The Only Way to Get a Land Cruiser: The 409HP Turbocharged 2022 Lexus LX600 is the New King of Toyota SUVs
For over 25 years the LX series has been the flagship of Lexus’ SUV lineup, but this rugged and luxurious 4x4 was often overlooked because it’s always just been considered a fancier version of the Toyota Land Cruiser.
The 4x4 Flagship
But now that Toyota has stopped offering the Land Cruiser in North America, the Lexus LX is a much bigger deal than it used to be—and Lexus has just debuted the next generation 2022 LX600.
This is the first full redesign of the LX since the late 2000s, and the new model is packing some big changes, just like the new 300 series Land Cruiser that’s no longer sold here.
As before, the LX shares the same basic shape and layout with the Land Cruiser, but with plenty of unique Lexus styling, including the massive spindle grille up front.
And like the Land Cruiser, it rides on the new GA-F body-on-frame platform, which helps the new LX cut a significant 441 pounds of weight when compared to the outgoing LX570.
Enter the Twin Turbo
Like Toyota's new Tundra, the LX also leaves behind its old 5.7 liter V8 engine for a new 3.5 liter twin-turbocharged V6. Performance-wise, buyers likely won't miss the old V8, as the LX600 makes 409 horsepower and 479 pound feet of torque from its version of the boosted V6.
The transmission is a new 10-speed automatic and when combined with the weight savings, the LX600 should be a lot faster than the old version while also delivering improved fuel economy and better handling on-road and off.
Off-Road Toys
And that off-road performance is still a big reason why buyers are drawn to the LX. As expected, four-wheel-drive is standard and the LX600 a full suite of equipment to deliver serious all-terrain capability. These include adjustable height suspension, variable dampers, terrain modes, crawl control and all of the other toys found on today's high end off-road machines.
There's also a new LX600 F-Sport model in the lineup that adds a Torsen limited slip differential and unique suspension tuning along with more aggressive styling touches inside and out.
The King of Comfort
In addition to the aforementioned performance equipment, LX buyers also get treated to new levels of luxury. Highlights include a combination of 12.3 and seven-inch infotainment displays and a new "Ultra Luxury" trim that focuses on a VIP treatment for rear-seat passengers with 48 degrees of reclining, massive amounts of legroom and additional display screens.
Pricing for the 2022 LX600 hasn't been announced yet, but we'll know more before it hits dealerships next spring. Typically, though LX buyers aren't too concerned about price as there's nothing else that's offered the same levels of comfort, reliability, and off-road performance.
But without its Land Cruiser sibling available, there will likely be a new segment of buyers moving over from the Toyota side—and the next-gen LX looks like it will offer all the performance and luxury features needed to win them over.
More From Driving Line
Want to learn more about the Lexus LX? Here we outline the lineage of the model and how it differs from the Land Cruiser.
