Engine and Transmission

From Car and Driver

Engine and Transmission Rating:

To feed the 383-hp 5.7-liter V-8 under the hood, the LX ingests gargantuan gulps of air, an action that is anything but quiet. When you press the gas pedal heavily, the LX gathers itself with a big whoosh before trotting from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. That’s sufficient to escape the “slow” label, but the LX is easily bested off the line by many of its competitors. The eight-speed automatic transmission is less than impressive as well, with slow shifting and a general clunkiness that matches the LX’s lumbering personality.

Test Results: Acceleration

Manual Shifting Capability

The LX does offer manual gear selection via paddle shifters on the steering wheel or the shifter on the center tunnel, but it’s hard to imagine anybody using them for anything other than an extremely narrow passing window on the highway. Paddles or no, the LX is not the kind of SUV that encourages sporty driving.

Automatic Stop/Start

Tow Ratings Compared

If towing is of serious concern, forget the LX altogether and head to the Toyota dealer for the Land Cruiser. It offers an extra 1100 pounds of capability.

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