The Real (Luxury) Land Cruiser: 2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail Review

While the light-duty Land Cruiser (LC 250) wears the legendary badge in the U.S. now, 2025 finally brings a proper Land Cruiser to North America. It comes with all the bells and whistles, a massive grille, a Lexus badge, and a price tag to match.

The 2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail is a 6,000-pound luxury SUV that can seat up to seven, rolls on 33-inch tires, and has a starting price of $115,350. It’s the first triple-locked Toyota product since the ’90s, the first LX to carry the Overtrail badge, and the first hybrid-powered LX.

As a Lexus representative stated as he started the vehicle presentation to a room of journalists, “This is the 300 series Land Cruiser.” 

I was invited by Lexus to come to Napa Valley, Calif., to experience everything the 2025 LX has to offer, including getting the new hybrid-powered Overtrail off-road. With a few hours on road, a few laps of the off-road course in the Overtrail, as well as some short jaunts on-road in the F Sport Handling and Ultra Luxury models, I got a good first taste of what this latest Japanese luxury SUV has to offer.

In short: The 2025 Lexus LX 700h is the Land Cruiser we wanted, just with a ton of luxury and a six-figure price tag. It offers true off-road capability while at the same time a super-comfortable on-road experience for all passengers. But, it still guzzles premium fuel and is a handful when driven at the limit on-road.

2025 Lexus LX

The LX model is now 29 years old, and the oldest SUV in the Lexus lineup. It started with the LX 450 back in 1996, and then moved on to the LX 470 in 1999, LX 570 in 2008, and LX 600 in 2022. The 2022 Lexus LX started the fourth generation of the big luxury SUV, with 2025 marking the first time a hybrid powertrain or Overtrail version has been offered.

As with all Land Cruiser-based vehicles since the 80 Series, the 2025 LX 700h has the “Golden Wheel Base.” This is 112.2 inches, which Toyota has found to be the best compromise to offer on- and off-road performance while creating good approach, breakover, and departure angles.

The 2025 Lexus LX also gets Active Height Control (AHC) and Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) standard across all trim levels. AHC is very quick to respond, raising and lowering the vehicle much quicker than a traditional air-suspension setup. The AVS is good at keeping the ride smooth, but not as good as some luxury competitors.

Of course, this top dog of the Toyota/Lexus SUV lineup offers all the latest tech and safety. All trims come standard with Lexus Safety Sense (LSS) 3.0 as well as Traffic Jam Assist (free for 3 years), which is proper hands-free driving in slow-speed traffic jams. Also on offer is a digital key, so you no longer need to carry the fob around if you have a smartphone.

You know the Lexus LX is a serious off-road vehicle, as it comes with strong six-lug wheels, a full-sized spare, an oil pan skid plate, and a center-locking differential standard.

LX 700h Features

While the LX 600 retains a mechanical gear selector, the LX 700h gets a shift-by-wire system — the first for a body-on-frame Toyota vehicle. This system is needed for the Advanced Park with Remote Park feature — where the vehicle basically parks itself without driver input.

It also offers a cleaner look and creates a bit more room on the center console for things like the wireless charging pad. But, it isn’t a pleasing shifter to use and instead feels cheap, although it takes very little effort to actuate.

The hybrid LX can be purchased in four-, five-, or seven-passenger configurations. All passengers get leather seating, and front passengers get heated, cooled, and massage seats. Second-row passengers can get all that comfort as well. The “auto” setting for both the front heated seats and steering wheel heat is a very useful feature.

Every hybrid LX also gets a center-console cool box. This mainly stems from the high proportion of LX being sold in the Middle East, as well as aid workers being able to transport penicillin — although that’s mostly an LC 300 thing. The console lid is hinged on both sides, which makes it super convenient for access by anyone in the first and second rows.

Downhill Assist Control (DAC) works from 2-18 mph to control your speed down steep grades, and only works in high-range 4×4. Crawl Control with Turn Assist works from 0.5-3.5 mph and only in low-range 4×4. Combined with the off-road drive modes in Multi-Terrain Select, all these off-road driver aids come standard across all Hybrid LX models.

