2020 Lexus LX Model with Features & Configurations.

Are you in the market for a capable off-roader that is also quite chic and upscale? Then the 2020 Lexus LX might just be the right vehicle for you. There are a lot of features that get included and will make you feel like you are living in the lap of luxury. There are also enough stand-alone options that you can choose to help customize the LX to fit your needs.

The high point of the new LX is definitely its ability to work as a strong off-roading SUV. Many luxury SUVs miss the mark on this, so having something so athletic is great for those with adventurous spirits. The LX can also tow up to 7,000 pounds, which means you can certainly haul a camper behind you and go on a fun camping trip. Of course, you can just ditch the camper and spend a night or two inside the LX since it is so cozy. It honestly feels like you are living inside of a small yacht - a very fancy yacht.

There are some serious downfalls though. The biggest problem with the LX is that it is only offered in one trim level, the 570. This does not leave you with a ton of options to choose from. You only get five exterior colors to choose from which, while they are all beautiful, is not a lot. If you want a shimmering red or sporty yellow, you are out of luck here. There are a few interior options and two wheel options, but, of course, the more options you add, the more you will pay for the LX, which is already a pretty expensive luxury SUV.

It is also far from being fuel savvy. It gets a mere combined 14 mpg (with 12 mpg - yikes! - in the city and 16 mpg on the highway), which is dismal even by luxury SUV standards. Most competitors in this segment best those numbers. Even in a class that struggles with fuel efficiency and is not known for being bought for its gas-friendly nature, the LX is a massive let-down.

It also is not the best in terms of utility. Small item storage areas are limited, so you will have to figure out other ways to hide your expensive devices. The technology is also abysmal. High-tech features should be abundant and functional on luxury vehicles, but on the LX, they are both limited and have controls that are difficult to even find. You cannot get Android Auto or Apple CarPlay to integrate your smartphone apps; all you get is Bluetooth pairing. This is a terrible misstep on Lexus' part since even economy vehicles are now getting standard smartphone app integration.

With that critique being given, let us take a deeper look at the things that come on the 2020 Lexus LX 570. Could this potentially be the vehicle of your dreams? Might it prove to be more of an expensive nightmare? Read through to the end of this review, and you should, by then, have a clearer concept of whether the LX is a good fit for you.

Compare the 2020 Lexus LX 570 Model Features. What are the Options?

As already mentioned above, there is only one trim level available to buy on the 2020 Lexus LX - the 570. Similarly to the Toyota Land Cruiser, this SUV comes almost fully loaded for its segment. That, along with its off-roading capabilities and pretty cabin - makes for a strong selling point. But there are still options you can add, which we will cover in this section.

Let us start off with talking about the 570's specs. It is powered by a 5.7-L V8 engine that musters up a respectable 383 hp and 403 lb-ft of torque. It has a 4-cam, 4-valve per cylinder valvetrain that comes with a continuously variable valve timing function and intelligence (VVT-i, for short). As already mentioned, this engine gets the vehicle a lousy 14 mpg combined. It also gives the LX 570 a slow acceleration speed, going from 0 to 60 mph in roughly 7.3 seconds. The aforementioned 7,000-pound towing capacity is a strong showing though.

The front suspension is an independent, height-adjustable system done in a double wishbone style with coil springs included. There is also a stabilizer bar and electronically controlled shock absorbers. In the rear, you get a height-adjustable, four-link design with a stabilizer bar and electronically controlled shock absorbers.

The braking system has four-wheel power-assisted discs that come with a four-channel, four-sensor Multi-terrain anti-lock braking system (ABS), brake assist, four-piston front calipers, and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD). The brakes themselves are 13.9 ventilated discs up front and 13.5-inch ventilated discs in the rear. Unfortunately, trying to moderate these brakes at low speeds can be difficult since they are rather grabby, and even at higher speeds, they lack feeling.

The LX 570 comes with standard 20 x 8.5 inch 5-spoke alloy wheels and tires that are rated for use in both snow and mud. You also get a full-sized spare tire with an alloy wheel. If you want, you can upgrade to a 21 x 8.5 inch set of 5-spoke wheels done in alloy. These also come with all-season tires and the full-sized spare.

The steering system is engine-speed-sensing and is power-assisted rack-and-pinion style with variable gear-ratio steering (VGRS). It is lock-to-lock with 2.6-3.3 turns. This makes for a system that feels way too light on the highway and excessively heavy when going at slow speeds. You might find yourself drifting over the line too much since there is little in the way of on-center feeling. Kind of scary, right? This is definitely not something you should expect from a luxury SUV.

