excite you like they used to?' Or is this just something that comes with premium class cars?

Talking about premium class, since its inception the Lexus has consistently given European and American luxury carmakers a run for their money. The Japanese way of combining reliability, performance and value for money has worked well over the years. The question again is: ‘Does it excite?'

The European carmakers have always been about providing excitement and precise handling at high prices. American carmakers provide a different kind of raw excitement with average build quality and lower prices. The Japanese have always been bridging the gap, while Korean carmakers are catching up and offering what Japan offers to the motoring world.

A Lexus, in my opinion, has never been about excitement. In fact, sans gadgetry and that extra luxury, it's quite similar to a Toyota in every aspect. Toyota's conquering of the world auto market created the right environment for the Lexus. The perfect upgrade for someone who needs more from his Toyota. More gadgetry, better interiors and a much better looking badge!

The Toyota Land Cruiser has always been a success story and it enjoys a high position in the world of 4x4s. It only made complete sense to produce a Lexus version of the same with more luxury and gadgetry to complement its off-road capabilities. The formula worked since the mid 1990s and, today, the LX series is a dream car for many SUV enthusiasts.

The new generation Lexus LX570 has been around this region for the past couple of years and has managed to hold its position as a premium SUV with the right kind of off-road capability that is often missing in most road-friendly SUVs that offer similar luxury. It comes with a 5.7 litre V8 which is not offered in the Toyota Land Cruiser in this region, thereby making it a considerable upgrade. The same engine, however, is available on the Land Cruiser in other markets.

The interiors of the 2010 LX570 are a big upgrade from the previous generation and offer a look that is fairly distinct. The dashboard layout is quite functional and akin to the rest of the Lexus range, giving it an unmistakable identity. The Mark Levinson sound system complements the luxury aspect of the Lexus and the audio quality is way better than average, as can be expected. In-cabin entertainment is a standard feature of most luxury SUVs these days and the LX does not fall short in any way.

The LX570 manages to stay true to its premium class and offers a lot of features such as a four-zone independent air-conditioning system, powered second and third row seats, active cruise control and all-round camera aid for the driver.

The wheelbase of the new LX remains the same as the previous generation and the overall length and width have been increased by 80mm and 20mm respectively, thereby increasing the cabin space. Second row passengers have ample legroom and luggage space is substantial.

Driving the LX570 was a pleasant experience. The interiors ooze with luxury and quality finishes and highway cruising is extremely comfortable. The handling capabilities on-road while cornering, as with any large SUV, are average. The LX570 comes with four-wheel active height control and adaptive variable suspension which help counteract chassis roll up to 30 per cent.

The LX570's V8 power plant produces 362bhp @ 5,600 rpm and 540Nm of torque @ 3,200 rpm and is more than sufficient for most on-road and off-road applications. The throttle response is fine but could be better for its class. The traction control and vehicle stability control systems in this car, along with the multi-terrain ABS, help keep the vehicle stable under most circumstances. I am not a believer in the fact that such electronic aids can be of much help in the desert, but under moderate driving conditions, they would be useful. Traction control in my experience gets in the way most of the time while driving on sand and turning it off would be the best thing to do off-road.

Other features include an improved limited slip differential and downhill assist control. I have never been patient enough to use downhill assist control on any car and I couldn't get myself to try it out on the LX570 either. I am not very convinced by the need for this feature, although many would tend to disagree.

The LX570 conforms to high safety standards and comes with a high-strength body, ten airbags, active front headrests and a pre-collision system that is capable of activating pre-crash brake assist and seat belt retraction based on its ability to judge collisions beforehand.

On the whole, the LX570 is a very sensible SUV. It offers a fine balance between road-friendly SUVs and 4x4s, without compromising on luxury. Offering the best of both worlds is quite impossible in my opinion, but the LX570 offers quite a lot with few compromises. Its wide range of features and big engine and safety aspects make it a fine choice as a well-mannered premium family SUV that one can own with confidence.