Lexus LX 470
It’s meant to conquer desert, rain forests and small countries
INDESTRUCTIBLE, is what describes Toyota vehicles best. Take our Lexus LX 470 for example. Based on the Land Cruiser Amazon and lathered with luxury befitting the Lexus badge, it is nearly 12 years old, with over a lakh kilometres on the clock. And it continues to run flawlessly (purrs really). There isn’t so much as a rattle or squeak.
The LX470 is old school luxury and is so comfortable that in a fleet that includes the A8 and S-Class, this is the car that the boss uses daily. Be it meetings in Mumbai or visits to sites in the city, this is the car he finds most comfortable to drive or be driven around in. The suspension absorbs anything and everything without fuss. Of course, all that comfort is at the cost of handling, which is non-existent really. There is immense body roll, even in the stiffest sport setting on the suspension. This, with an old school slush ’box and mediocre power output (from the V8 petrol!), make for a slightly dull driving experience.
But, the LX 470 is not meant to set lap records around race tracks; it’s meant to conquer desert, rain forests and small countries, while making it feel like just another day at work. It’s properly equipped to do that, with height adjustable suspension, low ratio for the gearbox and enough torque to pull down buildings. In wide open spaces it rapidly depletes the world’s oil resources; the Evo X is probably more economical. The hot rod like exhaust note is addictive (it even burbles at lower revs). How can we help but love it!