As far as the drivetrain goes, the LX 570 gets an 8-speed sequential shift automatic transmission with full-time four-wheel drive. There is Torsen limited-slip center differential equipped, and that gives you an electronic-locking center differential.

Now, you are probably quite curious about what type of features come equipped as standard on the 2020 Lexus LX 570. As you should anticipate from a luxury vehicle, there are quite a few, so bear with us here as we go through them.

Let's start off with the LX 570's tech features. They are considerably limited for a luxury class vehicle, but you do get a nice 12.3-inch high-res touchscreen infotainment system. Navigation is built in. Lexus Enform Destination Assist helps you by giving you around-the-clock access to navigation features. You can find everything from small businesses to nearby gas stations. If you get the third-row version of the LX 570, you can opt for a rear seat entertainment system with a screen on each side. With this, you get an AC power outlet, a wireless remote, and wireless headphone sets.

Other standard infotainment features include the Lexus Enform App Suite, Lexus Enform Service Connect, Lexus Enform Remote, a Fuel Prices app, a Sports app, a Stocks app, a full-color LCD multi-information display, voice command, Bluetooth connectivity, illuminated entry, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and Siri Eyes Free. Options include a color head-up display, a wireless charging tray, and the 450-watt Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound Audio System. There is a Luxury Package that gives you four-zone climate control as well as heating and ventilation on the front and second-row outboard seats.

This model year marks the inclusion of the LX Sport Package. This package includes features like a lowered rear valance, a new dynamic grille design, and chrome detailing on the exterior. It is available on the third-row version, but you cannot get it on the second-row.

So, what do these vehicles get as standard features in terms of design and comfort? There are standard roof rails on top, a 14-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a 12-way power-adjustable front passenger's seat, and customizable seating and storage that includes a 50/50-split third-row seat that is power folding on the third-row version. Gorgeous ambient lighting also comes equipped, as do a power open/close rear door, lovely artisan crafted wood trim, the Lexus Memory System (for the side mirrors, driver's seat, and steering wheel position), multiple power outlet sources, an illuminated console, and an electrochromic (auto-dimming) side mirrors that have automatic tilt down in reverse.

Some of the optional features you can get are semi-aniline perforated leather-trimmed seats, wood and leather trim for the heated steering wheel, a cool box for the front console, and LX projector door lamps. You can also get the Sport Package on the third-row version with a Sport front grille, Sport lower rear valance, and Sport design side mirrors with chrome trim.

Of course, you are going to want to know which safety features you will get on the LX 570. The Lexus Safety System Plus includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, intelligent high beams, and all-speed dynamic radar cruise control. You also get Roadside Assistance with Lexus Enform Safety Connect, Crawl Control with Turn Assist, an advanced multi-view monitor, premium triple-beam LED headlights, and Hill Start Assist Control. Trailer Sway Control is standard as well and comes in handy when you are towing something large behind you. There is a 10-airbag system, vehicle stability and traction control, Intuitive Parking Assist, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and Smart Stop technology.

Again, the only packages you can get are the Luxury and Sport. If you want optional stand-alones, you only have a few features to choose from. Those include the cool box, a color head-up display for the third-row SUV, the heated wood and leather steering wheel, the Mark Levinson sound system, the 21-inch alloy wheels, the dual-screen rear seat entertainment system, and the wireless charger for the third-row SUV.

Which Trim to Choose?

Obviously, there is no trim level choice to be made; either you get the 2020 Lexus LX 570 or you don't. So, the question becomes: Should you get the LX 570?

The answer we will give you is this: Look at a few of the competitors first. The LX is not the worst vehicle in its class, but it is far from being the best. If you are going to invest a lot of money in a brand-new vehicle, you want one that is well-rounded, right? The LX 570 is not a well-rounded vehicle. Its pitfalls are pretty enormous. The dismal fuel efficiency, the sluggish acceleration, the lackluster steering, and the weak brakes are serious sore spots on the LX 570. The only real highlights are the towing capacity, off-roading capabilities, and nice-looking interior materials.

You do not get a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to standard technology either, and that is just the nail in the LX's fancy-looking coffin. Your best bet is to give some of the competitors a try and set the LX on the backburner this time around.