Rock crystal is the purest variety of quartz and is often referred to as clear quartz. Clear quartz is known as the “master healer”, and it is said to absorb, store, and regulate energy, aiding your concentration, unlocking memory, and enhancing mental, emotional, and spiritual balance.
This Sonic Quartz Lexus LX600 Sports Luxury could be said to harness similar powers with its relaxed and high-quality driving experience delivered either on or off-road. Adopting the new GA-F platform and reviewing the entire vehicle from the ground up, has meant that the Lexus engineers have produced an improved in driving performance that you can really notice behind the wheel. Adaptive Variable Suspension uses highly responsive linear solenoid type dampers on all four wheels to allow for smoother, more precise control in response to road surface conditions.
The LX 600 features a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine with full-time AWD, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This petrol engine delivers a level of refinement that you would expect of a Lexus flagship. The engine produces up to 305kW of power and 650Nm of torque, offering good acceleration when need and it is even quieter and more refined than the diesel engine in the Lexus LX500d that I have driven previously. The official combined fuel consumption is 11.9 L/100km and for my week I used 16.4L/100km. One quaint feature I noted about the LX600 is it still has a lever in the cabin to release that fuel filler cover.
The drive modes available include Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sports, Sports +, and Custom, with the option under the Custom mode to adjust the powertrain, suspension, steering and air conditioning to your personal preferences. I spent the week on Normal mode with the 4WD set to H4 and found that my experience in the LX was very comfortable.
The pleasant nature of the LX600 belies its off-road abilities as it is actually based on the legendary Toyota LandCruiser 300 and so has a Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) system that enhances off-road capability, and control over varied landscapes, including dirt, sand, mud, deep snow and rock. The Auto mode can select the optimum driving mode using sensors combined with the driver’s inputs or it also has a L4 option and DAX/Crawl mode. The LX series also has a 3,500kg braked towing capacity.
The Multi-Terrain Monitor is designed for off-road use, to assist drivers through a variety of driving conditions. The upper 12.3-inch display shows a variety of camera views from around and under the vehicle to keep the driver informed. The lower 7.0-inch touch display shows the climate control and serves as a driving support screen for MTS and you can raise and lower the vehicle from here.
On the exterior this Sports Luxury simply adds Illuminated Scuff Plates in addition to the Luxury grade features. It’s on the interior where this step up in grade adds those extra comforts, you’ll really enjoy in this luxury seven-seat SUV. To start with, there’s keyless entry on all four doors and keyless start with fingerprint recognition technology. The LX600 range also has soft close doors, but they are too slow to operate in my opinion and I kept wanting to pus the door as I thought it wasn’t actually going to soft close.
In the cabin, the ‘Takanoha’ wood marquetry handmade by Japanese craftspeople creates an exceptionally delicate expression evoking a distinctive hawk feather pattern motif. Befitting the LX, this Lexus-original design was inspired by the courage and beauty of the hawk. The interior is upholstered in premium accented leather on the seats and front centre console trim. While the thick carpet mats add to the luxurious look and feel as well.
Both front seats have powered adjustment for recline, forward/back, seat height/tilt front and rear and four-way lumbar support, with the driver’s seat getting three memory positions. The front seats are also heated and ventilated, with the cooling being quiet while operating, but the heated seats did not get hot enough in my opinion. The front seats have the added opulence of a massage feature with five massage types to select from with intensity control.
Keep your refreshments perfectly chilled with the Cool Box, discretely located in the centre console with access from either side. It’s the perfect companion for long drives and weekend escapes. I found it amusing though that there is a sticker on the cool box specifically telling you that it is not suitable for meat or fish. The drink bottle cubby in the front doors can fit a 600ml and the two cup holders in the centre console also do and have a removable base for easy cleaning.
From a technology standpoint the LX600 has wireless Android Auto that worked well for me during the week, and wireless Apple CarPlay as well. The wireless phone charger on the centre console does not fit all phones though, and the cubby at the front of the centre console has two USB-C ports, one 12V socket and one HDMI port. The voice control worked well for me, getting my input for changing the radio station, making a phone call, and entering a destination on the sat nav on the first time for each. The driver also has a digital dash with head-up display and the steering wheel is heated and has powered column adjustment.
You can unlock a deeper appreciation of sound and experience music in its highest fidelity with a 25-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround sound system. Boasting 2,400 watts and speakers meticulously positioned throughout the cabin, this bespoke system envelops you in a three-dimensional soundscape.
