2026 Lexus LX700h Sports Luxury review

Lexus has added a new hybrid powertrain to its largest model, the LX luxury 4WD SUV.

The new Lexus LX700h petrol-electric HEV line-up consists of three variants, and they’re all significantly more expensive than the equivalent petrol or diesel version.

You might be surprised by my findings in this review – and not necessarily in a good way…

How much does the Lexus LX cost?

Lexus has added three versions of the LX700h hybrid model to its expansive big SUV range, and they command a sizable premium over the equivalent petrol or diesel versions.

We have the LX700h Sports Luxury on test here, and yes, that’s going to translate to well over $200K in your driveway – and it's a huge $16,200 dearer than the equivalent LX600. 

If you’re wondering about how long it will take to recoup that extra cost based on the official fuel economy claims, you’re going to be shocked.

The official consumption claim for the LX600 is 11.9L/100km, and the hybrid claims to use 10.0L/100km. That means – based on yearly mileage of 15,000km per annum – it will take you 28 years to recover the extra outlay.

What?!

But this isn’t about the maths. Clearly, if you’re buying a hugely expensive monster SUV from a luxury brand, you’re not necessarily going to be that concerned about the costs.

Even so, though, it's reasonable to expect the 700h hybrid variants to hold their value a little better, given where the world is moving on the electrification front.

Speaking of which, there are potential alternatives you might want to consider instead of this, like the significantly cheaper Denza B8 (from $91,000), or even a GWM Tank 500 PHEV (from $79,990 D/A).

Toyota also offers the same drivetrain in the related LandCruiser 300 Series, which is branded 'Performance Hybrid'. The most plush Sahara ZX with this powertrain starts at $156,810 plus on-road costs – though you lose the third-row seats.

To see how the Lexus LX lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the Lexus LX like on the inside?

The only clue that this is the electrified version is the small '700h' badge, because otherwise it looks much the same as any other LX from the outside, but inside there are some notable differences.

Because of the hybrid battery packaging, there are some compromises in the cargo area, although Lexus has retained a full-size spare wheel underneath the vehicle. 

The boot is where you'll notice the changes. In seven-seat guise, the raised third-row arrangement eats into luggage space and means the rearmost seats are up quite high.

As a result, I reckon the five-seat version makes a lot more sense if outright practicality is a priority, but if you insist on three rows of spacious seating, there are better options from other makers, in my opinion.

Lexus has persisted with electrically folding third-row seats, and while that might sound luxurious, I'm still not convinced. Time is a luxury, but these motors take their own sweet time compared to a simple manual release mechanism – with all seven seats in place, cargo capacity is fairly limited as well.

There is a handy new 1500W inverter in the rear, allowing for vehicle-to-load functionality, which could prove useful for camping trips or powering accessories away from the grid.

There are also some tie-down points and bag hooks, though those hooks aren't especially well-positioned and won't do much to stop loose shopping bags from sliding around.

Up front, the LX remains every bit the premium SUV you'd expect. The layout is familiar, with a lower touchscreen for vehicle functions and climate controls, and an upper display handling media and navigation.

There are physical controls for seat heating and ventilation, plenty of storage spaces, multiple USB ports, cupholders, a wireless phone charger and all the off-road hardware controls, including the height-adjustable suspension and centre differential lock.

There's also a refrigerated cool box between the front seats, digital instrumentation, and a head-up display, while the surround-view camera system allows you to keep an eye on things with a range of useful viewing angles.

Front-seat comfort levels are excellent, with electrically adjustable front seats featuring memory settings, not to mention heating and cooling functions. 

The Mark Levinson sound system remains one of the highlights if you love music. 

Second-row occupants are also well-catered for. 

There are window sunshades, rear entertainment screens, and this big machine gets quad-zone climate control, not to mention heated and ventilated outboard seats in the second row.

There are plenty of USB outlets and a fold-down armrest, too.

However, because the second-row bench doesn't slide fore and aft, taller adults might find accommodation tighter than expected in a vehicle of this size, with limited space for legs, and fitting three adults across can be a squish. 

There is a pair of ISOFIX points in the second row as well as three top-tethers, but the cabin space isn’t as broad as you’d think, so fitting multiple child seats in the back could be a squeeze.

Access to the third row is electrically assisted by way of a flip-fold second-row seat, and while getting in isn't too difficult, space is best described as adequate rather than generous.

Knee room is acceptable, but taller occupants will find headroom and foot room limited. 

There are overhead air vents, USB-C ports, cupholders and reclining seatbacks to help improve comfort, but I would argue these are ‘sometimes’ seats rather than full-time options, unless your occupants are in that age gap where they can be in the back without child seats and are still small enough to fit.

And there are no ISOFIX anchor points or top-tether mounts in the third row, which further limits the utility of the cabin.

To see how the Lexus LX lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What's under the bonnet?

Unlike most Lexus hybrids, the LX700h doesn't use the brand's familiar e-CVT setup.

Instead, it sticks with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 paired with a 36kW/250Nm electric motor that's sandwiched between the engine and the 10-speed automatic transmission.

The idea here is to, according to Lexus, retain the strength and capability expected of a big body-on-frame four-wheel drive, including maximum towing capacity and proper low-range capability. 

Combined outputs stand at a hefty 341kW and 790Nm, with permanent four-wheel drive and a transfer case completing the package.

Fuel consumption? Well... I saw a similar figure when I drove the LX600 petrol. So are there real, tangible improvements here?

To see how the Lexus LX lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Lexus LX drive?

It doesn't drive like other Lexus hybrids.

At low speeds, the electric motor can propel the LX in near silence, but because there's no dedicated EV mode and no visual indication of when it's running electrically, the transition between petrol and battery power can feel abrupt. 

