See the 2016 Lexus LX 570 get dirty
You may not associate Lexus with off-roading, but the LX 570 has a few tricks up its sleeve...or should we say, in its terrain select system.
I took the 2016 Lexus LX 570 out on a little off-road course in Redmond, Oregon. With a locking center differential and a two-speed transfer case, the Lexus performed admirably.
A terrain management system will help newbies adjust to driving in different off-road conditions. Select rocks and sand, mud, rocks, loose rocks or moguls and let the computer do the rest.
The standard ride height on the Lexus LX 570 is 8.9 inches, but that can be increased to 11.3 inches at the touch of a button.
A higher ride mitigates any damage to the undercarriage from rocks like these. (Please note, this rock would have been avoided had I been driving.)
Under the hood is a 5.7-liter V-8 engine, good for 383 horsepower and 403 pound-feet of torque.
That large 5.7-liter engine only nets 15 miles per gallon combined, and there is no option for a smaller turbocharged engine.
The LX 570 doesn't stand out in terms of wheel travel, but a locking center differential means it can easily traverse ruts like this without getting stuck.
A crawl control feature with five levels of low speed takes over throttle and braking. The driver need only worry about steering.
The panoramic camera can give the driver many combinations of views around the car. Here you see the front and both sides along with a tilt-angle display.
A 12.3-inch center screen displays crisp graphics.
Lexus has always been saddled with an overflow of buttons, and the LX 570 is no different.
The Lexus LX 570 has a sumptuous interior, including full leather seating that, watch out, can get hot while off-roading in the desert.