2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail Assessment| GearJunkie Examined

Whereas the light-duty Land Cruiser (LC 250) wears the legendary badge within the U.S. now, 2025 lastly brings a correct Land Cruiser to North America. It comes with all of the bells and whistles, an enormous grille, a Lexus badge, and a price ticket to match.

The 2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail is a 6,000-pound luxurious SUV that may seat as much as seven, rolls on 33-inch tires, and has a beginning worth of $115,350. It’s the primary triple-locked Toyota product for the reason that ’90s, the primary LX to hold the Overtrail badge, and the primary hybrid-powered LX.

As a Lexus consultant said as he began the car presentation to a room of journalists, “That is the 300 sequence Land Cruiser.” 

I used to be invited by Lexus to come back to Napa Valley, Calif., to expertise every thing the 2025 LX has to supply, together with getting the brand new hybrid-powered Overtrail off-road. With just a few hours on highway, just a few laps of the off-road course within the Overtrail, in addition to some quick jaunts on-road within the F Sport Dealing with and Extremely Luxurious fashions, I obtained an excellent first style of what this newest Japanese luxurious SUV has to supply.

In brief: The 2025 Lexus LX 700h is the Land Cruiser we needed, simply with a ton of luxurious and a six-figure price ticket. It affords true off-road functionality whereas on the identical time a super-comfortable on-road expertise for all passengers. However, it nonetheless guzzles premium gasoline and is a handful when pushed on the restrict on-road.

2025 Lexus LX

The LX mannequin is now 29 years outdated, and the oldest SUV within the Lexus lineup. It began with the LX 450 again in 1996, after which moved on to the LX 470 in 1999, LX 570 in 2008, and LX 600 in 2022. The 2022 Lexus LX began the fourth technology of the large luxurious SUV, with 2025 marking the primary time a hybrid powertrain or Overtrail model has been supplied.

As with all Land Cruiser-based autos for the reason that 80 Sequence, the 2025 LX 700h has the “Golden Wheel Base.” That is 112.2 inches, which Toyota has discovered to be the perfect compromise to supply on- and off-road efficiency whereas creating good method, breakover, and departure angles.

The 2025 Lexus LX additionally will get Lively Peak Management (AHC) and Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) customary throughout all trim ranges. AHC could be very fast to reply, elevating and decreasing the car a lot faster than a conventional air-suspension setup. The AVS is sweet at protecting the experience clean, however not so good as some luxurious rivals.

In fact, this prime canine of the Toyota/Lexus SUV lineup affords all the newest tech and security. All trims come customary with Lexus Security Sense (LSS) 3.0 in addition to Visitors Jam Help (free for 3 years), which is correct hands-free driving in slow-speed site visitors jams. Additionally on provide is a digital key, so that you not want to hold the fob round you probably have a smartphone.

You realize the Lexus LX is a critical off-road car, because it comes with sturdy six-lug wheels, a full-sized spare, an oil pan skid plate, and a center-locking differential customary.

LX 700h Options

Whereas the LX 600 retains a mechanical gear selector, the LX 700h will get a shift-by-wire system — the primary for a body-on-frame Toyota car. This technique is required for the Superior Park with Distant Park characteristic — the place the car principally parks itself with out driver enter.

It additionally affords a cleaner look and creates a bit extra room on the middle console for issues just like the wi-fi charging pad. However, it isn’t a lovely shifter to make use of and as a substitute feels low-cost, though it takes little or no effort to actuate.

The hybrid LX may be bought in four-, five-, or seven-passenger configurations. All passengers get leather-based seating, and entrance passengers get heated, cooled, and therapeutic massage seats. Second-row passengers can get all that consolation as properly. The “auto” setting for each the entrance heated seats and steering wheel warmth is a really helpful characteristic.

Each hybrid LX additionally will get a center-console cool field. This primarily stems from the excessive proportion of LX being bought within the Center East, in addition to support staff with the ability to transport penicillin — though that’s largely an LC 300 factor. The console lid is hinged on either side, which makes it tremendous handy for entry by anybody within the first and second rows.

Downhill Help Management (DAC) works from 2-18 mph to manage your velocity down steep grades, and solely works in high-range 4×4. Crawl Management with Flip Help works from 0.5-3.5 mph and solely in low-range 4×4. Mixed with the off-road drive modes in Multi-Terrain Choose, all these off-road driver aids come customary throughout all Hybrid LX fashions.

LX Efficiency Hybrid Powertrain

Whereas the 700h is the primary hybrid LX, that hybrid is tuned for efficiency and never economic system. The hybrid system primarily fills within the turbo lag and offers an impressively clean energy curve, which is helped by the 10-speed automated transmission. The LX has full-time 4WD with a selectable low-range.

