Need a big sport ute to go rock crawling in opulent style while worrying not a whit about the fuel bill? Check out the 2014 Lexus LX 570. With seating for 8 tightly crammed folks in 3 rows and standard full-time 4-wheel drive (4WD), this full-size, body-on-frame SUV is built to take on the toughest terrain, but with the recently introduced Adaptive Air Suspension’s load-leveling capabilities, remains surprisingly adept at highway cruising.

Lexus’ big ute comes in only one Base trim and returns essentially unchanged for 2014. It also remains a niche vehicle for the rich and famous, on a par with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class and Land Rover’s Range Rover. The latter are cheaper, more fuel efficient and roomier, but the LX 570 is described by reviewers as head and shoulders above its competition for reliability.

In any case, look for 83.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity (with the second- and power-folding third-row seats down) in this hefty Lexus, as well as the standard 4WD system that allows rear-wheel-drive-biased torque for cruising on dry asphalt, while adapting to wheel slippage with a manually locking differential that also assists in providing extra traction over rock-strewn mountain trails. Also helping off-road prowess is the LX 570’s standard adjustable ride-height suspension and CRAWL Control.

Again the ubiquitous 5.7-liter variable-valve-timed (VVT) V8 powerplant mates with the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission for 383 hp and 403 lb-ft of torque. All this oomph is good to tote up to 7,000 pounds of trailer with the proper equipment, but gas mileage is a pretty sorry 12 mpg city/17 highway.

Appearance-wise, look for this luxury-laden ute to carry 20-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, side steps, a rear spoiler, a roof rack and heated, reverse-tilting power outside mirrors. Inside, expect leather upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats and full power accessories. Naturally, cruise control is once more standard, as are telescoping tilt-wheel steering, leather, simulated alloy and genuine wood accents, memory for driver's settings, a remote garage door opener and a rear-view camera.

Lexus’ touted Enform infotainment embraces Bluetooth hands-free calling and a hard-drive-based navigation system, as well as complementing a single-CD player with 9 speakers, satellite radio and a USB connection, with all of this bathed once again in 4-zone climate control.

Options come mostly in package form to include heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, upgraded leather, a heated steering wheel, cooled storage bins and a 450-watt Mark Levinson premium audio system with 6-CD changer, 19 speakers and 7.1 Surround Sound. A couple of standalone options include rear-seat DVD entertainment and remote engine start.

Finally, noteworthy standard safety features aboard the 2014 LX 570 include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear side-mounted airbags, 3-row head airbags and active front headrests. Daytime running lights, blind-spot warnings, front fog/driving lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors and Lexus’ Enform-interfaced Safety Connect emergency communications bolster the post-collision safety system, with all of it protected by a remote antitheft alarm. Optional safety systems remain Intuitive Parking Assist with an around-view camera and radar-integrated adaptive cruise control with pre-collision sensing technology.