Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Lexus LX 570

There have been a lot of comments about SUVs on this blog as of late. Some of our readers don’t see why they exist. They don’t understand why some SUVs remain hot sellers despite $4 gas prices. Well, one of the hottest SUVs on the market right now is the $75,000 (or so) Lexus LX 570. It might not be selling in mass volumes, but sales were up 230% in June over the same period in 2007.

I spent a week with this smooth-riding utility vehicle and came away somewhat impressed/surprised, but there are quite a few flaws to be found in even the most expensive of SUVs.

2008 Lexus LX 570 Expert Review

2008 Lexus LX 570 Not Easy to Find

The full-size, $74,700 2008 Lexus LX 570 SUV has the worst fuel economy rating of any Lexus, at a paltry 12/18 mpg city/highway.

There's no hybrid version, no derivative that burns E85 ethanol, and no higher-mileage diesel alternative. You can't even get one with four cylinders that shut off when cruising to conserve gas at a time when it’s topped $4 a gallon.

Yet if you want to order one today, you may have to wait up to 90 days to get one in the color you want with the options you want.

"There's only a four-days supply of LX 570s in dealer inventory nationwide," Lexus spokesman Greg Tomei said. A 60-day supply is considered normal. “We don't give the number out, but from the time it reaches the lot until it leaves the lot, the LX 570 has the quickest turn rate of any vehicle in our lineup."

My New Office: 2008 Lexus LX 570

I discovered a great new use yesterday for the redesigned 2008 Lexus LX 570. I’ve been testing it this week and drove it up to Elkhart Lake, Wis., for a rally event. On day two of the event, rain descended on the Road America track and I retreated into the security of the LX 570 to get some actual work done.

2008 Lexus LX 570 Gets Big Price Tag

Before everyone starts spouting off comments about how bad SUVs are and how expensive this particular SUV is, let’s all just acknowledge that it might not be right for everyone, but there are folks out there who are really interested in hearing about the price of the redesigned 2008 Lexus LX 570. Those people now know it will come with a base MSRP of $73,800, which does not include a $765 destination fee.

That’s a $6,400 bump over the outgoing model, but the LX 570 does add a much more powerful V-8 engine and standard features like four-zone climate control and a power-folding third row of seats.

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2007 New York Auto Show: 2008 Lexus LX 570

2007 New York Auto Show: 2008 Lexus LX 570

When we heard about the new Lexus LX 570, we had some guesses on what it would be. We guessed correctly that it borrows the 5.7-liter V-8 from the new Toyota Tundra, for example. We just didn’t know what it would look like. 

Now that we’ve seen it, we’re not blown away. The styling is more than subtle — perhaps “nondescript” would be the right terminology. Maybe that’s so the folks sharing the road with you won’t notice what a large luxury SUV you’re driving. That’s just a guess, and a wild one.

Regardless, people shopping for a large luxury SUV will appreciate the 381 hp and six-speed automatic transmission. It can also tow up to 8,500 pounds. The suspension is radically upgraded; it even lowers the LX 570 by an inch when it hits highway speeds in order to reduce drag. We’ll have more on the LX 570 later today on our main Cars.com auto show page, but for now, check out the photos below.