2025 Lexus LX 700h Ultra Luxury review: How to waste $141K

This luxury SUV has a new engine option, bringing the price to comical territory

2025 Lexus LX 700h Ultra Luxury review by The Road Beat

Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman

"I asked my friends what they thought this Lexus cost, based purely on brand and a glance inside. Their answer? $100K — even after I pointed out the newly minted '700' badge and hybrid option. When I then explained the MSRP for this example was actually 41% higher at $141,545, they legitimately laughed. From their reaction alone, that might be the only thing needed to know why this new variant of the LX SUV is a gigantic waste of money. But if you want to know the other reasons — and how you can save yourself literally 50 grand — read on.

Picks

There are not all too many positives for this hybridized luxury SUV. With a laughable price tag for a Lexus-badged vehicle, it's more of a statement piece than anything. Only problem is: it's not a very good statement piece.

The good news is the interior is a lovely and luxurious place to be. Maybe not fitting of $150K (once tax is included), but definitely a hundred-grand good. The leather is gorgeous to look at and touch, and there's a heft and substance to all the touchpoints that inspire confidence in the build. Lexus vehicles are known to last decades, and this will surely keep its bank-vault-like level of security intact for years to come — one of the reasons many continue to buy Lexus and Toyota vehicles. I would normally say the doors close with an authoritative thud, but an electronic soft-close feature is employed here — which, while nice, does take away some of the rugged tactility of a properly built SUV.

V8 engines may be dead in the world of Toyota and Lexus, but this twin-turbocharged V6 hybrid powerplant accelerates with real vigor once the boost comes on. For a big and off-road-capable SUV, this is as fast as anyone needs in the real world. Once the turbocharger is spooled and the transmission (there are 10 gears) has you in the correct ratio, the surge of power is quite compelling.

As the flagship Lexus (and therefore Toyota) SUV, there are a myriad of off-road gadgets and wizardry to make venturing overland a simple and underwhelming affair — that is, if you ever decide to get your new $141K Lexus actually dirty. Full-time 4WD ensures easy traction, with controls for a low crawl gear in intense terrain. You have a wide range of different terrain modes to choose between to optimize grip wherever you are. Though honestly, with how secure and capable this SUV is by default, you don't need any of those; just turn off the traction control and let yourself take control to truly appreciate its off-road balance and prowess.

Calling a luxury car the 'Ultra Luxury' is in poor taste, but this is as luxurious as they come from Lexus when it comes to features and amenities. Three of the four seats have great massagers built-in while the rear pair of seats have their own screens to control entertainment plus a central tablet device to mess around with the radio and seat settings. Because yes — the rear seats can recline and massage, too.

Nicks

Now it's time to rain on the former brief parade, because so much of this car makes less than no sense. We've already mentioned the astronomical price tag — just silly, really. But then we have to focus on the fact that what we really have here is a giant SUV measuring 200 inches long that only has four seats. I'm sorry, but what? What is the actual literal point of a gargantuan SUV if it only has four seats? There aren't even little jump seats in the back for the rare occasion you do have a fifth or more occupants.

Compounding the issue are rear seats that may recline, but the bottoms don’t slide back, leaving the default legroom as disappointingly mid. Clearly not up to 'Ultra Luxury' standards as far as your knees and feet are concerned. FurRemember those massaging chairs that rock (pun unintended)? Well, if you questioned why I said three of the four seats had them, that was not a typo — the front passenger seat does not have the massage function. This is so lame that I'll just stop right there. If you're driving with your partner and they want a massaging seat as well, you'll have to tell them to ride in the back.

And when you're driving and want to operate the massaging chair for yourself, you'll need at least four clicks on the central display to turn it on — four clicks! While driving! At which point, the nagging nanny-camera system will then bong to let you know you're distracted (yes, it has that too).

16 MPG.

Despite boasting a downsized and hybrid V6 powerplant, I averaged a miserable 16 MPG during my week of mixed driving. On a level highway, that number surges considerably, but anywhere acceleration — and therefore boost from the turbos — is needed, efficiency plunges, so around town or any time there's a hill, this hybrid V6 isn't really any more efficient than the satisfying V8s General Motors or BMW still offer. I also don't like the sound, which is clearly trying to fake the noise of a rumbling V8, while the transmission can be slow to respond to immediate full-throttle inputs.

