Lifestyle

The Lexus LX500d is a rare sight on the roads, and this exclusivity is where its distinctive charms resides.

If you're in the market for an ultra luxurious SUV, there are quite a few options to choose from. There's the formidable Range Rover in its new avatar that has been given a minimalist treatment on the inside. Then there's the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, which has its hip-hop mode that can be used to free the car if stuck in muddy terrain. While there's nothing inherently flawed with these cars, that's also the reason why they are the go-to for anyone looking to buy a big, luxurious machine. As a result, metropolitan cities across India abound with these cars, making it common to spot one at every other traffic light.

This is exactly why the Lexus LX500d feels a lot more special. I drove the car extensively for a week on the busy streets of Delhi and took a quick weekend getaway to Kausani, Uttarakhand, where I was the only person driving the mighty LX in a two hundred or so kilometre radius. This made the Lexus feel like a unique, bespoke experience that had almost every comfort the other cars offered. Almost…

Firstly, there's the commanding road presence. The SUV is massive; just over 5 metres in length, nearly 2 metres wide and 2 metres tall. It dominates the road, turning heads and effortlessly clearing paths. When drivers catch sight of it approaching in their rear-view mirrors, they give way without flashing or honking. Few dare to encroach upon its path.

Stepping into the LX500d, you might mistake it for an ultra-premium European car and not something conceived in Japan. There are high quality materials - leather, aluminium and wood that have been stitched together to perfection. Every surface inside feels like it's built to last, while offering all amenities you'd expect from a near ₹ 3 crore SUV. It features heated and cooled seats, a heated steering wheel, 4-zone climate control, abundant legroom and headroom, dual media screens for rear passengers, and one of the most spacious drink coolers I've encountered in any car yet!

And if you're like me and don't enjoy the trend of touchscreen-heavy interfaces in modern cars, the Lexus LX500d's dashboard full of buttons is a sanctuary on wheels. Nearly every function can be accessed with a single, tactile click. However, it's worth noting that the AC fan control, inexplicably, relies on touch controls which can be less intuitive while driving.

The 500d in the name denotes the 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel variant of the range, the only option available in India, delivering a robust 300 HP and 700 NM of torque. Considering the hefty 3.2-ton weight of the LX500d, this might not seem like much. Now with so much weight lugging around, you wouldn't expect razor sharp handling or aeronautical-grade acceleration. That said, 8 seconds to a 100kmph from a standstill is still quite impressive for the car, but what's even more impressive is how this big, chunky machine handles itself on the road and through corners.

When driven calmly, the Lexus LX500d effectively masks the fact that it is a diesel-powered vehicle. There's minimal clatter until the moment you need to overtake, at which point the twin-turbos kick in to boost acceleration. Initially, there isn't much sense of movement due to its considerable weight, requiring some time to gain momentum. Yet, as the engine revs climb past the initial phase, the wheels begin to spin faster, propelling the SUV swiftly forward. Without restraint on the accelerator, it's easy to surpass 150 kmph in no time.

All this while there's hardly any sensation of speed on the inside. The LX is softly sprung, yet it maintains minimal lateral movement at any given speed when travelling straight. With a high seating position providing spectacular visibility, all you need to do is keep the steering pointed in the right direction while the car absorbs every bump on the road or off it.

The surprises don't stop even when you approach a corner. Despite its 3 ton plus weight, the LX takes bends effortlessly, without any drama. This is perhaps the most striking aspect of the LX —it outshines its rivals in handling corners. It feels agile, connected, and gives you a sense of control over the road without breaking a sweat. It's hard to imagine, but this big, full-size SUV is actually enjoyable to manoeuvre around corners!

I believe that there's a missed opportunity for quite a few in India who are looking elsewhere for a capable, ultra-luxury SUV outside of the Lexus LX500d. While it lacks features like a full-size sunroof and may sport a more traditional dashboard layout, it excels in build quality, creature comforts, performance, and capability. It stands tall among its competitors as a bespoke machine on the road. While other vehicles may face reliability concerns over time, the Lexus LX500d, essentially a Land Cruiser underneath, is built for enduring longevity. The Japanese won't have it any other way.