√2022 Lexus LX500d review

Lexus’s grandiose LX500d is a lesson in excess. But does its equipment, comfort and tech command a sizeable price premium over its Toyota LandCruiser sibling?

How much does the Lexus LX500d cost in Australia?

‘Off-roading, but make it fancy’ is a succinct and complete summation of the idea behind the 2022 Lexus LX500d. But while it does share the underpinnings of the new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series that’ll ensure it can tour at a high level, we expect many of these Lexus LXes won’t ever see an unbeaten track in their lifetimes.

This puts the focus on how the Lexus LX500d fares around town, and how well it’ll cater to large families.

The new-generation Lexus LX was introduced to Australia earlier in 2022, shortly after the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series arrived on Australian shores. You can have one with a choice of two engines – a petrol or a diesel – and a series of different specification levels. These spec levels also determine whether the LX gets a five-, seven- or four-seat interior layout.

Kicking off as the entry-level variant in the range, the 2022 Lexus LX500d on test costs $147,991 before on-roads and offers seven seats. However, it should be considered entry-level in naming and structure only – the LX500d comes packed to the brim with kit.

Included is a set of 20-inch alloy wheels, leather-upholstered cabin, four-level air suspension, power-adjustable third row, Shimamoku wood inlays, low-range transfer case, heated and electrically adjustable front seats, and a 25-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. Our car selects the optional $5500 Enhancement Pack, which adds a sunroof, 22-inch wheels, and hands-free power boot release.

With that long list of stuff, the LX500d steps up to the plate to swing big against rivals such as the Land Rover Defender, Range Rover Sport, BMW X7, and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

These are all high-flying SUVs that are more likely to come into contact with a nature strip’s kerb than a lick of dirt, so let’s put the Lexus LX500d through its suburban paces.

Key details	2022 Lexus LX500d
Price	$147,991 plus on-road costs
Colour of test car	Khaki Metal
Options	Enhancement Pack – $5500 – 22-inch alloy wheels – Panoramic sunroof – Kick-sensor boot open
Price as tested	$153,491 plus on-road costs
Drive-away price	$172,103 (Melbourne)
Rivals	Mercedes-Benz GLS \| Land Rover Defender \| Range Rover Sport

How much space does the Lexus LX500d have inside?

It seemed to be a love-or-hate affair for the punters of the Drive Melbourne office, but I was a big fan of the tan leather in this LX500d, especially when paired with the green paintwork outside.

The dash, door cards, and centre console are covered in lavish soft-touch materials, as you would expect from a Lexus, and everything feels nice to interact with.

But there’s a distinct lack of flair or ornate touches to get excited about. Visually, it doesn’t look a substantive step above the Toyota LandCruiser. Sure, it’s got some woodgrain trim inserts, but the space could have felt more special with brighter ambient lighting or more metallic inlays.

In terms of actual use, the ergonomics of the front seat are easy to wrap your head around, with easy access to the two centre screens and steering wheel controls. However, the window switches are an exception – they’re oddly placed behind a grab handle and making them difficult to operate.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Lexus’s seats, and the LX continues to provide the best for your bum with a wonderfully supple and supportive pew. It’s the kind of seat you wouldn’t mind touring around Australia in.

There’s loads of space between driver and passenger thanks to a wide body, which is also good news for storing your things. There’s a deep centre console bin, two large cupholders, wireless phone charger, and a sizeable slot under the dash – and that’s just the storage contained within the centre console. There are large door pockets and a big glovebox to hide away other items.

Considering the spaciousness of the first row, the second row is a little disappointing by comparison. I’m 194cm tall and my knees were firmly pressed into the seat backs ahead. With the car’s outlandish dimensions, you expect more space in the second row. It was equally disappointing to find the bench isn’t on rails so you can’t slide it backwards. However, it does recline.

There are map pockets for storing things, plus air vents above your head and behind the console bin. It’s four-zone climate control too. Other amenities include two USB-C ports and window blinds.

