VIDEO: Off-Roading in the 2022 Lexus LX 600
The terrain here isn’t exactly the Dakar Rally or the Moab desert, but it’s still fun to see the LX 600 off-roading.
When talking about high-dollar SUVs, conventional wisdom says that folks who buy the new Land Rover Defender, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Lexus LX 600 will never take them off-road. And for the most part? I think that’s true. Just as most Ferrari, BMW, or Corvette owners will never take their cars to the track, the lion’s share of these beasts — capable as they may be — will never see conditions harsher than a snow day or a parking curb a Whole Foods. So it was fun to see our friends over at TLFoffroad take the Lexus Land Cruiser into the dirt.
To be clear, the terrain seen here is no Hell’s Revenge. This is a route that was selected by Lexus engineers at a press event in Texas, and as Roman and his co-driver Nic point out, an OEM is never going to put a journalist into a situation where the vehicle being tested won’t conquer the obstacles in front of it. Or rather, you’d have to be a complete bonehead and have the mechanical sympathy of a hand grenade to screw up in a situation like the one in this video. But that said? It’s an interesting watch.
Off-road tech has progressed tremendously over the past few years, and my favorite bit of electronic trickery the LX 600 has up its sleeve is unquestionably the camera system. With the push of a button, the hood of the rig disappears, allowing the driver to use the top-most infotainment screen to see exactly where the front wheels are. This means that even super-tricky trails can be navigated without the need of a spotter. Plus, the camera system might also come in handy while berthing the big Lexus in a tiny urban garage.
Of course, as Roman points out toward the middle of the video, this LX 600 is rolling on 22-inch wheels, which aren’t the best option for off-roading. That’s because the larger the wheel diameter, the smaller the sidewall of the tire, and that sidewall helps cushion the ride over harsh bumps. Of course, having more sidewall means it’ll be harder to curb the wheels during city driving. So even if you’re not planning to take your new Lexus into the sticks, opting for the available 20-inch wheels might make some sense. Enjoy the video, and if you happen to see a new LX 600 at your local wheeling spot, make sure to send me a picture!
Photos: Toyota
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