The Lexus LX 700h excels in power and towing capacity, but its hybrid powertrain does little for fuel economy and it lacks space.

A flagship vehicle doesn’t necessarily have to sell. It has to show the full extent of the engineering and passion a brand can put into a vehicle. The LX is Lexus’ flagship SUV, the LX 700h’s hybrid system is the top powertrain choice, and the Overtrail model represents the upper echelon of the brand’s off-roaders, but competitors such as the Cadillac Escalade are more spacious.

Verdict: The LX 700h’s hybrid powertrain gives it great power but only mediocre efficiency, and while this SUV is big, it lacks the space of even bigger rivals.