The “700” implies that theoretically this car has the identical energy output as a 7.0L V8, whereas the “h” in fact stands for hybrid.

Below the hood of the LX 700h is a 3.4L twin-turbo V6, which places out 457 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. With a 20mpg mixed common and 18-gallon gasoline tank, you must get a couple of 360-mile vary out of the brand new hybrid LX.

Whereas not wanted with a hybrid system like this, the LX 700h will get a starter, alternator, and secondary 12V battery. These options should not discovered on another Toyota hybrid.

There are three causes for his or her addition to this car. The primary is in order that it might utterly bypass the hybrid system if that system has a failure — vital if you happen to’re in the midst of nowhere utilizing this car like Land Cruisers are meant for use.

Secondly, when the ambient air temp is under -15 levels Fahrenheit, the starter assists in turning over the engine to get it going. And thirdly, the alternator may also help energy equipment past what the hybrid system’s inverter is ready to do.

The hybrid battery is tucked up beneath the rear load ground, above the spare tire, in a water-proof case — so the LX hybrid can nonetheless ford 27.5 inches of water. As a way to accomplish this, a 3rd cross member was added to the body, and the spare tire was moved down and again, in some way with out altering the departure angle. By placing the battery beneath the car — versus beneath the seats or inside cargo space — third-row passengers get the identical room they might within the non-hybrid.

Enjoyable truth, in four-low and Rock mode, the 2025 LX 700h Overtrail will drive in full EV mode. However, this isn’t selectable by the motive force, it simply occurs when the settings and situations are excellent. Bear in mind, this isn’t a plug-in hybrid like a Wrangler 4xe, however as a substitute a sequence hybrid such as you’d discover in a Tacoma, 4Runner, Tundra, and so forth.

2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail Assessment

Let’s first sort out the appears to be like. The Overtrail model of the LX 700h will get blacked-out exterior trim — particularly, a matte grey grille, black door handles, darkish grey roof rails, darkish chrome-finished window and bumper trim, and black overfenders. It can be had in an Earth beige shade. I’d argue that Nori Inexperienced Pearl is the correct shade for this off-road-oriented luxurious SUV, nonetheless.

Whereas a selectable middle locker is customary on all LX, the Overtrail additionally will get entrance and rear electronically managed locking diffs. That is the primary time any Toyota has been triple-locked for the reason that 80 Sequence Land Cruiser within the ’90s. The middle locker button is on the middle console, whereas the entrance and rear locker buttons are by the motive force’s proper knee on the sprint.

LX 700h Overtrail additionally will get 18-inch matte grey alloy wheels wrapped in 33-inch Toyo all-terrain tires — identical tires on GX 550 Overtrail. These tires, together with the adjustable suspension, present simply over 8 inches of floor clearance on the minimal operating top and over 10 inches when off-road.

The suspension has a couple of 5.5-inch vary of top adjustment general — low for loading and ease of entry/exit and tremendous excessive for extraction when caught on an off-road impediment. The best the suspension can go known as “Rescue Mode,” nevertheless it’s not selectable and occurs routinely beneath sure situations. This suspension modifications top extraordinarily quick, which is refreshing as most adjustable suspensions — often performed with air — are fairly gradual.

Multi-Terrain Monitor — customary throughout all 2025 LX 700h — affords a formidable array of cameras which might be fairly helpful off-road. However, if you happen to nonetheless miss one thing, there’s a entrance skid on the Overtrail mannequin, along with the oil-pan/trans/middle diff skid on all LX.

LX Overtrail Inside

The primary gripe most will say in regards to the new LX is that it has a tiny display screen in comparison with its contemporaries. That is true, they usually might have gone with the 14-inch display screen present in different fashions on this identical chassis.

Nevertheless, the placement of the air vents within the middle stack blows instantly on the entrance passenger’s neck, which is perfect for cooling in scorching climates — just like the Center East, the place they promote a lot of these — and wouldn’t enable for the large display screen with out it being too excessive and limiting ahead visibility.

So, as a substitute the LX will get a 12.3-inch touchscreen, with primarily the identical working system, and a decrease 7-inch touchscreen that shows the local weather controls and a few off-road gauges and management visuals. And, the system nonetheless has wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Inside appears to be like clever the LX Overtrail will get a particular “Stone Brown” semi-aniline leather-based choice. I’d personally go together with the opposite choice, which is black. Both means, the Overtrail comes with Black Open Pore wooden accents and rubber ground mats.

Within the entrance seats there’s comparatively tight legroom, because the console is extensive the place your knees are. That is actually the one dimension that feels limiting within the entrance of the LX. However, the worst half is that there’s a sharp, exhausting plastic nook on the console proper the place your knee will relaxation (or does with my 32-inch inseam and most popular driving place, at the least).

