2024 Lexus LX 600 Review

When one sets eyes upon a vehicle with the phrase ‘Ultra Luxury” included in its nomenclature, expectations run high. Even more so when that phrase is preceded by the word “Lexus”. And indeed, the 2024 Lexus LX 600 Ultra Luxury with which I spent a week proved itself more than adept at satisfying even the most hedonistic tendencies. Having explored its capabilities both on pavement and in the dirt, I can confidently say this is the finest example the marque has ever offered of its flagship SUV.

What’s more, the biggest Lexus no longer has to exist with the Toyota Land Cruiser nipping at its heels. There was a time when the big Lexus was little more than a Land Cruiser with a few more luxury touches. Going into the 2024 model year, Toyota has downsized the Land Cruiser, such that it is now more directly comparable to the GX Lexus. This leaves the LX standing alone at the pinnacle of its parent company’s SUV submissions.

With a base price of $92,215 and an as tested price of $130,995, the Lexus LX 600 Ultra Luxury absolutely resides in the upper echelon of luxury SUVs. Comforts include massaging and reclining captain’s chairs in the second row, active height control and an outstanding Mark Levinson audio system. Long story short, you’ll never wonder where your money went when you’re comfortably ensconced within these palatial confines.

2024 Lexus LX 600 Ultra Luxury First Impressions

Having experienced a complete makeover for the 2022 model year, the ’24 Lexus LX 600 is little changed from its immediate predecessors. In fact, there is but one addition to the Ultra Luxury trim package; wireless Bluetooth headphones for the rear seat entertainment system. That wasn’t disappointing for me though, as the big Lexus’s ability to radiate gravitas remains firmly intact.

One look at this thing, you know it took a serious exchange of cheddar to pry it out of the dealer’s clutches. Everything about the way it looks says, “Yeah, I’m expensive, and I ain’t ashamed of that fact,” but not in a flashy way, which I admire. Strong build quality is evident in the fit, finish and alignment of its body panels. Further, its robust appearance gives the impression that it will last forever, which is borne out by the model’s rep for longevity, as well as its capability off-road.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

With 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque eagerly flowing from its 3.5-liter twin turbocharged V-6, the big Lexus also moves with authority. I never found it wanting for thrust in any circumstance. It pulls away from traffic signals cleanly and without hesitation. I counted just over six seconds as I watched the speedometer needle sweep from zero to 60 mph.

What’s more, the powerplant conducts itself with sheer and utter sophistication. Noise, vibration and harshness are not to be found anywhere in the character of this turbocharged V-6. The 10-speed automatic transmission mated to the engine proved itself to be a paragon of smoothness and efficiency as well. Routing engine output to all four wheels., it seemed always to be in the right gear for the circumstance. I never had to wait for it to downshift to pull me up a hill, neither on pavement nor in the dirt, it had already selected the best ratio for the task at hand.

Speaking of dirt, the big Lexus is set up to deal with pretty much anything you’re likely to encounter. Its low range transfer case handily dispatched low coefficients of friction, enabling the LX to deliver good traction and steady forward motion through loose dirt, mud and even sand. That said, there were a couple of situations in which I was a little concerned about those fixed-position running boards. However, choosing my paths with them in mind, I made it through without scraping them.

Meanwhile, the rugged nature of the LX slips into the background when its assignment keeps it on pavement. Gliding along the highway, you’ll enjoy quiet comfort, with smoothness the defining characteristic. Pavement irregularities, when severe enough to make themselves apparent, exist as little more than mild occurrences. On the other hand though, and this is perhaps predictable, body roll made itself quite apparent when I ran along my favorite twisty road. Grip was adequate though, if not exactly abundant. Still, given the LX 600’s dual nature, I was inclined to forgive this minor flaw in its portfolio of capabilities.

Performance Specifications

2024 Lexus LX 600 Fuel Economy

According to the EPA, you can expect to see 17 MPG in the city, 22 on the highway and 19 overall. This jibed with my experience, as I managed 20 MPG overall; having spent quite a bit of time on the highway, a little in town and approximately 15 miles or so on my favorite off-road trail.

And yeah, I know 20 MPG sounds kind of meager in this age of electrification. However, given the amount of equipment the 5,900-pound LX hauls around, and the satisfying acceleration of which it is capable, I wasn’t surprised to see that figure, nor did it strike me as being unreasonable. Frankly though, if you’re buying one of these, you aren’t harboring any hopes for 40 MPG fuel economy—or at least you shouldn’t be.

Interior Design And Comfort

*The word “plush” barely serves to describe the interior fittings applied to the 2024 Lexus LX 600 Ultra Luxury. Positioned as it is at the top of the top of the line, the LX brings a precisely blended combination of comfort, spaciousness and luxury. The amalgamation of leather, wood and chrome radiate ambiance in the manner in which that word was originally intended to convey its definition.

As I mentioned previously, going for the Ultra Luxury package adds a pair of captain’s chairs for the second row, thus treating all four occupants to similar levels of comfort. I say “similar” because rear seat passengers win out in this regard, thanks to the massage function built into those heated and ventilated seats. The right one even comes with an ottoman. Basically, if you can’t get comfortable in the LX 600 Ultra Luxury, it ain’t because Lexus didn’t try to make it easy for you to do so.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Dual monitors, stacked one above the other, kept me informed about everything the LX 600 was doing to get where I wanted to go. The uppermost monitor covered infotainment functions, while the lower one provided information about the ministrations of the vehicle itself and the four-zone climate control system. Taken altogether, it makes for an impressive sight, though it took me a minute to figure out which one was doing what. Once I was aligned with it though, the schema proved quite intuitive.

