Performance and Driving Impressions

From Car and Driver

Performance and Driving Impressions Rating:

The LX’s stout Land Cruiser bones make it well equipped to handle almost any type of off-road terrain. But is that where anyone really wants to drive a shiny luxury liner like this one? On pavement, the LX is pretty much one-dimensional. Any attempt to hustle it will be met with strong resistance from the wafty body control, poor steering, and iffy brake feel.

Acceleration

The LX feels slow to get going, both from a standstill and in passing situations, as it requires a short pause to gather itself up before launching into motion. That heavy-legged feeling is exacerbated by a transmission that hesitates for a beat when you want a quick burst of acceleration.

Test Results: Acceleration

Ride, Handling, and Steering

The LX is not a luxury vehicle that allows its driver to sit back, relax, and glide to the destination. Although the ride is comfortable and shrugs off road bumps, the steering is numb and disconnected, and low-speed turns require plenty of arm work. Get the LX up to speed on the highway and the lack of steering feel creates a busy drive; small corrections to keep the vehicle on a straight path are frequent. This creates way more work than should be necessary for driving in a straight line.

Test Results: Maximum Cornering Capability

Braking

Judging by the numbers, it appears the LX has the best brakes among the rivals tested here, but the full story goes beyond what happens when you stomp on the pedal. When putzing around town, smooth pedal modulation is not easy. Gradually dipping into the brakes isn’t enough to slow down the beast; press a bit harder and it feels as if the LX is about to stop the world from turning. This all-or-nothing response made for more than a few unpleasant tastes of whiplash.

Test Results: Maximum Braking Capability

Curb Weight and Weight Distribution

The Land Cruiser and the LX are built on a heavy separate frame, which is the old-school formula for building serious off-road machines that can withstand just about any sort of abuse thrown at them. The weight numbers reflect that. Add the V-8 and the extra equipment for full-time all-wheel drive and this thing easily tips the scales at more than 6000 pounds.

Test Results: Curb Weight and Weight Distribution

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