2026 Lexus LX Hybrid Reviews, Pricing & Specs

As a full-size SUV, the Lexus LX has to look macho or it risks getting kicked out of the club. It adopts common elements such as a tall, upright stance, big wheels, and an imposing presence. The Lexus spindle grille is unmistakable, mostly due to its enormous size. It’s rendered in chrome or black, depending on the model, and the F Sport Handling version gets a unique mesh and a black chrome frame. The nose of all models also features prominent lower air intakes and squinting headlights with a checkmark LED light signature.

The slab sides are interrupted by pronounced, squared-off wheel arches that are darkened on the LX 700h Overtrail. A full-width taillight sits above Lexus lettering at the rear and 20- or 22-inch wheels ground most models, but the Overtrail gets 18s with all-terrain tires for a more purposeful, off-road appearance. Overall, it’s a blunt and commanding design, but there's little nuance and its shorter length makes it appear less refined than the competition.

The same can’t be said inside, where refinement is the name of the game. Soft semi-aniline leather upholstery comes standard, offset by aluminum or dark open-pore wood trim. The choice of leather brightens the cabin (tan), makes it look sporty (red), or provides the feel of a high-end office (black). A trio of screens also creates a tech-rich environment that plays into the office look.

It may be a hybrid, but the LX 700h is designed more for power than for fuel economy. It starts with the twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 from the LX 600 but adds an electric motor mounted between the engine and the 10-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces a hearty 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque on its own and, with the electric motor, the total rises to 457 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque.

We drove the LX 700h in Colorado, where the hybrid system proved to have real Rocky Mountain power. It got us up the mountain with strong acceleration out of the switchbacks, and the 10-speed automatic transmission usually had the right gear or downshifted swiftly to find it, especially in the Sport S or Sport S+ modes. Lexus quotes a 6.4-second 0-60 mph time that felt accurate. It doesn’t growl like a V8, but the twin-turbo V6 has a refined and subdued purr.

The LX 700h’s hybrid system works differently than other Lexus and Toyota systems. Rather than using the electric motor as a starter and alternator, it has a traditional starter and a traditional alternator, and the idea is to allow the engine to keep working if the hybrid system fails. The hybrid system can also allow for precise power delivery in off-road situations, though we didn’t experience that.

A full-time four-wheel-drive (4WD) system with low-range gearing and a locking center differential is standard. The Overtrail also has front and rear locking differentials to claw over just about any type of terrain. Both H4 (High 4) and L4 (Low 4) have their own off-road drive modes for different surfaces: Auto, Sand, Mud, and Deep Snow for H4 and Auto Sand, Mud, and Rock for L4.

All LX models are fitted with a hydraulic suspension that can raise the ride height by two inches to 10.3 inches. The Overtrail adds 33-inch 265/70R18 Toyo Open Country A/T III all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels and a front skid plate. Pair those features with the shorter length and wheelbase of the LX versus rivals, and the LX 700h Overtrail is likely the most capable off-roader among them.

The LX 700h also has Crawl Control with five speed settings for consistent, low-speed off-roading. Turn Assist shortens turns by braking the inside rear wheel. Lexus calls its surround-view camera system a Multi-Terrain Monitor, and it offers panoramic, underfloor, front, and rear views that also come in handy when off-roading.

The Overtrail’s front skid plate is joined by two underbody plates to protect the vehicle from off-road hazards, and it can ford up to 27.5 inches of water, according to Lexus. Like other LX models, the 700h Overtrail can tow a very healthy 8,000 pounds.

Several factors conspire against good handling. The LX 700h weighs more than 6,100 pounds, has a large footprint, sits at least 8.3 inches off the ground, and the Overtrail rides on mushy all-terrain tires. This big SUV leans in turns and struggles to gather its weight for quick changes of direction. However, a multi-link independent rear suspension and standard adaptive dampers give it a better ride quality than most rivals, and it soaks up bumps quite well. There is a bit of the jiggle over broken pavement that's typical of a body-on-frame platform, and the steering is direct but somewhat slow.

Inside, the LX 700h mixes luxury with technology and comfort. The roomy front seats have standard 10-way power controls, as well as heating, ventilation, and massage functions. A power-tilt/telescoping steering wheel will help just about any driver find an ideal seating position, and standard driver’s seat memory lets owners lock in their favorite settings. There's also a heated steering wheel and a cool box in the center console.

