Should You Take the Lexus LX 570 Off Road?

The Lexus LX 570, the third generation of the LX, is a full-size luxury SUV based on the Toyota Land Cruiser, well-equipped for hitting the off-road trail.
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Lexus LX 570 was the third generation of the LX model. Like its Toyota twin, the J200 Land Cruiser, the LX 570 was built with off-road capability in mind.
Both the 2-row and 3-row versions of the Lexus LX 570 were equipped with full-time 4-wheel drive as part of a mode-switchable all-wheel drive system. The 570 also featured a robust
Lexus
Safety System Plus suite of safety and driver assistance features.
Locking rear differentials, a heavyweight body, and a low-range gearing mode make the LX a truly unstoppable force, even on the least ideal terrain.
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Can the LX 570 go off road?

Absolutely. Not only does the 2021 model have a brilliantly powerful V8 engine, it also has a standard Multi-Terrain System featuring five off-road driving settings:
  • Rock and Dirt
  • Mogul
  • Loose Rock
  • Mud
  • Sand
The LX 570 can even take off-roading into its own hands with its Crawl Control feature that essentially functions as a cruise control for off-road situations. The LX will automatically adjust the throttle and brake for you to optimize its ability to get over rough terrain.
What’s more, a newer 2021 LX 570 has Active Height Control, which adjusts the air suspension for a temporary ground clearance lift of 3 extra inches!
But even in its earlier model years, the LX 570 was a force to be reckoned with, having logged 240,000 kilometers of testing on some of the world’s most challenging terrains.
What else makes the LX 570 such a good off-road SUV, you ask? Let’s take a look.

Ground clearance

The 2021 LX has a minimum ground clearance of 8.9 inches, but it can be raised up to 11.9 inches during crawl control, allowing you to get over obstacles and through rough sections of terrain that most other vehicles could never dream of tackling.
It’s generally recommended by driving experts that off-road vehicles have between 8.8 and 10.8 inches of minimum ground clearance. The LX 570 follows this perfectly, keeping it on the lower end—8.9 inches—until its height control system recognizes that extra ground clearance is needed.

Torque

The engine in the Lexus LX 570 remained the same until the introduction of the LX 600, and this beefy V8 could produce a ridiculous amount of low-end torque.
Its
torque
maxes out at 3,600 rpm with a whopping 403 pound-feet of torque, and with the right terrain mode engaged along with crawl control, that engine traction can be harnessed to its fullest potential. That means your LX is highly capable of pushing itself over the toughest obstacles without having to rev the engine too high or pick up much speed.
MORE: Lexus AWD cars

Tires

Traction may start at the engine stage, but that insane amount of power can’t be transferred into solid forward momentum unless you have tires that can adequately grip the surface you’re driving on.
A Lexus LX 570 sits on large 20-inch wheels which are best equipped with
all-terrain tires
. Many models have been built with optional factory oversize off-road tires, perfect for the trail.
While multi-terrain driving modes are all well and good, an LX 570 won’t be able to get very far on worn out wheels or wheels that aren’t rated for the sort of terrain you’re driving on—i.e.
summer tires
in winter conditions.

Drivetrain

Every version of the Lexus LX 570 is equipped with an always-on 4WD/AWD automatic transmission drivetrain powered by a 383-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine—more than capable of delivering all the power your wheels would ever need for the toughest off-road situations.

Angles

Angles may not be a car spec that you’ve encountered before, but they’re extremely important when it comes to off-roading. A car has an approach angle and a departure angle. Here’s what those terms mean:
  • Approach angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference 
  • Departure angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference
The LX 570’s angles are both 25 degrees, which isn’t ideal, but it makes up for these low figures with features like hill start assist and a limited slip differential.

Off-road rating: Trail Boss

And now, we’ve arrived at the moment we’ve all been waiting for, the announcement of the Lexus LX 570’s off-road rating, based on
Jerry’s
totally-industry-defining DIRT grading system.
Rating
Meaning
Description
D
Don’t Try It
Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I
In a Pinch
Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R
Rough and Ready
Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T
Trail Boss
True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain
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The Lexus LX 570 gets a T rating for being a total trail boss. A good-condition 2008 LX will still cost you about $25,000, while a more recent 2-row 2021 model goes for a whopping $87,875 MSRP, making it more-so suited to the luxury adventurers among us.

The best off-road alternatives to the Lexus LX 570

Not sure if a used TJ is the right off-roader for you? Allow us to introduce you to some great alternative options.
Alternative
Model
Price
Description
Best affordable alternative
2005 Nissan Frontier 4x4
$2,000
Super cheap, easy to work on, and incredibly capable.
Best eco-friendly alternative
2022 Lexus LX 600
$101,000
The updated version of the LX with a more fuel-efficient V6.
Best alternative for serious off-roading
2022 Ram 1500 Rebel
$47,850
Off-road-ready might as well be its middle name! Ram “Off-road-ready” Rebel! Reid Bigland, CEO of Ram Trucks, if you’re reading this, you can use that one.
MORE: Cheap off-road trucks
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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

It’s possible that you already knew how off-road capable your 570 is, but if you’re just learning about some of its useful off-roading features, you’re probably raring and ready to go on an epic off-road excursion!
Well hold on there, because you’re probably going to want to make sure that you’ve got the right
car insurance
before you get yourself stuck halfway up a mountain.
Fortunately, you’re already in the perfect place to find the best price on the policy you need!
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