Taking Stock

THESE three luxury 4x4s present two obvious questions. Firstly, which of the three provides the biggest bang for your buck? Or, in this case, a truck load of your bucks. And secondly, are their prestige badges and extensive equipment lists worth the extra money over their donor vehicles – the LC200 in the case of the two Lexus models and the Patrol Y62 in the case of the QX80? If you have the money to afford any of these three you may not be concerned about fuel costs, but, either way, the LX450D comfortably provides the best trade-off between performance and economy. It uses two-thirds of the fuel of either petrol V8 yet provides plenty of real-world performance despite lacking the pedal-to-the-metal thrust of the two petrol V8s featured here. However, no third-row seating could be a deal breaker and, while the reduced fuel capacity over the LC200 Sahara diesel is disappointing, it’s something that can be addressed. If you’re a keen driver and you’re not concerned about fuel use, then the QX80 is clearly the pick here. It goes the hardest and handles the best. In this company, it’s a driver’s delight. It’s also the least expensive by $24K compared to the LX450D and a whopping $33K compared to the LX570. But it’s also the least useful off-road, so that could be a deal breaker. It also loses out to its donor car, the Patrol Y62, off-road and in fuel capacity, so if you’re not too fussed about the badge and the extra safety and convenience kit a TI-L Y62 looks very attractive in comparison. If you value refinement above all, then the LX570 is the pick. It’s certainly the quietest and most serene driving experience here. It’s also the most removed from its donor vehicle given its 5.7-litre V8/eight-speed automatic isn’t available in the LC200, which is the best justification for its large price tag. If you want a bespoke luxury 4x4, this is the closest you’ll come in this company.