Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
For its 4th generation welcome party, Lexus totally redesigned and re-engineered its 2022 LX 600 flagship vehicle. But they had to; since 1995, when it first hit the scene, the LX was a standout in size, capability, and luxury amenities but never an attention grabber. The Japanese SUV didn’t snatch your soul when cruising by as the Escalade and Navigator did in their prime, and as the Range Rover continues to do with peerless support from luxury aficionados. Now Lexus has competition from Mercedes, BMW, HUMMER EV, INFINITI, and the Grand Wagoneer, who all compete in the full-size luxury SUV field. Therefore, when the all-new 2022 LX 600 Luxury model rolled up for a weekly review, I knew the innovators from “The Land of the Rising Sun” were onto something.
Beginning with classy 22” forged aluminum rims, an efficient, high-torque 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine, and a refreshing, pyramid-styled spindle grille with seven horizontal slates, the truck felt amazing on the road and equally looks amazing. Engine power is quite stellar as the powertrain produces 409-horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, while the elegant paddle shifters allow you to control the 10-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission with fluidity. However, the 265/50 R22 Dunlop tires are too narrow for this vehicle. Wider rubber (maybe 295 or 285s) would allow the perfect stance and more traction to tackle trails with aggression. I would also replace the clunky plastic running boards with refined steps bars that match the rims and grille. At night, LED illumination stems from a full-width Blade Taillamp that captures the attention of those tailing you.
Available in five trims — Standard, Premium, Luxury, F SPORT, and Ultra Luxury — a profusion of safety features and technologies set the mark for your SUV, beginning with Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, which consists of a suite of specific active safety innovations. A few include All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System, Frontal Collision Warning, and Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist. Furthermore, the 2022 LX has trimmed off 441-pounds. Therefore the SUV is more agile and, of course, quicker.
Remember that the new LX is not just a touring vehicle for date nights, proms, and weddings. The utility gets down and dirty when necessary since it was built with an off-road focus. The package begins with Multi-Terrain Select’s six terrain modes: Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, Deep Snow, and Rock. As you can imagine, Auto mode completes the guesswork for you through various sensors to determine road conditions and appropriately optimize suspension control, hydraulic brake pressure, and driving force. Your settings can be operated and viewed from the lower 7” Multi-Terrain Monitor as part of the new Lexus Interface multimedia system featuring a 12.3″ upper touchscreen. Then you have Crawl Control to help reduce tire slippage and Downhill Assist Control when descending steep or slippery slopes. An Active Height Control suspension features three settings (Normal, Hi1, and Hi2) to adjust vehicle height while your LX is on the go. There’s also a Low setting for entering and exiting the vehicle.
“The LX has been a beacon of capability and style for more than 25 years,” said Vinay Shahani, vice president of Lexus marketing. “With the all-new LX 600, our flagship luxury SUV, we built on that legacy by offering uncompromising performance, thoughtful design and human-centered technology that our guests need to tackle life’s big moments.”
The grandeur of the LX lies in its opulent cabin, especially the 4-seat Ultra Luxury grade. The interior is augmented by a 25-speaker 2,400-watt Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound system, reclining and massaging rear-seat captain chairs using NASA body positioning research, diamond-stitched semi-aniline leather, ambient illumination such as Rainforest, Waterfall, and Sunset, and open-pore wood trims including the artisan-crafted black veneers in my loaner vehicle. Moreover, the Lexus Interface eliminates the small touchpad Lexus used for years, which was more nuisance than a convenience.
Also in your 2022 LX, expect a towing capacity of 8,000 lbs., 17/22/19 MPG (city/highway/combined), one-touch auto-arrange power folding seats, a power tilt-and-slide moonroof, a heated wood-and leather-trimmed steering wheel, a cool box for beverages, auto door closer, and premium Triple-Beam LED Headlamps & LED Taillamps to name a few. My vehicle carried a starting MSRP of $103,000 with a few grand more in options. Now go “experience amazing!”