Second-row passengers get good head and shoulder room, and OK legroom. However, the seat is so low that you probably have grownup legs, you’re prone to have your knees up excessive and get little leg help from the seat cushion.

The LX 700h Overtrail may be optioned with two or three rows of seating. The third row could be very small in all regards, however adults can match again there for very quick rides.

When the third row is in use, there’s solely 7.23 cubic ft of storage behind it. Lexus tried to boost that house’s performance with a small foldable parcel shelf, which may maintain as much as 175 kilos.

With the two-row choice, you get an inexpensive 30.98 cubic ft of cargo house. A bit much less within the three-row with the third row stowed.

However, there isn’t any utterly flat load ground when the seats are all folded all the way down to do issues like sleep within the car — with out some kind of platform or cot.

All the best way at the back of the hybrid LX Overtrail is a 2,400W inverter for powering all of your electronics round camp or whereas tailgating.

Drive Impressions

I obtained to push the brand new LX hybrid fairly exhausting on- and off-road. In all situations, it has various physique roll. Particularly beneath exhausting braking, because the nostril dives dramatically. This, in fact, causes understeer rapidly if you happen to attempt to flip. As a way to extract the highest-speed efficiency out of the brand new LX on- and off-road, I discovered that I had to make sure that at most 70% of the hefty weight was on the entrance tires when turning.

Rock-crawling-type terrain is fairly easy on this new LX for any ability degree driver. It could possibly primarily drive itself off-road, but additionally permits for tons of driver-selectable management, together with the flexibility to left foot brake. I’m a driver, and I fairly loved controlling the physique roll and suspension articulation with some left-foot braking and clean throttle inputs over tough terrain.

I did discover that the suspension allowed for fairly a little bit of articulation, however that, in flip, allowed the rear tires to rub within the rear fenders. Not sufficient to cease the car, however sufficient to make noises I wasn’t excited to listen to coming from the six-figure SUV.

There may be nice visibility over the hood, and the muscular bulges on the hood present steering as to the place the entrance and corners are, which is nice off-road and in tight city environments. These bulges additionally assist make for a stable, sturdy hood that doesn’t flex — one thing that’s an annoying distraction on many different Toyota/Lexus autos on this identical chassis.

I additionally performed with all of the drive modes to see what they actually modified. The fundamentals: Eco is principally much less AC, S shortens shift factors and acceleration mapping/tip-in, and S+ provides heavier steering and stiffer suspension. Truthfully, for regular driving, simply drive in Regular mode within the LX 700h. It’s well-tuned to simply cruise.

A quiet, comfy experience over almost any terrain is what a Lexus model of a Land Cruiser ought to present, and the LX 700h Overtrail offers simply that.

Life With LX 700h Overtrail

The brand new therapeutic massage seats — using star-shaped bladders that present extra centered strain — additionally assist with that consolation half, however to activate them, you want to undergo at the least 5 touches of the principle infotainment display screen. Lexus, please give us a single-button therapeutic massage on choice!

Additionally, there’s a Local weather Concierge Button. When activated, it combines seat warmth/cooling, steering wheel warmth, and HVAC, together with occupant detection, to match every passenger with their most popular local weather setting. Now, that’s luxurious!

There’s a Driver Monitor Alert chime that’s extraordinarily delicate — don’t look out the facet window on the surroundings — and annoying. The audible tone may be turned off within the settings, which is probably going the very first thing I’d do if I purchased certainly one of these.

One other noise I’d flip off straight away is the Display screen Beep, which beeps each time you contact something on both of the touchscreens. To show it off, go into Settings, Common, after which flip off Display screen Beep.

In the event you ever need to drive the LX 700h in a sporting method — which it’s not all that nice at — you then’ll need to flip off the Proactive Drive Management (PDC). It’s all the time on except turned off, and it routinely slows the car for stops arising and makes it tougher to show within the mistaken course. A scandi-flick gained’t work properly with this method — don’t ask me how I do know.

I’m not a fan of the tremendous slippery operating boards. They want some texture or rubber grip the place you step onto them. However, they’re means stronger than most operating boards and might deal with some off-road abuse. I, nonetheless, would nonetheless take them off and put one thing like a Slee Off-road rock slider on, to enhance capability and shield the costly physique work.

All 2025 Lexus LX fashions can tow as much as 8,000 kilos and are available customary with a trailer brake controller. Surprisingly, the Lexus GX 550 can tow about 1K kilos extra. Lexus engineers instructed me that it’s as a result of the LX is heavier, whereas on primarily the identical chassis.