Where the second row lacks space, the third contains a surprisingly expansive amount of room. The second row folds away with one touch so long as the front row seats are far enough forward, paving way for simple third-row access. There’s good room in front of your knees and side to side, and even though taller passengers’ heads will hit the roof, it’s comfortable nonetheless.

With all seven seats in play there is only 174L in the boot, but that expands dramatically as soon as you start dropping rows. With five seats the capacity grows to 982L, then ultimately to 1871L with all rows down. This space is accessed by a hands-free kick sensor (thanks to the Enhancement Pack), plus there’s a full-size Australian AC power port too.

One small win for the LX is its full-size spare wheel, which will come in handy if using the vehicle to tour across Australia.

	2022 Lexus LX500d
Seats	Seven
Boot volume	174L to third row 982L to second row 1871L to first row
Length	5100mm
Width	1990mm
Height	1885mm
Wheelbase	2850mm

Does the Lexus LX500d have Apple CarPlay?

Driver and passenger are faced with two screens in the centre stack – a 12.3-inch touchscreen that handles infotainment, and a smaller 7.0-inch unit below for controlling things like the air-conditioning and four-wheel-drive system.

Interestingly, there’s no fully digital instrument cluster – just an 8.0-inch sub display that shows things such as engine speed, air suspension height, and various driving data.

On the infotainment system, we’re big fans of the new software on the new Lexus products. Menu systems and maps display nice and crisp on the widescreen and switching between functions is fairly simple. It could be made simpler with a clean, overview home screen, however. It does have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but they aren’t wireless, requiring a plug-in connection.

The 360-degree cameras are high-definition and can perform a neat trick that turns the car ‘invisible’, allowing the driver to see objects underneath the car.

A special mention goes to the 25-speaker Mark Levinson sound system for sheer knock-your-socks-off ability. I’m no audio engineer, but I’d hazard a guess and state Mark Levinson systems are among the best in the business. It’s great to see high-end systems offered at the entry level.

Is the Lexus LX500d a safe car?

The Lexus LX is a new premium car to the Australian market, which goes some way to explain why it has not been tested by ANCAP as yet. It’s worth noting the Toyota LandCruiser on which it’s based scored a full five-star rating last year.

	2022 Lexus LX500d
ANCAP rating	Untested

What safety technology does the Lexus LX500d have?

Speaking of bulk inclusions provided at the entry level, the entire Lexus LX range is covered off by an extensive safety suite.

Active safety gear includes autonomous emergency braking (with intersection detection), rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, tyre pressure warning, lane-trace assistance, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. Collectively these systems work in harmony with the driver without getting in the way all too often, as is sometimes the case.

There are also 10 individual air bags throughout the cabin.

How much does the Lexus LX500d cost to maintain?

Taking those rivals mentioned at the beginning of the review into account, the Lexus LX500d shores up as good value by comparison. The BMW X7 begins at $166,900 and a like-for-like Range Rover Sport costs $151,026. A car it doesn’t quite stack up against is the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, which tops out at $137,981 for the Sahara ZX variant.

Whether the Lexus LX500d is worth $10,000 over a top-spec LandCruiser is a matter for personal preference, but I think I’d be happier pocketing $10K.

What the Lexus experience does bring you is access to the Encore program, which affords benefits such as service loan vehicles, vehicle swap opportunities across Australia and New Zealand, and valet parking at shopping centres. Access to the program is available for the first three years of ownership.

Every Lexus comes with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and capped-price servicing (for three years). However, the service intervals are annoyingly frequent and occur every six months or 10,000km, whichever is first. Total service cost after the first three years is $2970.

Comprehensive insurance runs to $4363.21 per annum on a comparative quote from one of Australia’s leading insurers, and is based on a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW – insurance estimates may vary based on your location and driving history.

