In a strange reversal of the magnetic poles, the new Lexus LX has become the Land Cruiser that the new Land Cruiser is not.

An enormous, up-to-457-horsepower monster of luxurious and ultra-capable proportions, LX tops out the Lexus pyramid with an array of standard and hybrid models and an array of upscale, up-to-seven passenger configurations that rivals competitors like the Mercedes Maybach.

I spent the week driving the new 2025 LX 700h Overtrail edition, priced at just under $117,000 with an added Mark Levinson audio system, and its ultra-solid, 200-plus-inch presence and considerable power impressed me as much as it inflamed the haters.

As I mentioned on a social media post that will likely get me barred from re-entering the country, this upscaled version of the twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 gets 20-hp more than the system in the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, giving it nearly 200 more horses than your average late-model 4Runner. That seemed to enrage those perpetually angry 4Runner drivers even more than their daily nine-out-of-10 enragement level. I guess I’d be angry, too.

The extra boost here is quite palpable considering the LX 700h’s off-road-oriented Overtrail build is more than 6,000 pounds and is parked on ginormous 33-inch off-road tires. You can still crack off 6.4-second 0-60 times thanks to 583 lb-ft of torque, with none of the blurty exhaust note found on hybrid Tundra and Sequoia models.

Like those, fuel efficiency is not exactly the stated objective, with a 20-mpg city/highway blend (kinda more like 17 during my drives), but a full 8,000-pound towing capacity. Conversely, Lexus also offers updated versions of the LX 600 models, starting at $107,000, which are equipped with a 409-hp non-hybrid version of the engine, rated for 19 combined mpg.

True to the LX model’s heritage, which was tied to the previous generations of Land Cruisers and emphasized superb agility and extreme levels of posh details, these seven 2025 trim levels (including F Sport versions) aren’t cheap, and can quickly escalate to the $141,000 starting price of the LX 700h’s Ultra Luxury model.

In that swank, four-person-only automobile’s case, the second row seating turns into executive-level salon with diamond-stitched aniline leather, embossed headrests, reclining rear seats and powered ottoman for the lucky right rear passenger.

I kind of dug the almost-utilitarian-by comparison bench seat in the middle of the 700h Overtrail, wide and leathery and still heated and ventilated as it was, and the option to delete the entire third row and instead concentrate on a 30.9-cubic foot cargo space behind the seats, with a slightly oddly placed tonneau cover. Up front, an ambidextrous lid covers a cooler box in the center console, with loads of padded leather and dark hardwood finishes.

Not much else about the LX is utilitarian, minus the matte-colored 18-inch wheels, and it still boasts capability to rival the somewhat smaller GX and Land Cruiser models and their Overtrail versions. 

All LXes get full-time 4WD with an electrically locking center differential, but Overtrail adds front and rear lockers, allowing you to get the most out of the multiple terrain modes, the semi-automatic crawl control (and built-in turn assist) and the adjustable suspension, which can lift this model to give it more than 10 inches of clearance. 

Those functions are all clearly and brightly laid out on a second video screen, with big knobs for mode and 4WD selection, and easy access to the other 4×4 functionalities. Overtrail also gets extra ambient lighting and a 2,400-watt power outlet in the back. 

The only downside to the LX’s mass and wheel size is some occasionally uncomfortable abruptness when the Safety System 3.0+ lane-keep aids kick in at less-than-highway speeds. It can also automatically adjust your speed in traffic or on mountain curves.

Andy Stonehouse’s column “Mountain Wheels” publishes Saturdays in the Summit Daily News. Stonehouse has worked as an editor and writer in Colorado since 1998, focusing on automotive coverage since 2004. He lives in Golden. Contact him at summitmountainwheels@gmail.com.