Americans love big SUVs. Especially big, rugged SUVs. And that applies to the luxury category with the Lexus LX 600.
The LX is unapologetically old school, and it’s also a platform that is now a half-decade old. “Old school”, and “old”, for that matter, are not necessarily pejorative terms here - just factual descriptors.
That said, there are some ways that the LX, like its author, shows its age. As well as some ways in which the LX’s old-school ways are appreciated.
Let’s take a ride, so to speak.
On The Road With The 2026 Lexus LX 600
There’s different flavors of powertrain for the LX - hybrid and pure ICE. My test unit was a internal-combustion unit, with the 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that makes 409 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. The transmission in this all-wheel drive LX was a 10-speed automatic.
The LX’s V6 is torquey and pulls nicely, with a subdued roar that feels Lexus classy. Highway ride is, unsurprisingly smooth, though handling is just a tad truckish.
Bad news is that the ride, while mostly smooth, does occasionally exhibit some wallow and/or chassis flex. And the steering does come across a bit numb. The suspension is variable and adaptive.
Worse news is that the fuel-economy is, well, not great. You’re looking at EPA numbers of 17 mpg city/22 mpg highway/19 mpg combined.
Some of the above may not sound appetizing, but the overall package works well for long highway journeys, and it’s more than fine for around-town driving. The LX is a big, luxurious SUV with rugged roots, with a body-on-frame chassis. So it’s expected that there may be a little bit of truckishness or roughness around the edges, as long as the LX mostly coddles.
And mostly, it does. It’s comfortable, and headroom and legroom are plentiful.
Here’s where the old-school-ness works in the LX’s favor - the interior is festooned with knobs and buttons, thank heaven. No need to deal with too much in the way of haptic-touch or diving too deep into touchscreens.
Still, if you like modern infotainment systems, you have one, with the updated Toyota/Lexus system. Below that sits another screen that can be used to monitor various vehicle functions. The digital gauge cluster also works well.
I appreciated the old-school shifter, as well. It’s simplicity at its best, no weird push-button stuff or any other types of messing around.
This being a Lexus, outside noise, except for that subtle engine roar at higher RPMs, is left outside where it belongs.
For those who tow, note the towing capacity here is 8,000 pounds.
Cargo space with the third row up is a tad narrow but was plentiful enough for a grocery run. A couple of pieces of standard-size luggage and/or backpacks probably will fit with the third-row still up, though I do admit I was eyeballing the space and that’s not an official measurement.
2026 Lexus LX 600 Features And Options
My test unit showed up with a base price of $116K even. A bit eye-popping, for sure. Standard features included crawl-control with turn assist, active height control, multi terrain select, adaptive variable suspension, triple beam LED headlamps and taillamps, power moonroof, roof rails, power rear door, auto door closers, four-zone climate control, wireless phone charger, digital rearview mirror, rear manual sunshades, cool box, ambient lighting, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, digital key, 22-inch wheels, power-folding third-row seats, leather front seats, heated and cooled front seats, massaging front seats, heated and cooled outboard second-row seats, leather and wood heated steering wheel, Mark Levinson audio, and illuminated front door sills.
Advanced driver-aid systems include Lexus’s Safety System+ 3.0, panoramic view monitor, multi terrain monitor, head-up display, intuitive parking assist, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, front cross-traffic alert, and traffic-jam assist.
Options were minimal, and included a rear-seat infotainment system, carpeted cargo mat, cross bars, and wheel locks.
Total price with D and D fees came to $120,854.
The Lexus LX may be showing its age, but the overall package still works in terms of the overall mission - which is to blend a luxury experience with just enough ruggedness to take on an easy trail or to deal with several inches of snow. The future of the LX is unclear, but some tweaks to handling and an improved dashboard that avoids the haptic-touch trap would be on my wishlist.
Aging isn’t always bad, but fulfilling the mission is almost always good. The 2026 Lexus LX serves as a perfect example on both counts.
About The Author
Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
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