The V6 fires back into life quickly enough, but it does so with a noticeable thrum, which means you lose some of the seamless refinement that has become a hallmark of many hybrid SUVs – and of Lexus hybrid models more generally. 

Unlike other Lexus hybrids, though, this thing is more focused on performance – and when everything is on tap, this thing absolutely hauls. 

For a massive (and very heavy!) SUV, the LX700h is seriously quick, with loads of effortless overtaking performance and a drivetrain that feels up for it, no matter the situation. The 10-speed automatic is smooth and intelligent, and there are manual shift controls if you want to take matters into your own hands.

I reckon the powertrain itself is excellent. It's just that if you're expecting the silky smoothness of something like an RX hybrid, you won’t find it here. 

Beyond that, it feels every bit an LX. Ride comfort is superb thanks to the hydraulic height-adjustable suspension, which can lower the vehicle for easier access or raise it for rougher terrain. It does a fantastic job of ironing out road imperfections, and while you still notice the odd lump or bump, it's never uncomfortable.

Despite its sheer size, the LX is remarkably easy to drive. The steering is light, predictable and easy to place, and it shrinks around you once you're behind the wheel. For a confident driver, it never feels intimidating, even in tighter streets and parking areas.

There is regenerative braking to help feed the battery some potentially lost energy, and while it isn’t as assertive as other hybrids, the brake pedal feel is relatively predictable.

And unlike a growing number of modern vehicles, the safety systems are generally pretty well judged.

The driver monitoring camera isn't intrusive, the speed sign recognition system doesn't constantly chime at you with warnings, and overall it's a fairly relaxing vehicle to live with. The lane-keeping assistance can occasionally be a bit overzealous, but compared to some rivals, it's relatively easy to get along with.

For those planning to tow, the hybrid setup should also offer some benefits over the regular petrol V6, particularly when it comes to fuel consumption under load. That's likely to be one of the biggest drawcards for buyers considering the 700h.

Officially, the LX700h claims combined fuel consumption of 10.0L/100km.

However, after a week of mixed urban, highway and freeway driving, I wasn't able to get anywhere near that figure – I was expecting much less than 14.2 litres per 100km. 

And that was without any towing, off-roading or particularly heavy loads, so if you're viewing this as some sort of super-efficient giant four-wheel drive, you might need to temper your expectations.

To see how the Lexus LX lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

Here’s a rundown of the LX700h range and the standard inclusions on offer.

2026 Lexus LX700h Luxury equipment highlights:

• 22-inch forged alloy wheels
• Height-adjustable hydraulic suspension 
• Soft-close doors 
• 5 seats standard, 7 seats optional
• Tri-beam LED headlights, adaptive high-beam
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• DAB+ digital radio
• Satellite navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wireless Android Auto 
• 7.0-inch lower screen
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 
• 6 x USB-C outlets
• Head-up display
• “Hey Lexus” natural speech recognition
• 25-speaker Mark Levinson sound system
• Four-zone climate control
• Centre console cool box 
• Leather upholstery
• 10-way driver, 8-way front passenger seat power adjustment
• Heated front seats
• Ventilated front seats
• Massaging front seats 
• Heated and ventilated second-row seats
• Heated steering wheel
• ‘Takanoha’ ornamentation – wood veneer
• Wireless phone charging
• 360-degree camera
• Multi-terrain monitor
• Trailer wiring harness and towing hitch
• Digital rear-view mirror
• Fingerprint identification push-button start
• Premium leather-accented seats
• Dual 11.6-inch rear-seat screens
• Sunroof
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Lexus Connected Services with stolen vehicle tracking, automatic collision notification and SOS call functionality

LX F Sport changes include:

• 5-seat layout
• Darkened 22-inch alloy wheels
• Blacked-out mesh grille
• Hadori aluminium ornamentation
• Aluminium pedals and scuff plates
• Perforated F Sport seats with added bolstering
• Flare Red interior trim (optional)
• Torsen rear limited-slip differential
• Performance dampers
• Adaptive Variable Suspension

To see how the Lexus LX lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Lexus LX safe?

ANCAP and Euro NCAP have never assessed the Lexus LX, but it’s based on the Toyota LandCruiser 300, which was awarded a five-star safety rating in 2022.

Standard safety features include:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection (day and night)
• Cyclist detection (day and night)
• Motorcyclist detection (day)
• Intersection turn assist
• Front and rear parking support brake with obstacle and vehicle detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure alert
• Lane-keep assist
• Traffic sign recognition
• Emergency steering assist
• Safe exit assist
• Emergency driving stop system 

There are 10 airbags fitted - dual front, driver and passenger knee, front and rear side, and curtain coverage. 

To see how the Lexus LX lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Lexus LX cost to run?

Lexus covers its range with a standard five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

But the servicing requirements for this big expensive SUV are, well, big and expensive. 

The LX requires maintenance every six months or 10,000km, and each of the first 10 services is $795. Yes, that means if you maintain it on time, the first five years/100,000km of servicing will set you back $7950. 

Lexus does, however, offer five years of free roadside assistance, and the brand offers a number of perks for LX customers, including complimentary loan cars and a servicing concierge, where they can collect and return your car for you when maintenance is due.

To see how the Lexus LX lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert's Take on the Lexus LX700h Sports Luxury

The LX700h delivers exactly what you'd expect from a flagship Lexus SUV – effortless twin-turbo performance, exceptional comfort and genuine long-distance cruising ability.

Just don't expect the hybrid system to transform it into a fuel-sipper, because that's not really what this luxo-barge is about. 

It simply isn't as efficient as it perhaps should be, based on my experience, and you’re being asked to pay a hefty premium to have that hybrid driveline, too.

To me, this is still a good luxury SUV. It just doesn’t go beyond that, all things considered.

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MORE: Explore the Lexus LX showroom