2022 Lexus LX 600 F Sport test drive review

At long last, the new Lexus LX is here. The last generation, first introduced in 2007, was beloved by off-road and luxury enthusiasts worldwide and garnered a strong reputation for reliability. Needless to say, the 2022 Lexus LX 600 F Sport had a lot to live up to. So, how does it fare? The selling point here is the new powertrain. Gone is the ancient V8, and in its place is a potent twin-turbo V6 and a snappy transmission. 

Price and Value 

Being the flagship SUV of the Lexus lineup, a hefty price tag isn’t surprising. Our F Sport tester priced out at $107,585, and at that price its value is questionable — especially compared to some of the (sometimes in-house) competition. The MSRP range for the 2022 LX 600 is $88,245-$127,345, but we suspect many buyers will opt above these advertised prices. It is available in five trim levels, with a suite of standard features that includes a 409-horsepower twin-turbo V6, full-time four-wheel drive and Lexus’ safety system+ 2.5. Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below. Shop all Lexus LX listings

• LX 600: $88,245 See listings

409-horsepower twin-turbo V6

Full-time four-wheel drive

Safety system+ 2.5

• LX 600 Premium: $96,345 See listings

Adaptive variable suspension

Seating for seven

Power rear door with kick sensor 

• LX 600 F Sport Handling: $102,345 See listings

Unique front and rear fascia

22-inch forged f-sport wheels with dark gray metallic finish

Torsen limited-slip differential

• LX 600 Luxury: $104,345 See listings

Semi-aniline leather trim

25-speaker Mark Levinson surround system

22-inch forged alloy wheels with machined finish

• LX 600 Ultra Luxury: $127,345 See listings

Four-seat configuration with massaging captain’s chairs

Rear-seat entertainment system

Right-rear recliner with sliding ottoman

The new LX is expensive and a bit of a tough sell given its lack of features and space for the price. We did enjoy driving it, however, largely due to its responsive powertrain and supple front seats. The rest of the luxury and features left us shrugging our shoulders. The off-road capability is incredible, but we doubt many buyers will ever hit the trails in this pricey, luxury barge. 

The warranty includes 4-year/50,000-mile basic coverage and 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain coverage. You also get roadside assistance, with lodging if you break down more than 100 miles from home. Lexus also throws in two maintenance visits.

Performance 

Here’s where the new LX shines. After 15 years entrenched in old-school technology, Lexus has brought its new powertrain to the LX with marvelous results. It’s punchy, responsive and a joy to exercise. The F Sport’s handling dynamics are welcome additions, especially with its variable suspension. It’s no sports car, but Lexus has made a large SUV that’s easy and enjoyable to drive daily.

Engine 

The new Lexus/Toyota twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 produces 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, which amounts to 26 more ponies and 76 more pound-feet than the 5.7-liter V8 it replaces. And you feel it. This engine pulls hard and smooth all the way through the powerband. We were big fans of how this engine performed in the new Tundra, and we love it equally as much here in the new LX. The old V8 was the stuff of legends, but even after just a few minutes of operation, it’s clear the engineers have made an engine that was worth the wait. 

Fuel Efficiency

While it’s not a V8, a twin-turbo V6 producing nearly 500 pound-feet of torque is still going to drink gas. And it does. The new LX is better than the outgoing generation, but it’s still not great. The Environmental Protection Agency rates it at 17 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in combined driving. In our week of real-world testing, we averaged just over 18 mpg. 

Drivetrain 

You have to hand it to Lexus, its engine and drivetrain pairings are on point right now. The 10-speed automatic paired with this engine is excellent. Snappy, quick and smooth, we were impressed. There’s no excessive gear changing, and passing is effortless at any speed. The four-wheel-drive system also worked well, providing grip and confidence, even on rainy days. Our F-Sport tester was also equipped with the always appreciated rear Torsen limited-slip differential. See Lexus LXs for sale

Acceleration and Handling 

You wouldn’t guess that this 6,000-pound behemoth can move with a purpose, but it does. Car and Driver clocked the new LX from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds. Our F Sport tester also had Active Height Control and sport-tuned adaptive dampers, progressive-wound rear springs and a rear anti-roll bar. All this handling wizardry results in a chassis that feels far more nimble and responsive than you’d expect a 6,000-pound SUV to be. 

Braking 

The brakes offer reassuring stopping power and feel natural in their modulation. The LX 600 F Sport is equipped with automated forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

Interior Comfort and Convenience 

As with the rest of the 2022 LX, the interior is all new here. The quality and materials are excellent. The F-Sport aluminum trim is bright and pairs nicely with the saucy red and black leather. However, it is much smaller inside than you’re probably expecting, in every way. Cargo, foot, shoulder and storage space is all fairly compact — a surprise given its overall large size. It is comfortable enough, but larger occupants and family haulers might want to look elsewhere. 

Seats 

The front seats are comfortable, especially with their soft, supple leather. The seating position is nearly perfect as well and definitely not as bus-like as the previous generation. The heating and cooling features work well, too. We did find the front quarters to be a bit tight, especially with the center console taking up so much space.

The second row is also comfortable, but it is probably best left to two full-size adults. The two seats in the third row are about as small and as comfortable as a toddler’s lawn chair. Consider them only for very small children in an emergency. They do fold flat into the floor, however, which frees up a considerable amount of space behind the second row. 

