2013 Lexus LX570

The LX is one of those vehicles you’ll see employed by swanky hotels such as the Ritz Carlton, transporting guests to their daily excursions or perhaps parked in a reserved doctor’s spot at the hospital.  But to spot it out here on the muddy trail?  Highly unlikely.  Not being the owner of this nearly $89,000  SUV allows me to traverse this type of unsavory terrain without the angst I would imagine most would feel.  But it’s because affluence can afford extravagant safeguards that the Lexus LX570 exists.  Like an automatic home generator that keeps the entire residence humming during an outage, the LX provides the assurance that you’ll be able to get to your destination…even if those resources are seldom or never used.

Full-time four-wheel drive, body on frame construction, a solid rear axle, a limited slip locking differential, 9” of total front wheel travel and a variety of new electronic off-road aids allay any fears that the LX is simply posing as an SUV.  You can raise or lower the vehicle with the flip of a switch, allow the updated Crawl Control feature to maneuver you across difficult ground, or go to 4-low and use the new Multi-terrain Select to choose a road surface type that presets the off-road systems for you.  There’s a reason the owners’ manual looks like a set of encyclopedias; with all of these switches and abbreviations scattered about a reference is needed.

But of course far more common usage of the LX is on-road.  The Land Cruiser’s more upscale cousin delivers a super sumptuous experience with refreshed styling for 2013 and numerous interior enhancements.  The big 5.7-liter V8 delivers 383 horsepower and 403 pound feet of torque while drinking premium gas at a rate of 12mpg city/17mpg highway.  Even at 3 tons, the LX will scoot to 60mph in 7.5-seconds and can tow 7,000 pounds easier than ever with the new trailer sway control.  The adaptive variable suspension ranges from comfort to sport and isolates the occupants from the road like no crossover can.  There’s a bit of that side-to-side head sway you get in a big truck but the LX is always soft and coddling.  No matter which row you find yourself in, the LX570 delivers spaciousness with power operated everything.

The array of luxury features is dazzling and my tester adds to the standard items with the $1,510 luxury package, highlighted by heated and cooled front seats, heated second row seats, a center console that doubles as a cool box, smart key access, and upgraded leather.  The $2,350 Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound System delivers amazing richness while the dual screen DVD entertainment system adds an electronic babysitter.  And for $1,000 there’s the intuitive park assist with a very useful front and side view monitor that helps guide this large 8-passenger SUV into parking spaces.  The one safety feature that’s conspicuously absent in side blind zone alert.  The Lexus Enform app and destination assist add a new layer to the vehicle’s excellent connectivity and concierge feel.

With new styling cues that better integrate it with the Lexus lineup and innovative features that bring it up to date, the 2013 Lexus LX570 remains a pillar of opulent motoring.  Base price