The second-row seats have a good amount of head and leg room for me, but the seats lacked under thigh support. There are two ISOFix/three rear tether child seat restraint points across the second row, but to access the third row, the outer second row seats flip up and out of the way meaning that no child seat could be fitted in the second-row seat that you are going to use to access the third row. The second row windows have manual blinds and one a luxury vehicle such as the LX600 I would expect these to be powered operation. For easy cleaning of crumbs though there are mats covering the entire second row floor.
Rear passengers get digital controls for individual temperature and combined controls for mode and air speed and these can also be adjusted from the front of the vehicle as well. There are two central air vents with individual direction and on/off adjustment and also roof vents on both sides and the rear seats are also heated and ventilated. The centre seat folds down as an arm rest with two flip up style drink holders and the rear doors also have space for a 600ml drink bottle. The rear passengers also have access to the cool box, so passengers can get their own drinks in and out.
The rear entertainment screens in the LX600 are almost pointless, with not even a map display mirroring the sat nav at the front of the vehicle. They also offer the same media sources as those at the front of the vehicle (see photograph above), but with no way to connect to the internet, these sources are somewhat unentertaining for most children. Below the rear air controls, there is a flip out panel with one 12V socket, two USB-C ports, one HDMI port and two aux inputs for headphones that have individual volume control for the media playing on the screens.
To access the third row, you press the button on the outer shoulder of either second row seat and this flips up and out of the way creating a gap wide enough for an adult to step in. The two third row seats have no tether points for car seats and they are also not all that suitable for adults to sit in them. Although they do have powered recline adjustment, the leg room was just adequate for me, but head room was very tight and my knees felt like they were up around my ears, so not comfortable at all and I think the third row would be best kept for emergency use only. There are rigid drink holders moulded into the wheel arches, a USB-C port on each side and a vent on either side in the roof, with a single carpet mat covering the third-row floor.
The LX600 has a hands-free powered tailgate with a kick sensor, but when I attempted to use this it didn’t work for me. Luckily you can also open and close the tailgate using the button on it, in the cabin or on the key fob. With the third row seats up there is very little space in the boot and even a couple of fully stocked school bag would struggle to fit here. If not in use, the third row seats can be raised and lowered using the buttons in the boot or the one located on the C-pillar. With the third row seats lowered the boot is large enough for a family with room for the pram and the weekly shop. The boot space has four substantial tie down points, one light, and one 220V 100W standard plug, but no cargo cover. There are also buttons in the boot to lower the second-row seats as well for maximum space, but they need to be manually raised back up. The full-size spare tyre is located under the rear of the vehicle.
Active safety on the LX600 comprises the Lexus Safety System+, including Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection & Daytime Cyclist Detection, Lane Tracing Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Blind Spot Monitor System with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Passive safety includes driver’s and passenger’s front airbags, knee airbags (Front seats), side airbags (Front and outboard rear seats), and curtain shield airbags (Front and rear seats). The Lexus LX range does not have an ANCAP safety rating. For convenience you get auto lights, auto wipers, and automatic high beam. Plus, the reversing camera has a 360-degree view front and rear parking sensors and the Sports Luxury adds a digital rear view mirror.
All new Lexus vehicles now come with a 5 Year/Unlimited Kilometre warranty and you also have complimentary access to the Lexus Encore Platinum program for three years when you purchase a LX Lexus. The service interval for the LX600 is every 6 months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first, and under Lexus Capped Price Servicing the first 10 services will cost $795 each.
Encore Platinum includes exclusive offers and events, an Ampol fuel offer, a Service Loan car and Lexus DriveCare. Plus, the ability to borrow a different Lexus vehicle from selected dealerships for work or leisure for up to four trips, of up to eight days each, over your 3-year membership period. Or if you head to Westfield or Chadstone shopping centres for a hit of retail therapy, just drop your keys off and enjoy complimentary valet parking for up to eight visits at selected locations over your 3-year membership period and airport lounge access for up to four visits.
The Lexus LX600 Sports Luxury finished in Sonic Quartz is priced from $183,600 plus on-road costs and this was also the as tested price because all paint colours are included as standard on the LX range. You can Build and Price your Lexus LX online or visit your preferred Lexus dealer for more information.
The best decisions start with a comparison and Compare The Market are proud to have helped 23 million Aussies look for a better deal on their insurance. Find out here if Compare the Market can help you save too!
| Pros | Cons |
| The comfortable ride | Heated front seats do not get hot enough |
| The high-level finish in the cabin | The rear entertainment screens are almost pointless |
| The cool box for keeping your champagne and chocolates chilled | There are too many compromises with the third-row seats |
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.