Climate Control 

The climate controls for the LX are unnecessarily complex. There are some buttons, but the majority of features are buried in a second touchscreen located on the center stack. We found it to be distracting, even if the depth of customization was intriguing. The cabin did heat and cool quickly, though, and was reasonably quiet — as should be expected for the price. 

Cargo Space and Cabin Storage 

With the third-row seats up, there’s not a lot of cargo space. Hardly any, in fact. You might be able to fit a jacket or two in the very rear, but that’s about it. With the third row folded flat, the cargo space becomes a lot more usable.

Cabin space is also sparse. The center console is largely eaten up by a cool box that, while cool, doesn’t leave much room for storing anything besides a couple of cans of sparkling water and your leftover nuggets from Chick-fil-a. Aside from the aforementioned cool box, there’s not much else in terms of cabin storage. In other words, if you’re hauling small children around, look elsewhere.

Infotainment System 

Lexus has gone to great lengths to revamp its infotainment systems, and for the most part it’s paid off. The system is relatively easy to use, especially once your Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is connected. However the large, very horizontal screen proved difficult to use while driving. It’s very high up and so wide it can be challenging to press what you need. The volume knob is curiously placed at the very top of the screen, as is the engine start and stop button. The whole screen feels like an afterthought and is a little unsightly, taking away from what should be a luxurious first impression. Find a Lexus LX

Exterior Appearance and Functionality 

The new LX might be all-new, but there’s a lot of it that still looks tied to the previous generation. Lexus continues with its enormous love-it-or-hate-it spindle grille, but it does look better here in the F-Sport gloss black finish. It has a large, yet athletic presence and doesn’t carry the same imposing stature as some of its larger competitors. 

Our F-Sport tester was finished in Maganese Luster paint. Other luxurious colors include Ultra White, Black Onyx and Atomic Silver.

Towing Capacity and Payload 

Thanks to its strong motor, the LX 600 is capable of towing up to 8,000 pounds. It also has a payload capacity of 1,565 pounds. 

Wheels 

The wheels on the F-Sport LX are giant, 22-inch forged aluminum wheels shod with 265/50 R22 Dunlop Grandtrek all-season tires. Road noise and ride quality were still good, despite the smaller sidewalls.

Lights and Turn Signals 

We love LED lights on cars, and thankfully they’re everywhere on the LX 600 F Sport. Intelligent triple-beam LED headlamps, LED cornering lamps, daytime running lights and an LED taillamp were on our tester and did their job wonderfully. The turn signals also looked sharp and were easy to see from the side and behind. 

Cameras and Side Mirrors 

Lexus has done a nice job with its cameras in the LX. Our F-Sport tester had as standard a backup camera with dynamic gridlines, intuitive parking assist technology, a panoramic view monitor, a multi-terrain monitor and a head up display. The side mirrors made it easy to see both behind and down the side of the vehicle.

Front and Rear Windshield 

Visibility in the LX is good, with large windows and a commanding seating position. However, with the third-row seats up, it can be difficult to see out the rear windshield. The automatic rain-sensing wipers did their job during some stormy days, as did the defrost features when it was foggy.

Safety 

Lexus has long been known for its safety reputation, and the new LX carries on that legacy. While it might be overly complex and intrusive for some buyers, and some might find its operations annoying, there’s no question that safety is a priority for this manufacturer. 

Features 

Lexus is all about the latest in safety technology. A sampling of some of the fancy features found on our tester include:

• Lane departure alert with steering assist

• Front cross-traffic alert

• Dynamic radar cruise control

• Lane change assist

• Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection

See a complete list on the Lexus website.

Awards and Ratings 

The 2022 Lexus LX 600 has not been evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as of this writing, nor by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Car and Driver ranks the LX ninth in its luxury SUV rankings.

Final Impression 

Some old, some new. The 2022 Lexus LX 600 finds itself wanting to be the luxury Land Cruiser with immense off-road capability, but also wanting to serve the luxury, family-hauling customer segment. What you get is a bit of a compromise. The new powertrain is a welcome surprise, but the rest of it is a bit of a tough sell. The interior luxury and space were not what we expected given its size, and features like massaging seats were absent in our nearly $108,000 tester. We really enjoyed our time with the LX, but we question its value and competitive edge over its competitors if off-road credibility isn’t a priority. 

We appreciate the sharpened styling cues of the F-Sport and would recommend that trim to most buyers. The F-Sport also is your best shot at less-than-ponderous handling, as it includes features like a rear anti-roll bar and adaptive suspension to help keep the LX going in a straight line.

Interested in a Lexus LX? Find one on KSL Cars.

FAQs

Is the LX fun to drive? 

Yes and no. We can’t deny how pleased we were with the punchy new powertrain. However, it’s not exactly a great handler. All that power comes with careful mitigations in turning and braking.

Is the LX family-friendly? 

After having my kids in this car for a week, I can say that it is not very family-friendly. There isn’t a ton of rear seat space and even less in the third row. There also is not much in the way of cabin storage for things like diapers, wipes and other trinkets. 

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The makes and models mentioned in this article are not placed in any particular order, nor intended to be viewed as a ranked list. KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.