2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail+ Review

While not yet officially confirmed, it looks like the Lexus LS sedan’s reign as the flagship of the premium brand’s lineup will soon be over.

That will leave an opening for a new range-topping model, with a few different potential options in the works. The 2025 Lexus LX is ready to fill the void in the meantime, with this full-size SUV getting a suitably regal bump in performance thanks to the implementation of a hybrid powertrain.

Value 7 / 10

The newest LX trim gets a range-topping designation; it’s officially known as the LX 700h, which is the highest number affixed to a Lexus to date. And as we all know, in the realm of luxury machines, the bigger the number, the more boastful it is.

Aside from its badge, there’s not much to distinguish the LX 700h from its non-hybrid LX 600 sibling — unless, of course, you opt for the Overtrail+. It’s actually the cheaper of two available trims, although there’s a three-row package like the one fitted to this tester. It starts at $140,305 before tax but including freight ($2,205), while the extra seats can be added for $2,514 — or $2,745 when combined with the shade of Earth paint seen here. (That Overtrail+ paint is worth $650 on its own when added to the two-row version.)

While the LX 700h Overtrail+ is priced similarly to a number of full-size competitors, there aren’t many that offer its off-road prowess. Among them is the Land Rover Defender 130, which can cost even more.

Styling 7 / 10

The wheels this version rides on are 18 inches — tiny by contemporary standards, especially for an SUV this size. But it means there’s more space for proper all-terrain tires, which serves to reinforce the image that this isn’t just some precious pavement-bound peoplemover, it’s the real off-road deal. The mirror caps, door handles, and grille are all painted black, along with the fender arch mouldings, all of which make quite the contrast against a paint colour that’s reminiscent of granddad’s trousers.

The LX’s style isn’t as rugged and squared-off as the slightly smaller Lexus GX, but it still casts a strong, imposing profile, if not one quite as gargantuan as a Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade.

Inside, the supple leather seats are finished in a two-tone charcoal and taupe treatment, while the dashboard and doors are all beautifully wrapped in soft-touch materials, and the centre console has dark-stained, open pore wood. It’s all truly decadent and impeccably assembled.

Comfort 9 / 10

Beyond being well put together, the cabin also offers sublime comfort befitting a Lexus flagship. The heated, cooled, and massaging seats up front blend a posh suppleness with practical support. Wind, road, and engine noise is all suitably suppressed as well.

On the pavement, the LX 700h’s standard adaptive hydraulic suspension consumes road irregularities, making it a smooth cruiser, particularly on the highway. But even off-road — or when flying down well-worn logging roads — the LX buffers its occupants impressively from the indignities the tires are enduring.

Second-row seating is generous and comfortable, too — and surely the second-row captain’s chairs available in other versions would be even nicer — but the third row is not only very cramped, but it offers pitiful space for feet, plus a very low perch that will force long-legged folk to have their knees up around their ears. It’s only suitable for occasional use by small humans.

Features 10 / 10

Whether fancy features like the 25-speaker stereo, buttery-soft leather finishes, or multi-zone climate control, the LX 700h is decked-out suitably for this very high-end segment. And its functional features are equally impressive, including the locking front, centre, and rear differentials, plus the ability to hydraulically elevate the LX to gain several extra centimetres of ground clearance.

It all works hand-in-hand with crawl control, terrain-specific drive modes, and even a neat camera system that reads the ground to portray an image on the screen of what’s underneath the vehicle, helping a driver navigate tricky terrain. There’s even a feature that will grab a brake to help create a skid-steer effect in tight off-road scenarios.

User-Friendliness 7 / 10

For the most part, the LX presents an effective cockpit with enough physical buttons to keep complaints to a minimum, but some of those buttons seem randomly scattered. For instance, the centre differential lock button is on the centre console, but the ones for the front and rear are hidden near the driver’s right knee. (This is a byproduct of the centre diff lock coming standard across the LX lineup and the axle-specific ones being exclusive to the Overtrail+ package, but it’s bizarre nonetheless.)

Meanwhile, the volume knob for the infotainment system is quite small and situated a bit of a reach on the upper left side of the centre screen. Then there’s the situation with the information overload afforded by the three screens presenting a bunch of data at all times.

The digital instrument display is cleanly designed, and the primary infotainment screen perched atop the dash is also fairly conventional (plus it’s graphically crisp and clear). But the third screen situated lower on the dash that manages some of the climate control mostly seems to present graphic-heavy information about what the truck’s drive modes and systems are doing, all of which is stuff that most users might find gimmicky.

None of these complaints should be deal-breakers, and while not perfect, the ergonomics can be learned fairly intuitively, which is more than can be said for some competitor setups.

Practicality 7 / 10

Buyers wanting a rugged machine that can get them anywhere in coddling comfort will find it here. However, the tight third row seating, and the smallest cargo hold in the segment — thanks to its optional third-row seating and the hybrid system’s battery — diminish the usability of this full-size SUV compared to most others in the segment. With its standard Class IV hitch and trailer brake controller, the LX 700h has a maximum tow rating of 3,625 kg (7,992 lb).

Power 8.5 / 10

The heart of the LX 700h is the same as the LX 600 (and the Lexus GX, plus the Toyota Sequoia and Tundra models, for that matter). The difference is that the venerable twin-turbocharged 3.4L V6 engine is boosted by an electric motor fitted between the engine and 10-speed automatic transmission.

While gaining only 48 hp over the non-hybrid version — for a total of 457 — the LX 700h’s torque rating swells from 479 to 583 lb-ft, besting the competition by a healthy margin. The hybrid version’s extra components add 181 kg (400 lb) to the truck’s bulk, but it has no trouble accelerating swiftly away from a stop and with a generous well of thrust available for passing (or towing).

Fuel Economy 7 / 10

Traditionally, hybrid systems were employed for their fuel savings, but the LX’s electrification is intended to add performance. Even still, its city rating of 12.5 L/100 km is quite good within the full-size SUV segment, while its 10.7 L/100 km on the highway and 11.7 L/100 km combined are slightly closer to the competition. The downside that afflicts all the other Toyota-based hybrid trucks is a very small fuel tank, which means fills come far too frequently, and with mixed driving, we were lucky to squeeze much more than 450 km per tank during this test.

Driving Feel 7 / 10

Drivers looking for the LX 700h to drive like an SUV with more emphasis on sport than utility will come away disappointed. It feels heavy, its steering is light and numb, and despite the sophisticated suspension, it still rolls around a fair bit. It can be tightened up somewhat by selecting the sport+ drive mode, but even then, its sheer mass is ever-present. On the other hand, those wanting a supple ride and good flexibility off-road will appreciate the driving feel.

Safety 8 / 10

Lexus loads up the LX 700h with a comprehensive group of active and passive safety features that includes autonomous emergency collision avoidance that will brake and steer to miss another machine, pedestrian, or cyclist. Its automated cruise control also enables hands-off driving in the right conditions, and there’s both road sign recognition and driver attention monitoring, plus automated high-beam control.

The Verdict

Lexus has created a very interesting offering in the premium full-size SUV segment, allowing the LX 700h to be configured as an ultra-swanky luxury machine, or an incredibly capable off-road, adventure-ready rig. In both configurations, it’s beautifully-finished and comfortable, and strong enough to be a serious towing machine, although it falls well short of the competitors in both third-row and cargo space.