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Acceleration
"Fine for this class. Powerteam furnishes ample power at any speed, is always
smooth and refined even by car standards."
Value
"Pricey but premium all the way, LX 470 and Toyota-sibling Land Cruiser are highly
capable off-road, comfortable on-road, and beautifully built. Land Cruiser offers
better dollar value, making it a Best Buy in this category, but the Lexus boasts
a longer warranty and the brand's reputation for superior customer care."
Ride
"Absorbent and quite comfortable in Land Cruiser with base suspension. LX-standard
adaptive suspension, optional for Cruiser, is ineffective. Its soft setting tends
to increase wallow, its firm mode gives the jitters over bumps. The height-adjustment
function has its uses, though."
Economy
"No chance yet to measure '06, but we expect the same or less vs. previous disappointing
test-average of 11.8 mpg in a city/highway mix. Test Land Cruisers not much better
at 12.5-13.1 mpg in mixed driving. Premium-grade fuel is recommended."
Noise
"Among the most refined large SUVs and quieter than some passenger cars, thanks
to luxury-grade sound deadening and smooth engines."
Comfort - Front
"Plentiful space on wide, comfortable seats. High stance makes entry/exit awkward
for shorter people, but running boards are standard on LX, available for Cruiser.
Drivers have commanding views, though headrests are minor obstructions aft."
Comfort - Rear
"Expansive and wide enough for comfortable 3-adult seating in 2nd row. Third-row
seat is just suitable for kids. Awkward entry/exit, especially for 3rd-row occupants."
Controls
"Busy-looking dashboard proves user friendly, but navigation system takes learning,
complicates some audio adjustments, and has fingerprint-prone touch screen. LX-exclusive
Night View option works as advertised, but is helpful mainly in dark, low-traffic
areas--and can be distracting. Lexus or Toyota, first-rate cabin materials and
workmanship."
Cargo Room
Inefficient seat stowage betrays elderly basic design. Space behind 3rd-row seats is tight. And even with those seats lifted and strapped against the sidewalls--a clumsy chore--there's still less room than in many newer rivals with easier folding arrangements. Removing 3rd-row seats helps. Good 2nd-row passenger comfort demands thick seat cushions that eat up about 16 inches of luggage space when folded forward.
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