2005 Lexus LX470 - you'll want to drive

By Bill Keller
Automotive writer & Online editor

In the passenger seat, my wife had just awoken from a nap. She had the heat on low in her now-favorite leather recliner - the lumbar supporting her aching back. Francis Lai's Un Homme et Une Femme softly played through the 11-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. The climate-control maintained a perfect 74-degrees.

I asked, "Do you want to drive?"

Overall for 1998, SUVs made up more than one third of Lexus sales. Lexus Press Release - January 6, 1999

"Sure," she said. I pulled off the road and we swapped seating positions. After making her adjustments to the tilt/telescoping steering wheel, seat and mirrors - we turned back onto the roadway.

January 6, 1999, Detroit, Mich. - Lexus' 1998 sales of 156,260 luxury cars and sport utility vehicles (SUV) set an all-time record, surpassing last year's sales and placing Lexus second in the import luxury sales race.

As she drove I became acquainted with the navigation system. Tapping the 7" LCD screen to check our location on the map and then tap, tap, to display fuel economy. I ran the sunroof through open and close. The 6-disc CD changer cycled and Louis Prima and Keely Smith began singing. I took a nap.

January 4, 2005 - Torrance, CA - With record-breaking 2004 annual sales, Lexus retains its crown as America's No.1-selling luxury brand for the fifth consecutive year.

Welcome to the hotly contested, premium luxury sports utility vehicle class (PLSUVC) where all of the contestants are the major-players - Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Infiniti, Cadillac, Lincoln, Range Rover, and Porsche. This is the stuff of dreams.

It's upon this stage that Lexus reigns as the star among stars, with too many accolades, awards, JD Power and consumer choice top-rankings to list. As the best-selling luxury brand, we'll take that as the best evidence of supremacy in this segment.

Lexus SUV sales were just 4,463 units away from equaling the total production of Lexus car and SUV sales from just six years ago. SUV sales are 52.7% of total Lexus 2004 sales compared to about a third in 1999. Here I thought Lexus only made great cars.

The LX470 was introduced in 1998, the 2nd generation LX. A distinguished award winner even then, it became widely known as a serious sport utility vehicle. If you must cross the outback, you might as well do it in style. But you might bring along several extra cans of petrol.

The LX40 is powered by a 235-hp DOHC, 4.7L V-8 that produces 325 lb-ft of peak torque at 3,400 rpm, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. At your fingertips is full-time four-wheel drive, with a 50-50 power train split, front to rear, through a center differential, and a two-speed transfer case for some serious weather and road usage.

Four-wheel disc antilock brakes, traction control, Vehicle Stability Control, Variable Gear Ratio Steering, and four selectable dampening modes are all standard on this body-on-frame sport utility. The LX470 also has a height adjustable suspension, with low, normal, high, and extra high settings.

The big 18"x8" wheels are mated to P275/60R18 mud and snow-rated tires. A color rear back-up camera displays the scene behind the vehicle on the navigation screen when the vehicle is placed in the reverse gear. The navigation system also plays DVD movies while the vehicle is in park. It's a true multifunction display.

Front-seat side mounted air bags and front and second row side curtain air bags are standard, as are literally hundreds of safety systems that are invisible to the occupants.

Lexus is quietly establishing itself as the leader in innovative and useful electronics and safety technology, and the LX470 offers many of these features, such as adaptive cruise control. Ours was also equipped with the newest generation of Night View - a heads-up displayed night vision system that projects an enhanced, wide-screen view of the dark road beyond the headlights.

Standard audio is an AM/FM cassette player and 6-disc CD changer with 6-speaker sound, including the subwoofer. Our test vehicle had the optional 11 speaker, including sub-woofer, Mark Levinson audio option. Not enough can be said about the superiority of the Mark Levinson system… comparable to the most sophisticated in-home entertainment hi-fi you've ever heard, or even a live performance in an acoustically tuned symphony hall.

The LX470 is a unique and balanced blend of rugged off-road toughness, on-road luxury and handling refinement, high-tech electronics and fine craftsmanship. The whole package is why it's America's number one premium luxury SUV, and among our favorites.

COMPETITORS: Cadillac Escalade, Hummer H2, Lincoln Navigator, Land Rover Range Rover, Infiniti QX56, GMC Denali, Mercedes-Benz M-Class

HIGHS: Rugged abilities, quiet interior, impressive list of standard features, well finished.

LOWS: Awkward 3rd row jump seats.

VEHICLE PRICING: $65,875 base MSRP, as tested $69,807 including Night View, Mark Levinson Audio, roof rack with crossbars, cargo mat and cargo net. Pricing may vary, see dealer for details.

FUEL ECONOMY: EPA ratings 13-mpg City and 17-mpg Highway

For more information: www.lexus.com

LIFE'S A TRIP - Enjoy the drive. Be a safe and courteous driver, obey all highway laws, never drive impaired and buckle everyone up. Copyright © 2005 The Weekend Drive, All Rights Reserved.