Updated March 24, 2022
WHY IS THIS INFORMATION IMPORTANT?
This page will tell you everything that you need to know about the Acura MDX. Buying a vehicle is a huge accomplishment and a huge financial outlay. We want you to have as much information as possible, so that you can make the best decision for you.
The Lexus LX (Japanese: レクサス・LX, Rekusasu LX) is a full-size luxury SUV sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota since January 1996 having entered manufacture in November 1995. Three generations have been produced, all based heavily on the long-running Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs. The first generation LX 450 started production in 1995 as Lexus’ first entry into the SUV market. Its successor, the LX 470, premiered in 1998 and was manufactured until 2007. The latest, third-generation, LX 570 debuted at the New York International Auto Show in April 2007 as a complete redesign for the 2008 model year. The LX name stands for “Luxury Crossover”. However, some Lexus importers use the backronymic name, “Luxury Four Wheel Drive”.
The second and third generations had a V8 engine powertrain, a welded steel body-shell combined with full-size steel ladder frame (body-on-frame construction), and seats for eight passengers (LX 470 and LX 570). The first generation LX 450, a mid-size SUV, had an inline-6 engine and seats for seven passengers. The second generation LX 470 shared exterior styling with the Land Cruiser Cygnus, sold in Japan. The LX is Lexus’ largest and most expensive luxury SUV.
— Source Wikipedia
- Official Page – Lexus LX
- Price: Starts at $112,900
- Comparable to: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7
- Maintenance costs: The MDX will cost approximately $8,286 to maintain over 10 years.
REVIEWS AND IMPRESSIONS
We have put together as many reviews and impressions as we could find. Each finds a way to touch upon something that the others missed. If you are serious about this vehicle then check out the videos at the end of our vehicle analysis section. If you have review or first impressions that helped you and that aren’t listed here, please contact us!
OUR SCORE
SCORES BY PUBLICATION:
Newsweek: No Score
Kelley Blue Book: 3.8 / 5
Car and Driver: 6.5 / 10
USNews: 6.5 / 10
Edmunds: 6.8 / 10
J.D. Power: 82 / 100
Motortrend: 7.3 / 10
What the critics have to say…
The flagship LX is a comfortable, luxurious thing, but among its contemporary competitors, this SUV is defined by its age. That won’t bother all buyers, but it could provide enough reason to look elsewhere.
— Motortrend
You can take the LX 570 well off the beaten path, and as is expected of a Lexus, it behaves as though every component has been coated in silicone. But on pavement, the truck-like LX 570 is less enjoyable to drive.
— Edmunds
HOW DOES IT DRIVE?
The LX 570 is immensely capable off-road but proves less so on pavement. In typical driving, the V8 feels lazy and not especially quick to spin up, and it lacks torque at the low end where you’d expect it. It’s a tall vehicle and leans noticeably in turns.
The steering is shockingly heavy at parking lot speeds and overly light on the freeway, with poor on-center feel that makes it easy to drift from a straight line. The brakes are quite numb and can be hard to modulate at low speeds, exhibiting some grabbiness. In our testing, the big SUV made the 0-60 mph run in an acceptable 7.5 seconds. Other luxury SUVs feel livelier when you prod the gas pedal.
IS IT RELIABLE AND HIGH QUALITY?
Is the Lexus LX Reliable?
The 2021 Lexus LX has a predicted reliability score of 83 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Lexus LX Warranty
Lexus covers the LX with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.
HOW COMFORTABLE IS IT?
The LX’s comfort and quiet clash with its bumpy ride. The excellent front seats are wide and flat but also cushy and supportive. They’re built like armchairs and great for long drives. The second row in our two-row tester was just as cushy but less supportive with fewer adjustments, and your knees sit a bit higher due to the floor height. The Lexus LX is also very quiet. Traffic, road noise and even bumps sound distant. There’s wind noise at freeway speeds, but it’s nothing intrusive.
The ride is truck-like. Lexus’ suspension takes the sharp edges off bumps big and small, but you still feel every road imperfection. And the climate control is best left to manage itself in Climate Concierge mode since adjusting the settings requires using the annoying infotainment interface.
WHAT IS THE INTERIOR LIKE?
The two-row LX’s interior is incredibly roomy. There’s a lack of toe room under the front seats, but extra legroom makes up for that. Visibility is also quite strong for a large SUV, with tall glass and expansive mirrors that provide a good view all around. The driving position is very upright and commanding, and shorter drivers might struggle to find a comfortable arrangement.
The cabin is positively cluttered with controls, many for off-road features. They’re well labeled, but it’s a lot to manage. Anything that doesn’t have a button is stuck in one of the most cumbersome infotainment interfaces on the road. Also, while the doors open wide and there are plenty of grab handles, the vehicle’s high seats and high step rails can make getting in and out a struggle for some.
WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGY LIKE?
The LX is saddled with Lexus’ worst generation of infotainment, with a finicky joystick controller, confusing menu structures, and poorly labeled and hard-to-find settings. The navigation software is simplistic and outdated. There’s Bluetooth audio but no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Lexus provides just a few USB ports and none for the second row. You can’t do worse in this segment. That said, sound quality from the optional Mark Levinson stereo is excellent.
The adaptive cruise control works pretty well for a vehicle this size at freeway speeds, but it’s too reactive in stop-and-go traffic, making it unpleasant to use. Driver aids overall are far less capable than those from class leaders.
WHAT IS THE CARGO SPACE LIKE?
The LX 570 offers a massive 53.7 cubic feet of storage space behind the back seats, and it can tow up to 7,000 pounds — a great showing. If you want max cargo space, you have to fold the second row upright against the front seatbacks. That forces the front seats forward far enough to make driving essentially impossible for most adults.
The LX does make a fine place to sleep on a camping trip, and since each side of the second-row seats can be folded independently, you can open up a very long space on one side of the vehicle if you forgo a passenger. For your small personal items, there are a few handy pockets, but most of the small-item storage is in the bucket-like armrest bin. Competitors offer better organization.
IS THIS VEHICLE A GOOD VALUE?
The Lexus LX feels very well built, with quality materials and padding almost everywhere your body might make contact with a surface. It is a solid-feeling vehicle, and, compared to our time in some other body-on-frame SUVs, we experienced no rattles or creaks. That said, the starting price is very high for the segment (although most features are standard), and most competitors are less expensive even when optioned up. Lexus’ warranty is typical for the class.
IS THE Lexus LX A GOOD SUV?
No, the Lexus LX is not a particularly good SUV. There’s little to like about its performance: Acceleration is underwhelming, handling can be a chore, and fuel economy is dismal. While it delivers a comfortable ride, so do nearly all other luxury large SUVs, and several class rivals match or exceed the LX’s great off-roading abilities.
Inside, it’s more of the same. An elegant cabin is an expectation in this class, so it’s not like the LX sticks out in that category. Third-row seating is cramped, cargo space is below average, and the infotainment controls can be maddening.
SHOULD I BUY THE Lexus lx?
The 2021 LX comes with an extensive list of standard features, and you can likely get a fully spec’d model for less money than most other class rivals. That’s still not enough to recommend buying it. You’ll be much better off with a more well-rounded vehicle like the Mercedes-Benz GLS. You can also check out the Toyota Land Cruiser, which is related to the LX but beats it in many key areas.
THE FINAL WORD
The 2021 Lexus LX’s combination of luxury and off-road ability isn’t enough to set it apart in the luxury large SUV class. Several rivals pair those strengths with a longer list of positives to create a more well-rounded package.