[Taboleo] "Comfortable on mountain trails and mud" Lexus flagship SUV 'LX 700h'

First Domestic Launch Since 1996 Debut
Handles Steep Hills and Rocky Roads with Ease
Mid-100 Million KRW Price Tag Remains a Hurdle

The Lexus LX, the brand's first SUV, made its debut in 1996. Over the past 30 years, it has pioneered the 'luxury SUV' market in more than 50 countries by offering robust capabilities that handle any road or terrain, along with a comfortable ride. However, it has been rarely seen in the domestic market. On the 18th, we had the opportunity to experience the newly launched 'LX 700h' for the first time in Korea at the 'LX Offroad Park' in Inje-gun, Gangwon Province, through both off-road and on-road driving.

Lexus flagship SUV 'The All-New LX 700h' (Provided by Toyota Korea)

The LX 700h features a newly developed 3.5ℓ twin-turbo hybrid system, a parallel hybrid system specially designed to deliver powerful driving force and high engine torque.

It can deliver maximum torque even at low speeds, enabling comfortable and smooth driving on muddy roads and steep hills amid heavy snowfall warnings.

Yoku Takami, the chief engineer overseeing the development of the LX 700h, explained, "There was a dilemma in achieving carbon neutrality without a Lexus electrified model. Electrification was a seemingly impossible goal, but by equipping a parallel hybrid system, Lexus driving that is safe, luxurious, and true to the brand is possible on any road worldwide."

On the 18th, the 'LX 700h' test drive event was held at 'LX Offroad Park' in Inje-gun, Gangwon-do. Photo by Oh Hyung-gil

As a flagship SUV, it boasts a solid exterior, with the large frameless spindle grille symbolizing Lexus catching the eye first. Lexus created a new spindle grille suitable for the LX by using a floating bar structure to form a three-dimensional shape without a frame.

The hood has a distinctive concave shape, and since it is a large vehicle, the hood (bonnet) design raises the sides to help drivers better gauge the vehicle’s width while driving.

Inside, a horizontal design ensures a comfortable field of view. The new cockpit concept 'Tazuna' was applied to provide excellent visibility and operability, creating a comfortable space that allows drivers to focus even in rough road conditions.

In the center front, besides the navigation display, there is a separate display for climate control and driving-related functions, allowing constant monitoring. This reduces misoperation when selecting driving modes during off-road driving and makes temperature adjustments easier.

At the specially constructed offroad park by Lexus Korea, we were able to drive over a 5-meter hill with a 30-degree slope, 50mm water wading, muddy paths, and rocky sections. Using the Active Height Control (AHC) suspension to adjust ride height and various modes of the Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), powerful torque was delivered with just a slight press of the accelerator, allowing easy passage.

Multi-Terrain Select lets the driver choose from dust, sand, mud, snow, and rock settings according to road conditions, optimizing vehicle control for the selected terrain.

On the 18th, the 'LX 700h' test drive event was held at 'LX Offroad Park' in Inje-gun, Gangwon-do. Photo by Oh Hyung-gil

Considering Korea’s natural environment and the vehicle’s price exceeding 100 million KRW, off-road driving may be rare, but the LX’s development concept of "comfortable and luxurious on any road" was fully felt.

Features such as the differential lock, which allows easy escape even when one wheel spins, and the transfer range select, which switches between driving power optimized for everyday highway driving and strong low-speed power for off-road, faithfully embody this concept.

During subsequent on-road driving, the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Lane Tracing Assist actively supported driving, making it much easier. Interior conveniences include a Mark Levinson sound system with 25 speakers and a center cool box offering cooling functions for the driver’s seat, front passenger seat, and rear seats with three-way opening capability.

While it provides a comfortable ride regardless of the road, the price exceeding the mid-100 million KRW range is a burden. It is available in three variants: 4-seater VIP, 5-seater Overtrail, and 7-seater Luxury, priced at ▲VIP 194.57 million KRW ▲Overtrail 165.87 million KRW ▲Luxury 167.97 million KRW.

Kang Daehwan, Vice President of the Sales Service Unit at Toyota Korea, said, "We are targeting customers in their 40s with a luxurious and powerful hybrid. The VIP focuses on chauffeur-driven comfort, providing stable ride quality on-road, the Luxury with 7 seats supports various leisure activities, and the Overtrail is specially designed and optimized for outdoor activities."

Lexus flagship SUV 'The All-New LX 700h' 5-seater Overtrail (Provided by Toyota Korea)