Pairing my iPhone was an exercise in simplicity, as the operating system held my hand through the process. CarPlay and Android compatibility are standard, as is wireless charging for the first and second rows with the Ultra Luxury package. Here again, rear seat passengers get first class treatment, with a dual-screen entertainment system and a cool box for drinks. Fortunately though, everyone aboard can reap the benefits of the 25-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, which is also included in the Ultra Luxury trim kit.

Cargo And Storage Space

One day, in the distant future, when you’ve traded the Lexus for the vehicle you choose to succeed it in your garage, someone is going to find something you forgot you had in one of the myriad of storage compartments harbored within the LX 600. Interior storage is just that abundant.

Center consoles, (front and rear), door panel cubbies and the cavernous glove box provide more than enough room for anything you might want to have readily to hand as you travel along.

Another benefit of the Ultra Luxury package is the third row of seats is traded for increased cargo capacity. To make loading the cargo hold easier to accomplish, the LX is capable of lowering its ride height which, by the way, can also make ingress and egress easier, the virtues of which my five-foot-five spouse will be quick to extol.

2024 Lexus LX 600 Ultra Luxury Vs. Its Competitors

Pricewise, the 2024 Lexus LX 600 falls between the Cadillac Escalade, which starts at $83,890 and the Land Rover Range Rover, with a $108,875 base price. The Range Rover, like the Lexus LX, combines the ability to go pretty much anywhere its owner might want to go—regardless of the terrain—with powerful engines and a beautifully crafted interior treatment. Meanwhile, the Cadillac, while also a paragon of luxurious accommodation, is decidedly street focused.

How The Lexus LX 600 Compares To The Range Rover P530 SE SWB

• 	2024 Land Rover Range Rover	2024 Lexus LX 600
  Model	P530 SE	LX 600 Ultra Luxury
  Engine:	Hybrid 4.4L Twin Turbo V-8	3.4L Twin Turbo V-6
  Torque	553 LB-FT @ 1,800 RPM	479 LB-FT @ 2,000 RPM
  Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	10-Speed Automatic
  Driveline	Front Engine, AWD	Front Engine, 4WD
  MSRP	$131,875	$92,215
  Towing Capacity	8,200 Pounds	8,000 Pounds
  0-60 MPH	4.3 Seconds	6.9 Seconds
  Horsepower	523 @ 5,500 RPM	409 @ 5,200 RPM

Going head to head with the Range Rover P530 SE SWB, the LX 600 finds itself in a situation in which it is punching above its weight class. The universally acclaimed benchmark in this category, the Range Rover delivers an outstanding array of benefits for its six-figure price tag. All-wheel drive, air suspension, incredible ground clearance and a wide variety of powerplant options (including a plug-in hybrid) are just the beginning.

What’s more, the Range Rover can be had with an astounding array of luxury features, including massaging seats for all occupants, power deployable tray tables for rear seat passengers and a mini refrigerator sized perfectly for a bottle of champagne—and two flutes. All of which is in addition to its ability to transport you over any terrain imaginable, and back again.

How The Lexus LX 600 Compares To The Cadillac Escalade RWD Premium Ultra Luxury

• 	2024 Cadillac Escalade	2024 Lexus LX 600
  Model	Premium Luxury Platinum	LX 600 Ultra Luxury
  Engine:	6.2L V-8	3.4L Twin Turbo V-6
  Torque	460 LB-FT @ 4,100 RPM	479 LB-FT @ 2,000 RPM
  Transmission	10-Speed Automatic	10-Speed Automatic
  Driveline	Front Engine, RWD or AWD	Front Engine, 4WD
  MSRP	$112,690	$92,215
  Towing Capacity	7,700 Pounds	8,000 Pounds
  0-60 MPH	5.9 Seconds	6.9 Seconds
  Horsepower	420 @ 5,600 RPM	409 @ 5,200 RPM

Arguably the Cadillac people think of when they think “Cadillac”, the Escalade has achieved iconic status among large luxury SUVs, despite the fact that it lacks significant off-road capability. The product planners at Cadillac know vehicles in this category are far more likely to be found off-roading in a Whole Foods parking lot than scaling the Rocky Mountains in Ouray, Colorado.

Thus, the Escalade is optimized for the street. In exchange, it delivers an air-pillow like ride coupled with confidence-inspiring handling. What’s more, Cadillac’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system gives it a decided advantage on the highway. In addition to steering itself, a Super Cruise equipped Escalade is capable of automatically changing lanes to pass slower traffic and moving back into its lane after overtaking the offending vehicle(s). Neither the Range Rover nor the Lexus LX has this capability.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

Forced to choose between the Lexus, Cadillac and Range Rover, I’d be inclined to go with the Lexus. It neatly splits the difference in cost between the Cadillac and the Range Rover, while offering similar levels of luxury accouterments. It also exudes a bit less of the “Look at me I’m rich” vibe than the other two for my tastes. And, like the Range Rover, the LX has yet to meet a trail it didn’t love.

Moreover, (not that anyone who could afford to buy any one of these SUVs probably cares) the Lexus is likely to be more reliable in the long run. Range Rovers are notoriously pricey to keep as they age and Cadillac’s long-term quality numbers aren’t quite as high as those put up by Lexus. Ultimately, though, you’ll be riding high regardless of your choice, if you’re fortunate enough to be able to choose from among this triumvirate.