Off road, on target

By Len Ingrassia
The Daily Item

September 18, 2008 05:57 am

— It isn't cheap. But if these wheels fit your budget you will be hard pressed to find a better chariot with more power and off-road capability under one roof. The redesigned LX 570 from Lexus packs plenty of gadgets -- 49 buttons and switches on the dashboard alone.
They are part of styling changes that grew the body wider, taller and longer than its predecessor while maintaining the same wheelbase. A new powertrain and 300-pound heavier engine than last year's model were bolted in place. Together they allow the nearly three-ton truck to tow yachts weighing up to 8,000 pounds, a ton more than last year's model, the LX 470.
The 5.7-liter engine delivers a zero to 60 mph time of just over seven ticks. And while a steady diet of aggressive driving would plummet already poor mileage estimates, it is comforting to know that such power is available.
Want to lower the SUV for ease of entry beyond its illuminated running boards or higher to clear obstacles for off-roading? A switch toggles between low and high settings for adaptive ride height. Another button brings to life its 19-speaker sound system that emits adjustable concert sounds throughout three rows of seating for eight.
For all the space inside the LX 570, there is relatively little room devoted to cargo. With second row power sliding 60/40 seats and third row seating in place there is maximum cargo space of 83 cubic feet, less than many other large SUVs. More cargo space can be added by powering third-row seating to its upright position on either side of the rear cabin, a five-second ritual worth watching a time or two.
While the LX 570 is more at home on shopping excursions that off-roading competition, the latter maneuver is always at the ready and fun too as I learned just off a stretch of interstate near Pittsburgh. The sign read moderate difficulty as the all-wheel drive 570 approached the course.
You'd think this 5,995 pound SUV was a nimble 4-wheeler the way it handled the ups and downs of hill climbing and ditch maneuvering thanks in large part to its on-board crawl control system.
Once set, the system engages anti-lock brakes, electronic throttle and chassis controls to limit speed in low range gears to one, two or three miles per hour. The system drives' the SUV slowly up or down steep grades and around almost anything, as I found. While I did get some odd stares as the 570 negotiated hefty ditches, it was thumbs up at the end of the day with smaller 4-wheelers giving their sign of approval to the truck-based SUV that could.
Back on pavement driving home, the quiet ride and elegant interior seemed in sharp contrast to its off-road prowess. Highway noise is exceptionally low with an occasional growl from the V8 in full-throttle passing mode. Braking and steering are aided with 20 inch alloy wheels.
Similarly equipped import SUVs competing for market share include the Land Rover Range Rover HSE, $77,675; Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, $55,900; Toyota Land Cruiser, $64,100 and Toyota Sequoia, $55,600.
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