Lexus-LX 570

The VIPS Scale -  Value - Image - Performance - Safety

HOPES WERE HIGH WHEN I GOT A CHANCE TO TEST THE NEW LEXUS SUV…THE LX570. AFTER BEING VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE LEXUS LS SEDAN, I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT LEXUS WAS DOING WITH IT’S TOP SHELF SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. THE LX570 IS ALSO A COUSIN TO THE TOYOTA LAND CRUISER, A VEHICLE I REALLY LIKED.
SORRY TO SAY, THE LX570 LEFT ME A LITTLE FLAT AND DID NOT COMPARE FAVORABLE WITH THE LAND CRUISER..

LET’S CHECK OUT THE V-I-P-S SCALE….VALUE…IMAGE…PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY. SCORE 1 TO 10 IN EACH CATEGORY….40= A PERFECT VEHICLE.


VALUE
THE LX570 COMES WITH A BASE PRICE OF 73 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE MODEL I TESTED HAD A LOT OF BELLS & WHISTLES AND STICKERED OUT AT $80,655. SINCE THE ‘O8 LAND CRUISER GOES FOR ABOUT 63K AND IS A BETTER VEHICLE…I GUESS THE LEXUS NAME ADDS ABOUT 10K TO THE PRICE TAG. GAS MILEAGE IS NOTHING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT. THE BIG V-8 GETS 12mpg IN THE CITY AND 18mpg ON THE HIGHWAY…ALTHO I MANAGED TO SQUEEZE OUT ABOUT 19mpg ON THE OPEN ROAD. LEXUS RECOMMENDS PREMIUM FUEL. IT’S A NICE VEHICLE, AND LEXUS DOESN’T SCRIMP ON THE AMENITIES, BUT 80K IS WAY TOO MUCH.

VALUE --- 6


IMAGE
WELL…IT’S LEXUS AND THERE’S NO MISTAKING THE QUALITY AND IMAGE THE NAME CARRIES. I’M NOT SURE YOU GET THAT WITH THE LX. THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS ‘UPSCALE TOYOTA’ AND THAT’S AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION. (ESPECIALLY THE LEATHER-TRIMMED INTERIOR, WHICH LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE INSIDE OF THE LAND CRUISER) IN THE COMPETITIVE LUXURY S-U-V CATEGORY, THAT JUST DOESN’T CUT IT.

IMAGE --- 7


PERFORMANCE
ON THE OPEN ROAD, THE LX WAS SMOOTH AND COMFORTABLE WITH MORE THAN ENOUGH POWER TO PULL OUT AND PASS ON A 2-LANE ROAD. ON A WINDING ROAD, THERE WAS A LOT OF CORNER LEAN. LIKE THE LAND CRUISER, THE LX COMES WITH CRAWL CONTROL – CRUISE CONTROL FOR OFF-ROAD 4-WHEELING.
THAT’S A PLUS. IT ALSO BRINGS UP A GOOD QUESTION. WHY WOULD YOU PAY 75-80 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A LUXURY SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE AND THEN TAKE IT OFF-ROAD AND BEAT IT UP? ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE OTHER LESS
EXPENSIVE OPTIONS.
THE LX INTERIOR WAS ROOMY AND COMFORTABLE, BUT A LITTLE NOISY. THE ENTERTAINMENT AND CLIMATE CONTROLS WERE A LITTLE TRICKY TO USE BUT EASY TO READ ON A LARGE VIDEO SCREEN. (WHICH WAS ALSO USED FOR FRONT, SIDE AND REAR-VIEW CAMERAS.) THE “EASY ACCESS’ FEATURE THAT LOWERS THE CHASSIS TO ASSIST ENTRY AND EXIT IS NICE. IN BACK, THE CARGO DECK IS SIMPLY TOO HIGH AND YOU HAVE TO LIFT LOADS UP AND OVER A TAILGATE THAT WON’T OPEN. THE LX HAS 3RD ROW SEATING, BUT PROBABLY NOT FOR ADULTS.

PERFORMANCE --- 7.5


SAFETY
LOTS OF AIRBAGS. FRONT SIDE, CURTAIN SIDE AND REAR SIDE AIRBAGS.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING WITH ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION CONTROL. OFF-ROAD TRACTION CONTROL. ANTI SKID SYSTEM.
I FELT PRETTY SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE.

SAFETY --- 8.5


THAT ADDS UP TO 29 OUT OF 40. A BIT SURPRISING SINCE THE LX570 SHARES THE BASIC REDESIGN OF THE 2008 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER, WHICH TESTED MUCH HIGHER ON OUR V-I-P-S SCALE. (38 OUT OF 40) AT 60K, THE LAND CRUISER IS A BETTER BUY THAN THE 80K LEXUS LX570.

I’M JAY RITCHIE AND I HOPE YOU GET TO “DRIVE MY CAR.”