2026 Lexus LX 700h review

Since its Australian debut in 1990, Lexus has been a byword for quality.

Toyota’s luxury marque took on the premium Euro brands at their own game and soon proved performance and prestige needn’t come at the expense of reliability. But the 1990s were a long time ago and automotive reliability isn’t the trump card it used to be.

That’s especially pertinent when the Lexus in question is the LX 700h, a large off-roader SUV that starts at $196,105. Does such a breathtaking sum buy qualities that aren’t available in other well-equipped large SUVs, or is Lexus just charging for its reputation at this point?

 

How much does the 2026 Lexus LX 700h cost?

The three-model Lexus LX 700h lineup starts with the Sports Luxury for $196,105 before on-road costs – a cool $40k more than the top-spec Toyota LandCruiser that shares the same powertrain and body-on-frame construction.

A tick above that is the seven-seater version of the Sports Luxury at $199,905, while the F Sport tops the range at $202,105.

Not only is the Lexus LX 700h more expensive than its Toyota stablemate, it’s also pricier than the Range Rover Sport P380 ($177,800) and BMX X7 ($174,400). It is, however, substantially cheaper than the Mercedes G 450 ($217,300).

Depending on your definition of luxury, the LX 700h could also be cross-shopped with the Nissan Patrol (from $96,540), Volvo XC90 (from $97,990) and Mazda CX-90 (which tops out at $88,987), among others.

What is the 2026 Lexus LX 700h F Sport like inside?

While it retains echoes of the equivalent Toyota in its styling, the Lexus LX 700h certainly steps up the luxury appointments. There’s a chunky leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery on most surfaces, and even the sun visors have a plush and padded feel. There’s a rugged but high-tech feel to the instruments and switchgear including three (count ’em, three) screens.

Other equipment on offer up front includes a heated steering wheel, seat heaters and ventilators, a wireless phone charger, two drink holders, two USB-A ports and an HDMI socket. The cleverly designed armrest storage box is hinged on both sides and at the rear, meaning it can be opened from any direction, and it also doubles as a fridge (although it’s not what you’d call capacious).

If the LX 700h F Sport (our test vehicle) misses the luxury brief anywhere it’s in the front seats, which are neither sporty nor particularly cosseting – they just feel like the seats out of a run-of-the-mill Toyota LandCruiser. Such an important touchpoint feels like an oversight in a $200,000 vehicle.

Head to the back and both outboard seats have heating and ventilation, while rear passengers get a full set of climate controls with vents at leg and head level. Other nice-to-haves include reading lights, dedicated speakers, and a fold-down armrest with drink holders.

Sound deadening throughout the cabin is superb, as you’d expect, with the outside world seldom more than a whisper whether you’re in the clutches of peak hour traffic or passing a truck on the motorway. 

There is, however, an inefficient use of space. The cargo area can take four suitcases and sundry items but aside from extra height it doesn’t really offer much more than a spacious mid-sized SUV. Rear occupant comfort is also compromised, with a high floor and an enormous transmission tunnel hump that means the centre seat is for short journeys only.

That’s perhaps partly forgivable if space was devoted to accommodating the engine, which elevates the LX experience to another level – more on that below. 

The second row has the expected two Isofix and three top-tether child restraint points. The five-seater still has the drink holders etc. for the seven-seat setup, which does impinge on cargo space somewhat. The boot floor has several tie-down points and a 220-volt power socket, while a full-size spare wheel is underneath the vehicle.

 

What equipment does the 2026 Lexus LX 700h come with?

With a starting price of $196,105, the Lexus LX 700h Luxury shouldn’t want for much in standard features, and it doesn’t.

The list includes 22-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, a 12.3-inch multimedia display, 12.3-inch driver information screen, head-up display, heated door mirrors with puddle lamps, a 25-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, digital radio, wireless phone charger, leather seats, steering wheel and gear shifter knob, interior LED lighting, driver and passenger seat massagers, heated and ventilated seats front and rear, power adjustable seats with lumbar, LED headlamps, soft-close doors, sunshades for the rear windows, and hands-free tailgate operation.

