Is the Lexus LX good for new drivers?

What is it?

The Lexus LX is a behemoth of an SUV with all the luxury- and convenience specifications you can possibly need. Seating five to eight people, it's perfect for taking your best friends or family on the ultimate off-road trip, but boy, you would need to be minted. 

It comes super-equipped for serious four-by-four excursions, and just driving it around town and the suburbs would be a waste of its talents. Most owners of these cars don't take them off-road all that often, however. 

 

Is it hard to drive?

It's not difficult to drive, but bear in mind that it's a large and heavy vehicle — the biggest Lexus SUV in the brand's stables — and a far cry from the small city car you probably drove when you underwent your driving test. Driving the LX as your daily vehicle may prove cumbersome, especially if you live in an area where parking is not always readily available. Despite cameras all around the vehicle and parking assistance, you may feel nervous driving the LX in crowded or cramped parking lots. 

 

Engines

There are only two LX models to choose from: The LX450d (a diesel) with a 6-speed auto and the LX 570 petrol with an 8-speed auto transmission. The petrol will be guzzling fuel, but the diesel is the better option if you care about fuel consumption at all.

The 4.5-litre turbodiesel in the LX450d has 195kW and 650Nm, while the 5.7-litre petrol LX 570 has 270kW and 530Nm. Both vehicles have a top speed of 210 km/h. (Both are powered by V8 engines.)

 

 The LX has recently received a spec upgrade as well. Here's what's new, according to Lexus South Africa:

• Wireless headsets will be made available for the LX range and will come standard with any purchase,
• To ensure the driver and front passenger are safe when driving, the current LX will have a buzzer function for the seatbelts not worn,
• A new colour is introduced for the LX — Terrane Khaki (first seen on the UX). 
• A new interior trim is also introduced, Ochre — a natural clay earth pigment with a mixture of clay and sand tones.

 

Safety

The LX has 10 airbags, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, directional turning headlamps, a blind-spot monitor, surround view cameras, a light sensor, stability/traction control, and rain-sensing windscreen wipers, to name but a few features.  You will certainly be extremely safe in the LX, but can you be trusted not to speed or drive recklessly, putting your fellow road-users in danger? If the answer is yes, then we can't see why you shouldn't be driving an LX.

 

Verdict

If you're a responsible person who requires an extra-large off-roader, and you have ample parking at your disposal and deep pockets for fuel and monthly repayments (as well as maintenance costs once the LX is out of its warranty/maintenance plan), it's a great choice. However, if you don't need a massive vehicle with a 4x4 skillset, why not opt for a compact Lexus SUV instead, such as the Lexus NX? It's much easier to pilot around town, much more affordable (especially if you're buying used) and a dynamic car to drive. The smaller UX crossover may also tickle your fancy, but remember that it's not built for anything rougher than a dirt road.

 

Pricing is as follows:

LX 450d: R1 939 500

LX 570d: R2 010 000

Pricing correct at the time this article was published, but may increase without prior notice.

Vehicle service intervals are at every 10 000km, alternatively once a year. A 7-year/100 000km Warranty and Full Maintenance Plan is standard for both LX models.

 

Did you know?

The Lexus LX is based on the more affordable Toyota Land Cruiser. A brand-new, top-spec Land Cruiser Prado 4.0 VX-L will currently cost you R 1 138 800, and used models will be even more affordable. The top-spec Land Cruiser 200 4.5D-4D VX-R will set you back R1 614 550.