Here's a scenario for example: Say you're cruising or coasting at about 45 MPH and need full power on command to pass or merge, I often counted a long three full seconds before any actual forward progress would happen — needing to wait for the turbos to spool up and the transmission to downshift literally six or seven gears. Normally, a hybrid design would help mitigate this lag, but the LX is so big and heavy and has such a weak electric motor supplement to really do anything meaningful.

Cargo space does not impress when you open the boot. Because this is a hybrid and has extra hardware in place, the floor of the cargo bay is now higher than normal, limiting overall space and just being smaller than you would hope for in such a big and boxy vehicle. Looking up the spec sheet, cargo space is a terrible 31 cubic-feet, or, less than a Toyota RAV4.

Also: every time you open or close the tailgate, there is a blaring and repetitive alarm to warn those nearby, but it regularly sounded an extra couple beeps even after it was closed. It's pointlessly and annoyingly loud, and rings with far too much frequency. I've never once complained about a tailgate warning bong before, but here we are — the most annoying tailgate in any new vehicle. Just when you think it's done, you'll be wondering, "Wow, it's actually still beeping."

I further did not enjoy the multiple screens in the center of the dash — one for entertainment and other random functions, and a second for partial vehicle and climate controls. Some of the switches for the climate are physical, but others are digital, and there are also multiple screens to click through just to access the correct climate menu. What this does is make simple tasks unnecessarily annoying.

Despite the off-road potential of the Lexus LX series and the many gadgets onboard to help you cross any kind of terrain and in kind of weather, ground clearance is a clear enemy of the LX 700h Ultra Luxury and will ultimately decide how much off-roading it could ever do. Standing with just 8.1-inches of clearance above the earth, that's less than some Toyota RAV4s even.

An overpriced and unnecessary edition

I don't hate this Lexus, but I dislike everything it stands for. It's a full-size SUV with only four seats, a gross price tag, and a hybrid engine that only makes it more expensive without improving economy at all. Only three of the four seats have the massage function, and the rear seats can't even move backwards to make extra legroom for a proper limo experience.

If you want that experience, you're way, way better off in a Mercedes S-Class or even a Genesis G90, and when it comes to luxury SUVs, there are so many options from all corners of the world that have increased brand prestige and even more luxury and tastefulness. Even more to the point: at $141K before tax, you can get a Lexus LX 600 with 98% of the features for actually $40,000 less.

The truth is, if you actually spend your money on one of these, you deserve to be laughed at. And even then, I sure hope it isn't your first or second vehicle — but more like your fourth or fifth in the stable. For that kind of buyer, at least the crushing depreciation might make for a decent tax write-off.

2025 Lexus LX 700h Ultra Luxury

Pros: Nice interior and Lexus build quality

Cons: Only four seats; It costs how much?!

2025 Lexus LX 700h Ultra Luxury — Basic Specifications

Powertrain & Performance

• 3.4L twin-turbocharged V6 hybrid

• Combined Output: 457 horsepower, 583 lb-ft of torque

• Transmission: 10-speed automatic

• Drivetrain: Full-time 4WD

• 0–60 mph: Approximately 5.5 seconds

• Top Speed: 130 mph

• Towing Capacity: Up to 8,000 lbs

• Fuel Economy (EPA-estimated): 19 MPG city / 22 MPG highway / 20 MPG combined

• Real World MPG: 16

Dimensions & Capacity

• Length: 201 inches

• Width: 78 inches

• Height: 75 inches

• Wheelbase: 112 inches

• Ground Clearance: 8.1 inches

• Curb Weight: Approximately 6,000 lbs

• Seating Capacity: 4 passengers

• Cargo Capacity: 31 cubic feet

Technology & Infotainment

• 12.3-inch main touchscreen with an additional 7-inch lower touchscreen for climate and vehicle controls

• 25-speaker Mark Levinson® Surround Sound system

• Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ connectivity

• Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including:

  • Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

  • Lane Departure Alert with Lane Keep Assist

  • Adaptive Cruise Control

  • Road Sign Assist

  • Automatic High Beams

• Advanced Park with Remote Park assist

• Safe Exit Alert for approaching vehicles or bicycles

2025 Lexus LX 700h photo gallery