It’s big, bold, and beautiful, but the 2016 Lexus LX570 won’t win any prizes for fuel efficiency, and its third-row seating remains cramped and unable to fold flat. But on the plus side, this 8-passenger full-size luxury sport ute surrounds you with opulence, and its rugged construction and standard full-time 4-wheel drive (4WD) will make a journey into the backwoods a piece of cake. Cargo area is still a decent 83.1 cubic feet in spite of that not-quite-flat third-row.

For 2016, the LX570 offers all kinds of styling tweaks and feature upgrades, including a new transmission, improved multimedia features, and added standard and available safety features. It also boasts a larger one-piece spindle grille, reworked front and rear lights and fascia details, and a number of new standard features like 20-inch alloy wheels, a surround-view camera system, upgraded cabin accents, improved climate control functions (Climate Concierge), and ambient interior lighting. Additionally, Lexus’ touted Enform infotainment system now boasts a larger 12.3-inch screen.

A couple of new optional features include Lexus’ Enform Service Connect apps, allowing access to vehicle information on your smartphone, and Enform Remote, which will remotely unlock the doors, start the engine, set the climate controls, and locate your Lexus in a crowded parking lot, all by using your Android phone.

Powering the 2016 LX570 is a 383-hp 5.7-liter V8 engine, managed by an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission that replaces the old 6-speed automatic but still churns out 403 lb-ft of torque. Current mileage estimates for the V8 come in at 12 mpg city/17 highway/14 combined, although the new 8-speed transmission is expected to improve on those figures. The new gearing also complements the standard Adaptable Variable Suspension system with 4 driver-selectable modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport S, and Sport S +, which adjust suspension tuning, shift points, climate control output, and steering feel to suite the driving mood. The 4WD system can again be adjusted for various terrain anomalies, such as rocks, loose sand, mud, and moguls, and the LX570 can tow up to 7,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Standard appearance features include a power sunroof, a power liftgate, a lip spoiler, side steps, a roof rack, those upgraded 20-inch alloy wheels, and LED brake lights and taillights. Inside, expect leather-trimmed upholstery, heated power-adjustable front and second-row seats, full power accessories, cruise control, memory for driver settings, and power-adjustable telescoping tilt-wheel steering. Upgraded leather, metal, and genuine wood interior accents are complemented by a standard remote garage door opener and front and rear automatic climate control.

Technology for the 2016 LX570 includes Bluetooth-integrated Enform infotainment and telematics and Lexus’ GPS navigation system, both of which are now displayed on a larger touchscreen. The single-CD player returns as well, with 9 speakers, satellite radio, internet radio service, and an auxiliary audio input.

Further available equipment includes ventilated front and second-row seats, newly available 21-inch alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, and a cooled storage bin. Options such as upgraded rear-seat DVD entertainment and a 450-watt Mark Levinson premium sound system with 19 Surround Sound speakers are also available at an extra cost.

Standard safety features for the upcoming year’s LX570 include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and second-row side-mounted airbags, 3-row head-protection airbags, and front knee airbags. The LX570 also sports standard daytime running lights, front fog/driving lights, front and rear parking sensors, the brand new surround-view camera system, high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights, Enform emergency communications and alerts, a post-collision safety system, and a remote antitheft alarm. Debuting as a standard feature is the Lexus Safety System, with lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert; a head-up windshield display comes optional. As is commonly the case, no crash-test data is available from either the government or the insurance industry for the 2016 LX570 due to its size and weight.

Look for the reworked 2016 LX570 to again challenge such capable rivals as Mercedes’ GL-Class, with its roomier third-row and superior acceleration, Audi’s Q7, offering a V6 turbodiesel, Land Rover’s Range Rover, boasting comparative off-road prowess and a turbocharged V8, and Cadillac’s legendary Escalade, featuring better gas mileage than this plush Lexus ute.