A Week With: 2025 Lexus LX 700h Ultra Luxury

Just when you think a full-size SUV cannot get more luxurious — less like an SUV — Lexus says, “Hold my … champagne.” After a week in the 2025 Lexus LX 700h, it’s difficult to envision a large ute that is more than this.

Yeah. More is the word. Unique, but elegant styling. Yup, but more. A cabin swathed in leather, wood and electronics. Yes … but more. A powerful, yet fuel-efficient engine? Check … but, yes, more.

Just walking up to the LX 700h makes you feel like you’re approaching something that is more than stately … it’s almost regal. Think Downton Abbey rather than the royal family. The exterior design takes on the not-so-new boxy look — nouveau riche? — some brands are returning to.

Our tester came in Nori Green Pearl. It’s dark forest green with a bit of shimmer to it. It’s a great color that only serves to enhance the luxury feel of the LX, especially with 22-inch forged alloy wheels.

Like all Lexus models, the front fascia features a massive grille that announces what’s coming as much as it acts as functional equipment. That look is accented by pronounced arches acting as wheel wells. The back features a light bar connecting the taillights. It’s a simple, but upscale look befitting the ute.

Strong looks, strong performance

The LX not only looks like it can tackle red carpets and red rocks, a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission that develops 457 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. The combination makes it responsive in everyday driving, while achieving an EPA-rated 20 mpg combined.

It also means you can use it to haul some good-sized attachments because it tows up to 8,000 pounds — when properly equipped, of course. It’s not a plug-in hybrid so there’s no need to worry about where you can charge. On the other hand, you don’t get to run around town in electric-only mode saving gas.

However, navigating the surface streets in whatever metropolis you reside in is made easier with the massive number of sensors, clear view from the cabin and drive mode settings you can select from. Sitting the LX is not only getting a room with a view, but also the ability to take advantage of technology and engine and handling performance to make whatever kind of traffic you encounter a breeze.

Extra thinking

Additionally, the LX hybrid is the first Lexus hybrid system to feature both an alternator and a starter as standard components, a departure from previous hybrid models for the brand. If the hybrid system is inoperative, the starter enables independent engine ignition, while the alternator powers the 12-volt auxiliary battery, allowing the vehicle to continue driving using only the engine.

Engineers also made sure this was an off-road capable luxury beast as well. The electric motor supplements the LX’s low-range output helping it through a variety of difficult off-road scenarios — another first for the brand.

If you’re worried about the hybrid battery and exposure to water, especially when fording a stream, you needn’t. The LX 700h features a waterproof structure encasing the main battery inside a waterproof tray divided into upper and lower sections.

This design helps prevent water ingress during deep water crossings, ensuring a fording capability of 27.5 inches. In the unlikely event that water does enter the tray, a water sensor positioned inside will detect it and alert the driver through a meter display, Lexus notes.

Opulence and technology

Opening the door on an LX in Ultra Luxury trim is really like unlocking a portal to a new world. Of course, it comes covered in semi-aniline leather.

The front seats are heated and ventilated to ensure comfort regardless of the outside elements. Additionally, the massage controls offer five different options, ensuring you and your front-seat passenger are comfortable without making you sleepy.

The driver enjoys a slew of assistance technologies that make piloting the LX a pleasure, including a panoramic view monitor, a head-up display, advanced park with remote park (which I didn’t get to use), and more.

Unsurprisingly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard equipment, but the native system isn’t too shabby. However, I’m slave to CarPlay and used that for most of my week in the vehicle.

Perhaps most importantly … there is a knob for the volume. Everything else is gravy.

The center console features two screens: a 12.3-inch touchscreen that handles navigation, entertainment and such. While a smaller 7-inch screen right below it commands the climate controls as well as the multi-terrain

system. It’s where you get information about differential lock status and mode selection when using Drive Mode Select, Downhill Assist Control, Crawl Control and vehicle height control.

Rear command module

In the Ultra Luxury trim, you get two captain’s chairs befitting Captain Kirk as well as Captain Picard. They are separated by a center touchscreen console providing control of the temperature, audio settings, seat adjustments, and lighting controls as well as a wireless charging pad.

The rear seats feature Ultra Luxury-exclusive curved headrests, seatbacks and cushions that gently wrap around the head, hips and lower body. The crafted VIP seating helps to offset any lateral G-forces and irregular road surfaces. The seats are shaped to help maintain a secure posture, while the use of soft urethane with superior vibration absorption performance helps to suppress unwanted movement — even in off-road driving conditions.

Added comfort features such as sunshades on the side and quarter windows, reading lights, and a rear seat display are standard. An Ultra Luxury grade exclusive air conditioning system offers unique overhead ceiling vents for a full body comfort breeze experience.

Third row space — the final frontier

The full-size LX offers room for seven passengers. The front four are really going to enjoy their time in the vehicle, especially in the Ultra Luxury trim package. However, if you’re in the third row, the experience isn’t as … posh.

Yes, there’s still semi-aniline leather seating and it gets its own climate control zone, so you won’t be too hot or too cold. However, you’ll also not enjoy your own touchscreen like the second row does. Also, there’s not nearly as much legroom back there, although for anyone shorter than 5-feet tall, it’ll be just fine.

When that row is folded flat, the amount of cargo space is cavernous. You could easily volunteer to take three friends on a golf weekend carrying their clubs and bags. Plus the liftover height is very manageable and both rows of seats can be raised or lowered with power switches in the back.

Wish list ute

It’s rare to climb into a full-size vehicle and find almost nothing wrong with it. You may want more seating the seven spaces offered by the LX 700h in Ultra Luxury trim. No problem, spend a little less and you can get an additional seat.

Despite its size, it’s easy to drive and easy to park. You can travel in the restricted confines of city streets or enjoy the open road of your nearest highway and not worry about having enough go to switch lanes or merge into traffic.

Heck, I even liked the wireless charging pad for the front-seat passengers and the split screen set up on the center console made sense. I didn’t even mention really cool things like the 25-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system or the 2,400-watt power outlet that allows you plug in any number of appliances and whatnot.

And even the price tag isn’t oppressive when compare it to other luxury offerings like the Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator. It starts at $106,850 for the LX 600, but our top-of-the-line LX 700h came in at $141,350. If you’re looking for a do-it-all full-size SUV and money is a secondary concern, the 2025 Lexus LX 700h must be on your consideration list.