2022 Lexus LX
Overview
The Lexus LX has been completely redesigned for model year 2022, after the previous generation’s 14-year run. It begins the fourth generation for this full-sized SUV, the high-luxury relative of the Toyota Land Cruiser. The LX, the largest model in the Lexus lineup, was the elite automaker’s first entry in the SUV segment. While the new edition continues with body-on-frame construction, standard four-wheel drive, and a spacious, feature-rich interior, it shows off a more contemporary style, better interior technologies, and a beastly new twin-turbo V6 powerplant that brings a power upgrade.
New for 2022
This redesign of the Lexus brand’s flagship SUV brings more than just improved looks and updated technology features. Its body is now 20% more rigid and 441 pounds lighter than the outgoing model’s. The revamped active height control system has an expanded range of adjustments, too, while the spring rate switching device once used exclusively for the front end has been added to the rear for more responsive ride-height adjustment. The evolved LX also features a new electronically controlled braking system and an adaptive variable suspension, new active height control, and an upgraded Multi-Terrain Select with Crawl Control system, all of which work in harmony to enhance performance in varied driving situations. And the ’22 LX’s brand-new 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 produces a menacing 409 hp and 479 lb.-ft. of torque – an increase of 26 hp and 76 lb.-ft. from the previous powerplant.
The ’22 LX’s overall style has been reimagined in every conceivable way, led by a more commanding look that’s also quite classy. Some of its highlight attributes include newly available 22-inch wheels (the largest ever fitted on a Lexus), redesigned headlights, and an upscale spindle grille. The cabin has been thoroughly made over as well. One chief area of improvement is in the intuitive Lexus Interface multimedia system, which debuts a dual-touchscreen arrangement and a new Human Machine Interface that maximizes the driver’s experience using state-of-the-art voice recognition software. Two new trims have been added as well: Ultra Luxury and F Sport Handling. The Ultra Luxury earns its name with an abundance of prime amenities, while the F Sport Handling blends daring design with elevated interior amenities and its signature feature, a sport-tuned suspension that provides the exceptional handling alluded to in the trim’s name. To top it off, the ’22 LX now comes standard with the latest Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 suite of active driver aids.
Trims and Specs
The 2022 Lexus LX is offered in Base, Premium, F Sport Handling, Luxury, and Ultra Luxury trim levels. All five house the new 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 (409 hp and 479 lb.-ft. of torque), which is paired to a 10-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is standard across the board, and every trim can tow up to 8,000 lb.
The two-row Base can seat up to five passengers and comes with several notable amenities, such as heated side mirrors, a moonroof, a power liftgate, a windshield wiper de-icer, heated power-adjustable front seats with position memory, a 60/40-split second-row bench seat, a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, selectable drive modes (Multi-Terrain Select), Crawl Control with Turn Assist (helps maintain a controlled and steady pace when navigating off-road environments), an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, an 8-inch multi-information display, four USB ports, and a wireless phone charger. The seven-passenger Premium adds a 50/50-split fold-flat third-row seat, an adaptive variable suspension, a hands-free liftgate, a head-up display, two additional USB ports, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and ambient interior lighting.
The Premium is also eligible for two packages: Interior Upgrade and Appearance. The Interior Upgrade Package furnishes leather seats, ventilated second-row outboard seats, and a cooler box for drinks, while the Appearance Package adds a matte gray grille, dark gray roof rails, and black exterior trim. The athletic F Sport Handling gets some chassis changes that maximize steering response and cornering: a stiffer sport-tuned suspension, a Torsen limited-slip differential, a rear stabilizer bar, performance dampers. Visually, it’s distinguished by unique front and rear bumpers, a mesh grille, front fender badges, 22-inch dark gray wheels, leather seats, aluminum interior trim, and illuminated door sills. Active height control is optional.
The Luxury returns the adaptive variable suspension and gets a wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel, ventilated second-row outboard seats, rear-seat manual sunshades, and one-touch auto-arrange power-folding seats. The Appearance Package and active ride control system are both available. The four-passenger Ultra Luxury deletes the third row while seriously upgrading the second row to a pair of heated, ventilated, and massaging captain’s chairs that recline up to 48 degrees. Also, while this trim drops two USB ports, it gains active height control, a digital rearview mirror (lets you see out the back even if the rear window is obstructed), a front passenger’s seat cushion extender, and a rear-seat entertainment system, wireless charger, power ottoman, center armrest, and table.
Advanced Driver Aids
As mentioned, all trims come with the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 suite. The included technologies are a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane tracing assist, lane departure alert with steering assist, road sign assist, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. Each trim also gets a blind-spot monitor, active parking assist with rear cross-traffic alert and braking, a surround-view camera system, and trailer sway control.
Technology and Optional Packages
We mentioned the improved dual-screen Lexus Interface multimedia system. Its two screens are a 12.3-inch touchscreen that displays navigation routes, audio controls, and the Multi-Terrain Monitor (during off-road driving) and a 7-inch vehicle information display that shows the climate control screen and functions as a driving support system for Multi-Terrain Select. The other important features of this system are smartphone integration (wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, a 10-speaker sound system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Drive Connect with cloud navigation and Google points-of-interest, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A top-shelf Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system with 25 speakers is available for the Premium and F Sport Handling, but it’s standard in the Luxury and Ultra Luxury.