Lexus LX 700h Overtrail – It’s a Beast

With the Lexus LX 700h Overtrail HYBRID, you’re not buying it for fuel efficiency, you’re buying it for performance. That’s the deal. The flagship LX 700h makes a whopping 583lb-ft torque. And THAT’S the takeaway here… not the MPGs. In short, this thing will boogie… and you will absolutely not feel the LX hybrid’s hefty 6,200lbs holding you back. It’s crazy to think how much the LX chassis has evolved (performance-wise) just over a handful of years. Many diehard Toyota/Lexus fans are allegiant to the V8s of the last generation Land Cruiser & LX, and I totally understand the attraction of a durable, no-nonsense V8. But speaking just right here in the now, compared to this twin-turbo V6 hybrid, the V8 is a slug. It’s not even close. Ah, but there’s always trade-offs… so let’s talk about ’em.

Lexus LX 700h Hybrid…

Like I said, don’t be fooled into thinking the LX 700h Overtrail is a gas-sipper just because it’s a hybrid. MPGs still pretty much suck/slurp, at about 15-16mpgs in the real world (I don’t know where they’re finding the 20mpg they claim). Although at this price point, let’s be honest… who cares about MPGs all that much. But – here’s the bigger picture trade-off with the hybrid: I just don’t like driving a hybrid. No matter how powerful (or fuel-efficient) a hybrid is, the driving experience just instinctively kinda sucks… at least for anyone who fluently speaks the language of car. A hybrid vehicle turns itself on & off without your control. You start it, and sometimes the engine fires, but other times it doesn’t. Then it might come to life a few moments later… but when you put it in reverse it dies. It’s like driving ED. And it blows my mind how much of the population is ok with that.

I remember we reviewed a gnarly Sequoia TRD Pro with the burly TRD Exhaust. When you fired it up, it sounded so robust. Then you put it in reverse to back out of the parking spot & the thing went limp. Eww. That just sticks with me, ya know?

The following is NOT the case with the LX 700h…

But in general, most hybrids condition their drivers to be slow off the line… and slow in general. And on top of that – a hybrid’s brake pedal is inconsistent. And that I could perceive in the LX 700h. Regenerative braking becomes a middle-man between your foot and the pads… and it results in inconsistent & weird pedal feedback. I prefer a less tampered with connection to my vehicles. And whatever MPGs you save, usually aren’t worth it for me. But the head-scratcher with this LX 700h, is that it’s netting you significantly more performance… about 100 more ft-lbs torque. So that kinda tips the scales doesn’t it?

Do less…

The other major trade-off with the Lexus LX 700h is complexity. In just a handful of years, we’ve transitioned from a normally aspirated V8 in the Lexus LX, to a twin-turbo V6 with a hybrid option. That means 2 turbos, an electric motor, a battery, and necessary communication between all components. That’s a lot going on. The Land Cruiser & LX models have historically enjoyed such a devoted worldwide fanbase & high resale value, because they were truly & undoubtedly built to last. Will the new generation be able to follow in those footsteps? Or will the added complexity ultimately come at a cost to the wallet & the lifespan? I have my natural concerns, but I also know Toyota/Lexus doesn’t play games or sell gimmicks. And I know they stand behind their products & their reputation. 

The Overtrail edition put the Lexus LX back on my radar…

Within the Lexus SUV family, the new GX 550 is getting a lot of spotlight right now, and deservingly so. Likewise – the Lexus LX has been out a few years, and it’s kind of an odder-shaped duck if we’re being honest. But for me & my tastes, the Overtrail brings out the absolute best in the Lexus LX. With 33in tires on 18in wheels, active height control, front/rear lockers, a skid plate, and rugged trim, the Overtrail causes me to see the LX in a way I never have before. And what really sealed the deal for me & made me fall in love… was when I parked the LX Overtrail alongside a classic 60-series Land Cruiser. Can you see the lineage? I darn sure can. Through all its evolution over the generations, you can still clearly see the legacy & DNA.

Fact is: The LX 700h Overtrail is a beast.

Don’t let all the creature comforts & quiet cabin fool you. I cranked the suspension up, put the shocks in comfort-mode, and blasted down dirt roads. And the LX Overtrail ate it all up like it was commuting to Starbucks. The power/torque delivery is unreal… especially off-road. It’s just so effortless & crisp. But will the LX 700h last as long as its predecessors? Meaning, is it that forever kind of love? We’ll see. It deserves to be, because this is one hell of a platform honestly. 

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