The second-row comes standard with a three-passenger bench seat and captain’s chairs are available, while heating and ventilation are standard for the outboard seats. Second-row passengers have good space in all directions with either configuration, though the two-row version offers more space behind the second row at 31 cubic feet. A power-folding third row is at least standard, making it easier to access the available cargo space.

With the third row in place, there is a mere 7.2 cubic feet of cargo space. With both the second and third rows folded, cargo space maxes out at 62.4 cubic feet, while two-row models have 71 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Either way, that’s only about as much cargo space as some of the larger compact crossovers and far less than the full-size competition. For example, the standard-wheelbase Cadillac Escalade, which is about a foot longer than the LX, has 121 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row.

A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen are standard fare for the class, but Lexus also adds a 7-inch touchscreen below the infotainment screen to handle the climate and ambient lighting controls; some climate controls are included as hard buttons outside of the screen. This screen also handles the Crawl Control system and ground-clearance adjustments, and shows such data as differential-lock status and brake and accelerator use percentages.

The main touchscreen is big and easy to reach, though the right side of the screen is a bit of a stretch as the screen sits high on the dash. The infotainment controls react quickly to inputs, including “Hey Lexus” voice commands, and a knob on the left side of the screens makes volume control easy. Buyers get a three-year subscription to Lexus Drive Connect, which includes cloud navigation with destination assist. They also get a 30-day trial of a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, as does a wireless phone charger. Other tech features include a rear-camera mirror, digital key functionality, and a standard 10-speaker audio system that can be upgraded to a 25-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system.

Lexus outfits the LX 700h with a full suite of active safety features that starts with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0. It includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, and high-beam assist. This big SUV also comes with the aforementioned surround-view camera system, as well as blind-spot monitors, front and rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, automatic and remote parking, and front and rear parking sensors. Traffic jam assist is also standard; it handles the controls in low-speed situations but requires the driver to keep their hands on the wheel and be ready to take over.

All of the safety systems we were able to try worked as intended, though snowy Colorado weather meant we had to clean off the front and rear cameras on a regular basis.

With its premium pricing and relatively new design, the LX had not been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) at the time of publication, and those results may never come. However, its size and weight should make it safe for occupants.

Fuel economy is not the LX 700h's strength. It’s EPA-rated at 19 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined, compared to 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined for the non-hybrid LX 600. At only 1 mpg better in the combined cycle while costing about $8,700 more than the LX 600, buyers will never make up for the price increase in gas-mileage savings. We did even worse than the EPA numbers, though we were driving in the mountains. Over about 300 miles, we averaged just 17.5 mpg, though much of that driving included running uphill through a series of switchbacks.

Lexus offers the LX 700h in four trim levels: F Sport Handling, Overtrail, Luxury, and Ultra Luxury. All models top six figures. The F Sport Handling starts at $117,185 (all prices include a $1,450 destination fee), the Overtrail at $119,450, the Luxury costs $121,450, and the Ultra Luxury tops the charts at a whopping $142,950.

Unique to the F Sport Handling are a Torsen limited-slip rear differential, a 22-inch wheel design, an F Sport mesh grille, sport-tuned dampers and hydraulic suspension, a rear stabilizer bar, and firmer steering.

The Overtrail trim includes off-roading equipment such as front and rear locking differentials, a front skid plate, and 18-inch alloy wheels with 33-inch all-terrain tires.

The Luxury gets the Mark Levinson audio system, while the Ultra Luxury has seating for four with second-row captain’s chairs, diamond-stitched leather upholstery, a wireless phone charger in the second row, a rear-seat entertainment system, reclining rear seats, and a right-side rear seat ottoman.

None of the LX 700h trims is a thrifty buy for family transportation. Buyers can find mainstream and luxury SUVs and crossovers that offer more space, better fuel economy, more affordable prices, and better handling. However, the LX 700h provides V8-rivalling power with better fuel economy, lots of towing capacity, genuine interior luxury, and, in Overtrail form, excellent off-road capability. It makes sense for the family that wants to tow a trailer in comfort and perhaps head off the beaten path.