Different 2025 Lexus LX Choices

Apart from the Overtrail, I additionally obtained an opportunity to drive and crawl round the remainder of the 2025 LX lineup. Listed here are some fast ideas on the remainder of the LX fashions.

LX 600

The non-hybrid LX feels lighter and has loads of energy (409 horsepower, 479 pound-feet), however for certain, extra turbo lag. And, the powerband is rather more lumpy as you come on and off increase by means of the 10-speed gearbox.

The inside is almost an identical, however feels rather less premium. I do just like the gear selector extra, because it feels stable and fewer like a pc joystick.

Once you equally choice them, pricing isn’t that far off, and the additional cash on the hybrid powertrain is probably going value it.

LX 700h F Sport Dealing with

When you would possibly assume the F Sport Dealing with mannequin of the LX 700h is only a styling train, you’d solely be largely proper. It does get a limited-slip rear differential customary and is the one LX to get a rear sway bar. Even with the extra street-focused tires and sway bar, the load of the car nonetheless overpowers the tires’ functionality to seek out traction when hustling the large SUV by means of corners.

The outside styling cues are refined however sporty, with the large 22-inch solid alloy darkish grey metallic wheels and diamond grille being the large standouts. Inside, you’ll be able to choice the Circuit Purple perforated semi-aniline leather-based within the F Sport, which could be very vibrant and really sporty.

LX 700h Extremely Luxurious

The leather-based, foam, and general plush really feel of every thing you contact within the LX 700h Extremely Luxurious is premium.

The second row, particularly on the passenger facet of the car, is actually the precedence of this mannequin. That is the Lexus LX to be chauffeured in. It doesn’t have a 3rd row and has second-row captain chairs with a flowery middle console stuffed with storage, controls, and charger retailers.

The entrance passenger seat even goes means ahead, the headrests and/or TV flip down ahead in order to not prohibit ahead visibility for the rear passenger, and a leg relaxation folds out. That is luxurious!

One factor the Extremely Luxurious doesn’t get that the opposite LX 700h does is a Ahead Lean Button. By hitting this button on the sprint, it drops the entrance of the car — simply entrance left or the entire entrance, relying on occupancy — to make ingress and egress simple. However, for the reason that Extremely Luxurious model prioritizes the second-row passenger facet occupant, this mannequin doesn’t have this characteristic.

2025 Lexus LX Hybrid Pricing & Availability

The 2025 LX 600 begins at $106,850, and the 2025 LX 700h begins at $115,350, with the Overtrail trim. The highest luxurious LX, and most costly, is the LX 700h Extremely Luxurious, which begins at $141,350.

The Lexus LX is pricey whenever you evaluate it to its closest geared up siblings, on the identical chassis, the 2025 Lexus GX Overtrail+ ($82K) and 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 250 ($75K), 2024 Toyota Sequoia TRD Professional ($79k).

However, whenever you evaluate it to rivals just like the 2025 Nissan Armada PRO-4X ($76K), 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer ($110K), or 2025 Mercedes G-Wagon ($150K+), it’s in the correct neighborhood relating to pricing.

The 2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail is simply now hitting seller tons throughout North America.

2025 LX 700h Overtrail Assessment Wrap-Up

Lexus and Land Cruiser have greater than a dad or mum in frequent; they’re each autos which might be undemanding of the motive force. Each go about their enterprise with ease. Whether or not offering a cocoon of solitude, luxurious, and security within the city jungle or crawling by means of a muddy monitor within the precise jungle, the 2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail reviewed right here will get the job performed effortlessly.

Begin by contemplating that this car has the very same 112.2-inch wheelbase because the 2025 4Runner, 2024+ Land Cruiser 250, and 2024+ GX 550. The LX is about 6-7 inches longer than both, 1.5-2 inches wider, and 1-1.5 inches much less tall. However, it appears to be like means larger than any of its siblings and feels larger from behind the wheel.

For reference, additionally massive-looking and driving on the identical chassis, the 2023+ Sequoia has an almost 8-inch longer wheelbase, is 8 inches longer, 1.5 inches wider, and about the identical top because the 2025 LX. This makes the Sequoia a lot better at towing, accommodating second-row passengers, and hauling cargo, but additionally a lot much less nimble and succesful off-road.

Impressively, the Overtrail model is the bottom hybrid model of the LX, which means probably the most “reasonably priced” — if you happen to can ever name over $115,000 reasonably priced. All 2025 LX 700h provide a ton of normal options that make life on and off the pavement comfy and confidence-inspiring. The newest Lexus LX carries on the heritage of its Land Cruiser roots in type, and can absolutely enchantment to a variety of rich consumers.