Lexus LX
Published · Researched 2026-09-21
Review: Lexus LX
The LX is a truck that costs as much as a house deposit, and it makes no apology for either fact. Body-on-frame, Land Cruiser bones, twin-turbo V6, available hybrid — this is the luxury SUV for people who actually leave the pavement. It's also the Lexus in this cluster with the most serious recall record, and that has to lead any honest discussion.
The recalls are not footnotes. Early LX600s fall under the V35A machining-debris campaign: debris can contaminate the main bearings, potentially causing knocking, rough running, no-start, or outright stall, with inspection and engine replacement where necessary. Then, in January 2026, came recall 26V-094: roughly 4,374 LX600s with a transmission solenoid and control-logic issue that can cause over-revving, transmission damage, fluid leaks, and loss of power — carrying crash and fire risk, fixed with an ECU software remedy. Neither of these is a reason to admire from afar; they're a reason to demand written VIN recall clearance before buying any used LX600, at any price. A used LX without documented recall completion is not a bargain. Full stop.
Outside the recalls, the ownership picture is very Lexus-truck. The good: immense presence, genuine off-road hardware, a dealer service experience owners rate highly, and the kind of long-haul durability reputation that keeps resale strong. The 2025 addition of the LX700h hybrid gives the lineup an electrified option, though it doesn't transform the experience. The 2026 starts at $106,500 in the US.
The bad is about expectations. The twin-turbo V6 was supposed to fix the old V8's thirst; owners report it did not fix the thirst. The ride is truck-like — body-on-frame honesty that unibody rivals like the Range Rover simply don't ask you to accept. The third row is, in the community's verdict, for kids or enemies. Anyone cross-shopping on on-road comfort or efficiency is shopping the wrong vehicle.
So who is it for? The buyer who wants the most capable luxury SUV with a Lexus badge and dealer network, who'll use the off-road hardware at least occasionally, and who values durability reputation over polish. Who should skip it: comfort-first luxury buyers (the Range Rover rides better), efficiency seekers (look elsewhere entirely), and anyone considering a 2022–2023 without ironclad recall documentation.
Sweet spot: 2025+, with the hybrid option in the mix and the transmission recall remedy available. Years to avoid: 2022, the peak of the V35A bearing-recall era — buy one only with written proof the engine campaign is closed on that VIN. For 2025–2026 cars, confirm the 26V-094 reflash is done.
What does ownership actually feel like day to day? Owners describe a vehicle that's effortlessly authoritative: quiet at speed, commanding in traffic, and genuinely capable when the pavement ends. The frustrations are the ones you'd predict — parking a vehicle this large, feeding it, and explaining the fuel bills to yourself. Towing capacity and off-road hardware are real, not marketing, which separates the LX from luxury SUVs that merely look rugged. If your life includes boats, horses, or unmaintained roads, the LX's truck credentials stop being theoretical fast.
For used buyers, the inspection checklist is short but non-negotiable: written recall clearance for both campaigns on that exact VIN, service history at Lexus dealers (the owner community strongly favors dealer-maintained trucks), and a careful look at air suspension components and underbody for off-road use. These trucks get used properly by some owners, and that's fine — just price it accordingly.
The LX respects buyers who respect what it is: not a tall luxury sedan, but the last of a breed — a real truck in a tailored suit, recalls cleared and ready to outlast everything else in the driveway.