Lexus LX450d Engine and Performance

The LX450 is the only model in the Lexus India lineup that gets a diesel engine. The rest are all petrol hybrid units. The big 4.5 litre V8 puts out 265 horsepower and 650 Nm of maximum torque. The diesel clatter is quite prominent on the outside but good sound deadening keeps things controlled inside the cabin. The motor idles at 500 rpm goes up to 750 rpm when the AC compressor kicks in every few seconds. This gives the body a slight shake and tends to get irritating. Lexus claims a 0 to 100 kph timing of 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 210 kph. The LX feels better when accelerating in a relaxed manner. A sudden tap of the throttle results in a slight pause after which the SUV gets on with the job. The engine is mated to a six speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The transmission is smooth but does not have the ability to handle sudden or quick shifts. It is definitely not a match to the eight speed auto boxes seen in the Europeans. This one feels rather old school. The engine is not rev happy either and is happiest when driven in a relaxed manner. The LX has good low end grunt and mid range but the engine gets noisier as the revs climb to the higher rpms. Highway cruising feels effortless though and the LX will keep munching the kms without a sweat.  The large rear view mirrors offer fantastic visibility and the 360 degree cameras as are boon during reversing. Due to the height most vehicles are not visible.

Lexus LX450d Handling and Safety

The LX is a body on frame SUV and it just flies over bad roads and undulations. It does have its share of bouncy movements as well though. It features adaptive variable suspension that can adjust stiffness in tune with the five different drive modes: Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport +. Each mode alters the steering, throttle response and ride. Handling doesn’t get sporty even in S+ though and there is considerable body roll when you push it into corners due to the height and weight. The hydraulic steering too is on the heavier side. Braking also takes getting used to. There is quite a bit of pedal movement and lots of nose dive during braking as well.

When it comes to off-roading, the LX has everything in its arsenal for the complete 4×4 experience. There’s low range ratios, crawl control, turn assist, diff lock, Hill Start Assist and whopping 225 mm of ground clearance. We did not get the chance to sample these features but there’s no doubt it will take to off-road like a fish takes to water, given its Land Cruiser genes. There’s lots of safety kit too that includes 10 airbags, ABS, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, front and rear parking sensors and all round cameras.

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