2025 Lexus LX 700h

The 2025 Lexus LX700h is a bit of a conundrum in the automotive industry; it’s a large SUV that’s powered by a hybrid powertrain. Weird? A little. Necessary? I think so. After spending a week in the Lexus’ latest iteration of the LX, I’m convinced that electric assist will be the wave of the future for nearly every vehicle. After all, Toyota went all-hybrid with the new Camry, so this could be a taste of things to come.

However, don’t get too excited, as the hybrid model only gets one mpg better than the non-hybrid one. Powertrain aside, the LX 700h does not fail to disappoint when it comes to interior and safety features. It’s like a luxurious living room on wheels, which is fitting, considering this large barge costs almost as much as a small condo. Let’s take a closer look.

Exterior

Like all of the LX iterations before it, the Lexus LX 700h makes its presence known on the road with its immense stature and chiseled silhouette. The LX’s imposing front end is framed by the brand’s signature spindle grille, which is now reimagined with just enough edge to hint at performance. Its LED headlights cut through dusk with an assertive clarity, while the strong character lines give the LX 700h a poised stance, suggesting it is as comfortable conquering a mountain pass as it is gracing the entrance of a grand hotel.

Overall, the Lexus LX 700h has a distinct and prestigious look that sets it apart from anything else you would see in traffic.

Interior

Sit inside the LX 700h and you’re sure to be impressed with Lexus’ commitment to craftsmanship. The seats are covered in perforated red and black leather and there are plenty of upscale touches like open-pore wood trim and metallic accents to spruce things up. At night the ambient lighting, which is subtle and customizable, softly illuminates the cabin, creating and inviting atmosphere.

But no matter what time of day it is, the LX 700h provides plenty of room up front for the driver and passenger, with ample room in the second row for up to three across. The third row is surprisingly spacious and there are even cupholders, USB ports, and vents back there. The third row has a power-folding feature that can be controlled from the entrance of the rear doors or the cargo area for added convenience, but just note that getting in and out of it is a little cumbersome.

Speaking of the cargo area, there is an awkward platform back there that keeps the floor even when the seats are folded down. With the third row up, there is 11 cubic feet of cargo space, and 44 cubic feet with them down.

Powertrain and Driving Impressions

Under the hood, the LX 700h marks a turning point. The powertrain is comprised of a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 with an electric motor located within the 10-speed automatic transmission’s housing and a nickel-metal hydride battery. The result of this combination is an output of 457 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, which is nice bump in power compared with the non-hybrid’s 409 and 479 ratings, respectively.

In addition to the new powertrain, the LX 700h is fitted with all the off-road goods, including four-wheel-drive with low range, an electronically locking center differential, low-range crawl control, hill-descent control, and adaptive suspension with Active Height Control, and a terrain-view camera system that shows all sides of the car, including an overhead view for easier and safer driving on off-road trails.

Of course, I didn’t use any of that stuff as it was intended since I never take these cars off road. However, I will say that the multiple camera angles and adjustable suspension made parking in tight situations easy and going over speed bumps a breeze. Call me the “suburban off-roader.” Otherwise, the LX drove a like a huge, smooth limo under normal driving conditions and its power was impressive. The powertrain is so smooth that I didn’t even realize that it was a hybrid at first.

Also, its fuel economy wasn’t very telling as well, since I averaged 16.8 mpg, which is far lower than the EPA estimate of 20 mpg combined. I guess you can’t expect much when it’s also rated at 19 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, but if you can afford an SUV that costs over $100,000, you’re probably not counting your pennies.

Technology

 Lexus has been upgrading its vehicles in the technology department over the past five years or so and it shows. There are no more annoying track pads or joysticks, instead, the LX 700h uses a large touchscreen infotainment system that is crisp, responsive, and easy-to-reach. There is also an elegantly minimalist array of physical controls for the climate and audio, and the Mark Levinson sound system transforms the cabin into a concert hall, with every high and low sounding worthy of the world’s finest venues.

The LX is also equipped with heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and seat massagers for the front passengers. The seat massage function is nice to have, but very unnecessary. Your friends will probably like it though.

Safety

The Lexus LX 700h is filled with all kinds of safety features, from a series of airbags to driver assists. Most of the driver-assist features subtly support the driver without ever intruding. They include the usual equipment like adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist, blind-sport monitoring, and the panoramic-view monitor to make parking easy.

The LX also has wireless connectivity, a head-up display, and over-the-air updates to ensure it stays updated and ahead of the curve.

Summary

Ultimately, Lexus has done it again by crafting more than a luxury SUV. The LX 700h picks up where past iterations left off and enhances the experience with hybrid technology. Sure, it might not get 30 mpg, but with this kind of luxury (and heft), you probably wouldn’t expect that.

That said, I think it’s worth the enormous $121,105 price tag, considering everything you get with the car, even though its pricier than some rivals like the Infiniti QX80 and on par with some competitors from Germany.