Lexus LX 450d 2018 Review

Roughing it

We tested the new Lexus LX 450d in some pretty rough countryside. What sort of countryside? Well how about the Ghan Heritage Road that heads north out of Finke in the Northern Territory.

It’s a complete stinker, with sets of bone-breaking ruts punctuating the red sand surface. Yet the LX 450d smooths out this shocker like few vehicles could. Riding on height adjustable adaptive suspension it absorbs the punishment, then dulls the racket thanks to a generous dollop of noise deadening material.

Turn from what’s laughably called a road and try some off-roading and the Lexus LX 450d has a combination of mechanical and electronic aids that allow it to conquer any reasonable challenge.

Go to the opposite extreme and the LX 450d is as refined cruising down a freeway as any saloon that bears the Lexus badge.

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It’s big. Really big

Like its petrol V8 relation the LX 570, the LX 450d is based on the admirable Toyota 200 Series LandCruiser.

So, it rides on a ladder frame chassis and gets the same 200kW/650Nm 4.5-litre twin-turbo-diesel V8 engine driving all four wheels permanently via a six-speed automatic transmission. Embedded within the 4x4 system are a multi-mode control for off-roading, a four-camera terrain monitor that includes an under-car view and a feet-off five-speed crawl control.

There’s even a ‘Turn Control’ function that locks the inside rear wheel and allows a tighter turning circle. It’s effective, but it sounds bad and looks bad, like a dog dragging a broken back leg.

Above and beyond the top-spec LandCruiser, the Sahara, there’s those adaptive dampers and hydraulic height adjust, electric-assist steering and 20-inch rather than 18-inch rubber. Of course, the Active Height Control system rules out the need for the Sahara’s Kinetic Damping Suspension System which decouples stabiliser bars for greater wheel articulation.

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Glamping on four wheels

Inside, the LX 450d’s additional features include a 12.3-inch multimedia display (9.0-inch for the Sahara), wireless charging, easy access for seats and steering column, smart key card, rear sun blinds and a fully upholstered instrument panel and console.

Equipment shared with the Sahara includes four-zone climate control, nine-speaker audio (the 570 gets a 19-speaker Mark Levinson system), a cool box and a swag of safety gear including active cruise control, a rudimentary form of Autonomous Emergency Braking, 10 airbags and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The two also share a 3500kg braked towing capacity and a full-sized spare tyre located under the floor.

But – and it’s a sizable but – the LX 450d gives up some key specification to ensure it doesn’t bust its 3350kg GVM, or Gross Vehicle Mass. That, for those of us who are unsure, is the total permissible combined weight of the vehicle, including occupants, fuel and cargo.

Toyota and Lexus claim the same 2740kg kerb weight for the Sahara and LX 450d (and LX 570 for that matter), but that’s clearly a furphy. The diesel LX must be a real porker, so bunging a bit of gear overboard is essential.

The LX 450d drops rear media screens and is only a five-seater – both the LX 570 and Sahara diesel have three rows of seating and eight and seven seats respectively. The 45-litre sub fuel tank has also been dropped, leaving capacity at 93 litres. Do the sums and against the claimed fuel consumption average of 9.5L/100km and that’s still a range close to 1000km.

Do the same sums for the petrol LX 570 with its 14.4L/100km fuel consumption average and 138-litre tanks and the range is much the same as the diesel.

I guess the advantage boils down to spending less money on fuel. Mind you, our average according to the trip computer was 13.4L/100km. In the same conditions the petrol would probably be a 20.0L/100km proposition!

Other lesser stuff missing from the LX 450d includes seat ventilation in row one, heating and ventilation in row two and a moonroof

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What’s the damage?

So, what’s it cost? The Lexus LX 450d is $134,500 before on-road costs, compared to the $120,301 Sahara.

The LX 570 is $143,160. The LX 450d prices-up well against the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class diesel and drastically undercuts any Range Rover diesel (the RR Sport is a closer rival on price).

Included with the Lexus is a four-year/100,000km warranty, which is nothing special these days. No sign of set-price servicing costs either.

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The view from on high

There’s no shortage of grunt from the big turbo-diesel V8, which also makes a pretty cool noise for a compression ignition engine. Maybe there’s a bit of hesitation when you first hammer the throttle, but a moment’s think music is followed by a strong burst of acceleration.

There are flappy paddles behind the steering wheel for added urgency, but they hardly seem necessary.

During normal driving you can twiddle the drive mode select dial between Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes, or customise powertrain, chassis and air-conditioning settings.

Whatever you do the LX 450d never feels less than … huge. It is not nimble or sporty. It is big, heavy and hulking. It crushes the road under its big alloy wheels.

Off-road in low-range the Multi-Terrain Select allows the vehicle’s systems to be optimised for mud and sand, loose rock, moguls, rock and dirt and rock. Crawl Control takes the vehicle’s oversight to the next level. And yes, the Torsen limited slip centre diff locks for the really tough stuff.

Standing outside and watching the LX 450d conquer an obstacle is compelling. You can hear whirrs, see wheels spin, stop, drive transfer and then the LX 450d simply pushes forward, up and over. Lesser vehicles are left in its wake.

Back in the cabin there’s no doubt Lexus has done its smothering thing with the interior. There’s leather and wood everywhere, the obligatory analogue clock in the dash and backlit dials in the instrument panel.

Lexus persists with its annoying mouse-like controller for the infotainment screen. It’s all a bit old-fashioned and clunky compared to the latest huge movie screens the Germans are rolling out.

Out the back there is sprawling space, behind row two is 909 litres of claimed luggage space accessed by a split-opening tailgate with a powered upper section.

Wander round the front and that’s where the LX 450d really gets your attention. It has looks only a mother could love. That spindle grille is, erm, distinctive.

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Summing up

The Lexus LX 450d is an imperfect beast thanks to its heavy weight, reduced seating capacity and fuel tank size. But gee whizz it does an impressive job of transporting its occupants in luxury across all sorts of conditions.

Just hope some of those owners escape the ’burbs and give the outback a crack at some point. There can’t be too many more comfortable ways to see Australia.

How much does the 2018 Lexus LX 450d cost?
Price: $134,500 (plus ORCs)
Engine: 4.5-litre eight-cylinder twin-turbo-diesel
Output: 200kW/650Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.5L/100km (ADR Combined), 20.0L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 250g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: TBC