2018 Lexus LX450d quick spin review
- Effortless diesel engine
- Supple air suspension
- Top-quality fit and finish
- Misses out on long-range fuel tank
- Lacks eight-seat capacity
- Too big for the city
What is it?
Lexus’ LX is a luxury version of the full-sized Toyota LandCruiser four-wheel-drive. Updated for 2018, the full-sized model is now available in LX450d trim with a LandCruiser-sourced turbo diesel engine in place of the regular LX570’s petrol unit.
How much does it cost, and what do you get?
Priced from $134,500 plus on-road costs, the LX450d undercuts the petrol LX570 by more than $8500. While that is a good start, the diesel machine misses out on some luxuries in the name of weight-saving, ditching the 19-speaker stereo, rear TV screens, sunroof and eight-seat layout of its petrol twin in favour of simpler options.
Seating five comfortably on leather-trimmed seats, the LX450d serves up a nine-speaker stereo linked to a high-resolution 12.3-inch infotainment screen, digital dash readout and colour head-up display. Other niceties include 20-inch wheels, LED headlamps with adaptive high beams, variable-height air suspension and a strong suite of driver aids.
Lexus backs the LX450d with a four-year, 100,000-kilometre warranty.
What’s under the bonnet?
A Toyota-sourced 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel V8 engine is the star of the show and a response to requests from Lexus owners.
Stout 200kW and 650Nm outputs have no trouble getting the big machine up and moving, lending effortless shove when overtaking or towing up to 3.5 tonnes. It maintains pace easily on rollicking country hills and long climbs, using prodigious torque to maintain momentum.
Impressively refined inside the cabin, the diesel V8 serves up a distant purr as you dispatch long distances with ease. Less impressive is a six-speed automatic transmission (as opposed to the petrol V8’s smarter eight-speed unit) which produces the odd driveline thump and bump, particularly when shifting down.
The biggest disappointment comes from Lexus’ decision to ditch a 45-litre auxiliary fuel tank fitted as standard to LandCruiser and LX570 variants. Relying only on its 93-litre main tank for diesel fuel, the LX450d has the shortest usable range of the lot. Using claimed extra-urban or highway fuel consumption of 8.5L/100km, the new machine has a theoretical maximum range of 1094 kilometres, well less than the 1620km of diesel LandCruiser variants or 1260km of the LX570.
Bear in mind that the claimed figure is somewhat optimistic – we returned around 12L/100km on a run from Sydney to Mudgee and back, and folks towing a caravan or heavy cargo shouldn’t be surprised to see fuel use climb into the teens.
What’s it like to drive?
We stayed on sealed tarmac during our time with the Lexus, using it for mid-week urban duties before taking the machine on a 600 kilometre weekend drive.
The big fella felt conspicuously large in commuter traffic, and unwieldy when tackling shopping centres or parking on the street. Though sophisticated cameras and parking sensors help keep the bumpers in good nick, you would want to be a reasonably confident driver to operate the full-sized four-wheel-drive in a capital city.
Drive testers questioned the response of over-assisted brakes and a sensitive throttle, particularly during low-speed manoeuvring, but appreciated variable-height air suspension which can rise to clear obstacles or lower to duck under overhead objects, making it easier to enter or exit the vehicle.
Lexus’ latest creation felt much more comfortable in the country, serving up surprising poise brought by air suspension and 20-inch wheels that aren’t afraid to corner with gusto.
That suspension remains composed over decent bumps, shielding occupants from the outside world as it lends genuine luxury to the LandCruiser theme.
What’s it like inside?
Finished in pearl white paint with cream-coloured leather, our test example’s conservative colour scheme would be welcomed on the golf course or country club. Immaculately finished with deep-pile carpets, precisely arranged leather and a solid feeling missing from some rivals, the LX feels like a comfortable lounge room on wheels.
Gadgets include a powered cool box in the centre console and an inductive charging pad under the stereo, though as previously mentioned, diesel variants miss out on a lot of luxury touches.
Heated seats keep your back loose over long distances, though the omission of front seat ventilation and a heated steering wheel available on LX 570 is disappointing.
Comfortable at first, the Lexus had us fidgeting after a couple of hours, suggesting the seats aren’t quite as comfortable as luxury rivals.
Is it safe?
Lexus’ big bopper brings a solid suite of driver aids incluging a pre-collision safety system with forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking features, along with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and a rear cross traffic alert system.
Would I buy it?
Honestly? No. The historic appeal of a top-end LandCruiser-based Lexus lies in its blend of continent-crushing long-distance abilities and luxury touches that separate it from more affordable Toyota models. This one fails on both fronts due to its compromised fuel storage and the omission of equipment available in its petrol cousin, or the top-end LandCruiser Sahara.
What else should I consider?
The LandCruiser and LX570 are obvious contenders, as are Nissan’s Patrol and its posh cousin, the Infiniti QX80 SUV.
Land Rover’s latest Discovery is also worth a look.
2018 Lexus LX450d Price and Specifications
Price: From $134,500 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 4.5-litre V8 twin-turbo diesel
Power: 200kW at 3600rpm
Torque: 650Nm at 1600-2800rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, four-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 9.5L/100km