At a glance	2022 Lexus LX500d
Warranty	Five years, unlimited km
Service intervals	Six months or 10,000km
Servicing costs	$2970 (3 years)

Is the Lexus LX500d fuel-efficient?

According to Lexus, the LX500d should return a fuel economy of 8.9L/100km on a combined cycle or 11.3L/100km in urban environments. Our figure wasn’t quite as economical around town, coming out at 12.4L/100km.

Lexus says the 80L fuel tank should be good to get you a minimum of 708km on a full tank of diesel.

Fuel Useage	Fuel Stats
Fuel cons. (claimed)	11.3L/100km (urban)
Fuel cons. (on test)	12.4L/100km (urban)
Fuel type	Diesel
Fuel tank size	80L

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What is the Lexus LX500d like to drive?

Under the bonnet sits the same 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel engine that’s offered with the new Toyota LandCruiser. In both that and this Lexus, outputs are rated at 227kW/700Nm. However, the Lexus LX500d is slightly heavier, so it mightn’t be quite as sprightly off the line.

In any case, the responsiveness and shove exhibited by the LX500d are immense and can only be likened to a freight train. It responds fairly to kick-down acceleration, and pulling power for overtakes is strong.

Outputs are sent to the road through a full-time four-wheel-drive system that faithfully puts down power without slip. You can switch between low- and high-range gearing using a dial on the left-hand side of the centre console, while there are multiple terrain modes to choose from too. These are managed through the Multi-Terrain Select switcher and Drive Mode dial on the right.

The 10-speed automatic transmission does a smooth job of swapping ratios, and for the most part you won’t feel major breaks in power as the car changes gears.

Considering its size, manoeuvrability is good around town thanks to the neat camera system and auto-down side mirrors for reversing, but you do still need your wits about you. The 12m turning circle feels large at the helm, and might make for more than a three-point turn on tighter streets.

Thankfully there’s a light steering quality, which is appreciated in something so big you’ll have to perform many three-point turns.

One thing I struggled with through my time with the LX500d was the fact that it felt like I was driving a LandCruiser. There’s a jiggly off-road ride quality that I wasn’t expecting from a Lexus, and an agricultural engine note that consistently permeates the cabin on acceleration.

I’d argue a Lexus should offer a subdued and refined driving experience as opposed to its Toyota alternative, but it was difficult to pick the differences between the two. It does absorb speed humps with a passive quality and feels surefooted when touring, but there are instances of the big body feeling wallowy over things such as road joins and around tighter corners.

On the whole, the experience of driving the Lexus LX500d is positive and comfortable, but perhaps not quite to the level you’d expect from the marque.

Key details	2022 Lexus LX500d
Engine	3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel
Power	227kW @ 4000rpm
Torque	700Nm @ 1600–2600rpm
Drive type	Four-wheel drive
Transmission	10-speed torque converter automatic
Power to weight ratio	84kW/t
Weight	2690kg
Spare tyre type	Full-size spare
Tow rating	3500kg braked 750kg unbraked
Turning circle	12.0m

Should I buy a Lexus LX500d?

The key question that arose throughout my time spent with the 2022 Lexus LX500d is whether it’s that much better than a top-specification LandCruiser Sahara ZX.

It’s extremely plush inside the cabin, laden with technology and creature comforts to make you feel good about the $150K you spent, and is the kind of unbeatable tourer you’d want to take on a Grey Nomad journey of our country.

But it’s better thought of as an even higher flagship specification of the Toyota LandCruiser, rather than an out-and-out Lexus. Whether the differences in trim and specification are worth it will be up to the individual buyer – after all, the jump of roughly $10,000 over a top-spec LandCruiser is relatively small at this price point – but I imagine I’d be equally happy in the more affordable LandCruiser.

That said, for the niche buyers who desire one of the most luxurious, off-road-ready four-wheel drives money can buy, the Lexus LX500d is capable, comfortable, and cheaper than its alternatives.