Lexus LX 500d Overtrail

Overview

LEXUS offers two versions of the five-seat LX Overtrail upper large luxury SUV: the LX 500d running a 3.3-litre V6 diesel with 227kW/700Nm and the LX 600 V6 petrol, the former our review test vehicle that lists from $182,300 excluding on-road costs placing it one step down the model ladder with the same-priced, LX 600 Overtrail and F Sport above.

Add on-road costs and it’s circa $200K for the big, ruggedised Lexus SUV still putting it well below various Ranger Rovers, but around the same dosh as the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450d and about $35K north of the same-under-the-skin, top-of-the-range Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series Sahara ZX.

Is it worth all that extra coin?

If you’d have asked me before driving the LX 500d Overtrail I would have laughed and said no, because the 300 Series is already a dab hand off road and is acknowledged as the Swiss Army Knife of motoring – will go pretty much anywhere you like, and get you back.

But then we jumped into the Overtrail, started driving it and got the picture pretty quickly.

What makes it different/better are the many tweaks made for all round driving with a focus on off-road adventuring to the point where Lexus says it offers “exceptional ground-covering ability … over rough terrain”.

That sees the standard inclusion, after customer feedback, of “adventure ready” front and rear locking differentials, 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Toyo Open Country A/T tyres, blackened exterior styling cues, unique front and rear bumpers, Monolith olive-coloured stitching and Sumi Black interior garnishing, and a bespoke paint colour dubbed Moon Desert.

Furthering the Overtrail’s off-road credentials, are Active Height Control hydraulically adjustable suspension, Multi-Terrain Select, Multi-Terrain Monitor, Downhill Assist Control, and Crawl Control.

It also has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.

Lexus based Overtrail on a spec’ed-up version of the already generously equipped LX Luxury with Enhancement Pack variant.

Power goes to all four wheels via a full time 4WD and 10-speed conventional automatic transmission with multiple modes.

The Overtrail accompanied last year’s LX upgrade that ushered in updated specification and technology with additional driver assistance features via the Lexus Safety System+ suite of safety technologies including an improved pre-collision system (AEB) now capable of detecting cyclists at night, motorcyclists by day, and vehicles when crossing an intersection.

It includes a system to suppress acceleration at low speeds that may help LX drivers to avoid crashes from unintended throttle inputs, while the vehicle’s lane keeping feature now includes an emergency driving stop system (EDSS) designed to bring the vehicle to a slow stop in the event of an emergency.

Safe exit assist is also offered in conjunction with the vehicle’s blind-spot monitor and can detect both vehicles and cyclists approaching when occupants exit the vehicle.

Along with the enhanced levels of standard safety equipment, the LX adds a fully digital 12.3-inch instrumentation cluster while also adopting wireless Android Auto in addition to the existing wireless Apple CarPlay system.

Six USB-C ports adorn the cabin while other enhancements include soft-close doors, a front HDMI port, and centre console cool box.

Setting the Overtrail apart visually are a fetching black radiator grille, front and rear bumpers, door handles, wheel arches, outer mirrors and door window mouldings, while inside the model features premium leather-accented seats with Monolith colour scheme and Sumi Ash black ornamentation.

Driving impressions

We were able to give the Lexus LX 500d Overtrail a decent test covering perhaps 2000km of urban, regional, motorway, gravel and rough bush track driving, the latter under the gaze of black cockatoos.

The Overtrail left little to be desired in all environments apart from a few tech’ niggles such as occasional Bluetooth drop-outs and windows that don’t have delay up after you switch off. Minor irritations that shouldn’t afflict a car that sells in this price range.

It consumed an average of 11.2 litres per 100km during our stint, significantly more than the claimed 8.9L/100km. With a 110-litres fuel tank, it means a driving range of about 1000km should be possible.

On the highway the big Lexus floats along like the proverbial magic carpet, smoothing rough surfaces and imperfections in the tarmac as if they weren’t there – a lot like a limo.

The supple suspension’s “waft effect” flows to under the bonnet and under the wheel arches as neither engine nor all terrain (A/T) tyres contribute much at all to noise generation apart from the diesel V6 when full throttle is applied.

That elicits a muted rumble that quickly tapers off as the right foot inevitably rises and though chunky, the tyres generated minimal noise at all.

In outright performance terms, the Overtrail is not what you’d term sporty but delivers strong acceleration and roll-on response for such a big beast.

Overtaking is never an issue and in Sports mode, the Overtrail tightens up steering and suspension and grows engine map horns, everything combining to ramp-up its drive feel to a surprisingly responsive and gratifying level.

Its considerable mass must, however, always be kept front of mind particularly when braking hard.

And parking can be an issue size-wise, the vehicle’s bulk also problematic in tight off-road driving unless you’re prepared to wear paint scratches down the sides.

We took the Overtrail exploring off-road in the escarpment behind Nowra and Moruya on the NSW South Coast heading across to the charming town of Braidwood.

It’s offered a chance to really sample the vehicle’s off-road capability which we quickly found to be immense tempered by how much superficial damage you are prepared to wear underneath the vehicle and on its panels.

Spearing onto some really gnarly trails used by bushfire fighters back in 2019 it was no surprise that that are now heavily rutted, rocky, off camber and in places partly washed away but with all the right modes selected the Overtrail rolled on like a tank while we quivered in our (heated/cooled) leather seats worrying about possible road collapse.

Low range was required a few times crossing various fairly deep rocky bottomed creeks up to about mid-door level which also had us quaking in our seats.

But it was like child’s play for the Overtrail that marched on regardless seemingly looking for the next challenge.

After a couple of hours “bush bashing”, we ran out of nerve and turned back onto the graded gravel road that was like a highway to the Overtrail eventually popping up back on the blacktop a few kays out of Braidwood.

After parking it up for lunch, proud of the amount of mud and dust that the Overtrail had accumulated on itself, we noted the well-coiffed and tailored visitors to Braidwood taking a really good look at it, perhaps in envy…

Our return trip of 500km that afternoon was entirely on B roads, highways and motorways where the Overtrail displayed its grand touring credentials highlighted by an ability to cover long distances with minimal ill-effects to the driver or passengers.

Cranking up the climate control, our favourite Spotify tones were pumping through the 25 speaker Mark Levinson audio as we sailed away in abject comfort, the Overtrail molly coddling us in the way to which we had become accustomed.

Our over-riding impression of the Lexus LX 500d Overtrail is of a hugely competent (and desirable) vehicle that can take you, within reason, pretty much anywhere you want to go in a high level of luxury.

Now, if only we could afford the asking price…