2008 Lexus LX 570 Preview

Lexus LX 570

2/19/08

Dare to Dream About This Luxurious SUV

What do you get for $73,800? In short, a lot. If I were a dreamer — and I am, as it turns out — I would dream about owning a Lexus LX 570 someday. I got a little fuel for those dreams recently, when I had the pleasure of driving one for a few hours in the desert south of Las Vegas. If that’s all I can get for now, I’ll take it.

This eight-passenger car really does embody “luxury, comfort and sophistication,” as the Lexus marketing folks say. The target demographic for this car is affluent, youngish families who value personal time and are family-oriented. Oh, and their average home price is $1.2 million. That sounds just like me, except for the home price part.

Regardless, this is a great family-mobile, and everything about it is top-notch. For instance, the power-sliding second-row seats are the first of their kind in this class and provide easy access to the third row. Speaking of the third row, it folds and unfolds with the touch of a button (unlike many other third rows, which you have to pull and tug at to get right, thus messing up your mani). There are 10 standard airbags, all eight seating positions have three-point seat belts and the rear liftgate is automatic so, again, you can just press a button and, heck, have someone else load your groceries while you admire your still-unblemished mani. With the push of another button, you can lower the vehicle to make it easier for you to get in and out. How great is that for those days when you wear a skirt that’s less forgiving than your gym clothes?

Have you had enough? I haven’t! There’s a four-zone climate-control system with 28 air vents, designed to “bathe occupants in comfortable air at all times.” I love the idea of being bathed while I’m driving; at the rate Lexus is going, this car may even come with its own masseuse one day (and that’s the day I’m saving my pennies for). The second-row seats have their own heaters, so the kiddos can warm their tushies to their hearts’ content. This car is better than my house — no joke.

Don’t go thinking this car is solely about luxury, though; it also performs. A V-8 engine with 383 horsepower make cruising up and down hills and highways a dream. In fact, during the couple of hours I drove this car, my driving partner and I took it on an offroad course that went through an old mine and up and down some pretty steep, rocky terrain. The car handled this brilliantly. David Nordstrom, VP of marketing for Lexus, told us that while most of the folks who buy this car will never use it for off-roading, they simply like knowing it has that capability. Oh, and for all of you horsey or seaworthy folks out there, this baby has a towing capacity of up to 8,500 pounds, which is 2,000 more than the previous model, the LX 470. Affluent, youngish towing families rejoice!

When I told my drive partner I thought the car was easy to drive, he pressed me on what that meant. He said he’s heard other women say that and has never been quite sure what exactly it means. In my mind, it means everything is effortless and I almost forget I’m driving (but am still vividly alert, mind you) because the ride is so smooth and quiet. With that in mind, the LX 570 is the definition of easy.

At this point, I’m just waiting for Lexus to add a few LX 570s to its press fleet so I can drive one for a few weeks rather than a few hours, thus living the dream just a little while longer.