For its $6000 price premium the F Sport gets a rear torque-sensing limited slip diff, performance dampers front and rear, front sports seats (although these lose the massage function in the Luxury), and various cosmetic additions including F Sport alloy wheels, badges, and interior trim elements.

The Lexus LX 700h is covered by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. Servicing is set at every six months or 10,000km, and capped at $695 per service.

How safe is the 2026 Lexus LX 700h?

The Lexus LX 700h hasn’t been ANCAP crash tested and therefore doesn’t have a star rating, but the safety equipment is extensive to say the least.

Keeping occupants unharmed are 10 airbags, a pre-collision system, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, speed sign recognition, driver monitoring camera, safe exit assistance, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, panoramic camera system and much more.

 

What powers the 2026 Lexus LX 700h?

There’s just the one powertrain in the LX 700h, a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 hybrid connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission. It produces 305kW and 650Nm of torque at just 2000rpm.

The 98-litre fuel tank needs to be filled with premium unleaded and claimed fuel consumption on the combined cycle is 10L/100km, although we saw nothing like that during our road test period (see below).

The LX 700h has a 2800kg kerb weight is rated for 3500kg braked towing.

 

What is the 2026 Lexus LX 700h F Sport like to drive?

While LX 700h isn’t particularly high riding for a 4WD, the average person does have to step up to slide into the cabin. The start button is located in the corner of the central touchscreen, which seems counterintuitive at first but is something the driver gets used to quickly. The digital gear shifter is less endearing – to achieve drive or reverse you push it out and up (or down) as if you’re changing gears in a manual car, but like many digital gear shifters it can be irritating when you’re attempting to go from drive to reverse quickly.

The hybrid V6 engine, on the other hand, is an absolute peach. Quick off the line thanks to twin turbochargers and maximum torque at just 2000rpm, it provides a V8-like swell of power anywhere in the rev range and does so with a symphonic thrum. Toyota’s long-standing expertise in hybrid technology comes to the fore with silky smooth operation and even the stop-start fuel saving tech, which in other cars can be a nuisance or downright dangerous, is barely detectable.

Such measures are necessary, too, because the LX 700h isn’t frugal. During our time with it – which included plenty of highway mileage and puttering around town – we never saw better than 13.1L/100km on the LX’s own economy meter. When we filled up following a primarily highway mileage trip from Canberra to Sydney it returned 11.3L/100km, well over the combined claim of 10L/100km.

The Lexus does have legitimate off-road credentials, including low range, a diff lock and multiple terrain settings. The trade-off is the wobble and shudder typical to the ride of body-on-frame vehicles. The variable suspension can be lifted and lowered at a touch of a button, though, and handling is better than expected in such a big beast, especially the F Sport (our test vehicle). It tracks well through bends courtesy of performance dampers and the direct steering inspires confidence.

A quality camera system helps when it comes time to park the Lexus, although an LX 700h wouldn’t be anyone’s first choice of car in a tight urban environment.  

Open Road’s take on the 2026 Lexus LX 700h

Like its parent company Toyota, Lexus trades on quality engineering and the LX 700h has that in abundance. But when you’re asking someone to part with $200,000 before rubber hits on the road, your vehicle needs to offer something special… and ‘special’ isn’t the word that comes to mind when describing the LX 700h. The engine is a beauty and because it’s a Lexus it will likely outlast all its luxury competitors, but it doesn’t do quite enough to live up to its prestige price tag.

 

What we liked

• V6 hybrid engine is an absolute beauty
• Plenty of technology and it all works
• Impressive ride and handling for a big 4WD 

 

What could be better?

• Questionable use of cabin space
• Seats in F Sport are neither sporty nor cosseting
• Doesn’t feel special enough to justify its price