LX Performance Hybrid Powertrain

While the 700h is the first hybrid LX, that hybrid is tuned for performance and not economy. The hybrid system primarily fills in the turbo lag and provides an impressively smooth power curve, which is helped by the 10-speed automatic transmission. The LX has full-time 4WD with a selectable low-range.

The “700” means that theoretically this vehicle has the same power output as a 7.0L V8, while the “h” of course stands for hybrid.

Under the hood of the LX 700h is a 3.4L twin-turbo V6, which puts out 457 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. With a 20mpg combined average and 18-gallon fuel tank, you should get about a 360-mile range out of the new hybrid LX.

While not needed with a hybrid system like this, the LX 700h gets a starter, alternator, and secondary 12V battery. These features are not found on any other Toyota hybrid.

There are three reasons for their addition to this vehicle. The first is so that it can completely bypass the hybrid system if that system has a failure — important if you’re in the middle of nowhere using this vehicle like Land Cruisers are meant to be used.

Secondly, when the ambient air temp is below -15 degrees Fahrenheit, the starter assists in turning over the engine to get it going. And thirdly, the alternator can help power accessories beyond what the hybrid system’s inverter is able to do.

The hybrid battery is tucked up under the rear load floor, above the spare tire, in a waterproof case — so the LX hybrid can still ford 27.5 inches of water. In order to accomplish this, a third cross member was added to the frame, and the spare tire was moved down and back, somehow without changing the departure angle. By putting the battery under the vehicle — versus under the seats or interior cargo area — third-row passengers get the same room they would in the non-hybrid.

Fun fact, in four-low and Rock mode, the 2025 LX 700h Overtrail will drive in full EV mode. But, this isn’t selectable by the driver, it just happens when the settings and conditions are just right. Remember, this isn’t a plug-in hybrid like a Wrangler 4xe, but instead a series hybrid like you’d find in a Tacoma, 4Runner, Tundra, etc.

2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail Review

Let’s first tackle the looks. The Overtrail version of the LX 700h gets blacked-out exterior trim — specifically, a matte gray grille, black door handles, dark gray roof rails, dark chrome-finished window and bumper trim, and black overfenders. It can also be had in an Earth beige color. I’d argue that Nori Green Pearl is the right color for this off-road-oriented luxury SUV, however.

While a selectable center locker is standard on all LX, the Overtrail also gets front and rear electronically controlled locking diffs. This is the first time any Toyota has been triple-locked since the 80 Series Land Cruiser in the ’90s. The center locker button is on the center console, while the front and rear locker buttons are by the driver’s right knee on the dash.

LX 700h Overtrail also gets 18-inch matte gray alloy wheels wrapped in 33-inch Toyo all-terrain tires — same tires on GX 550 Overtrail. These tires, along with the adjustable suspension, provide just over 8 inches of ground clearance at the minimum running height and over 10 inches when off-road.

The suspension has about a 5.5-inch range of height adjustment overall — low for loading and ease of entry/exit and super high for extraction when stuck on an off-road obstacle. The highest the suspension can go is called “Rescue Mode,” but it’s not selectable and happens automatically under certain conditions. This suspension changes height extremely fast, which is refreshing as most adjustable suspensions — usually done with air — are quite slow.

Multi-Terrain Monitor — standard across all 2025 LX 700h — offers an impressive array of cameras that are quite useful off-road. But, if you still miss something, there is a front skid on the Overtrail model, in addition to the oil-pan/trans/center diff skid on all LX.

LX Overtrail Interior

The first gripe most will say about the new LX is that it has a tiny screen compared to its contemporaries. This is true, and they could have gone with the 14-inch screen found in other models on this same chassis.

However, the location of the air vents in the center stack blows directly on the front passenger’s neck, which is optimal for cooling in hot climates — like the Middle East, where they sell lots of these — and wouldn’t allow for the big screen without it being too high and restricting forward visibility.

So, instead the LX gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen, with essentially the same operating system, and a lower 7-inch touchscreen that displays the climate controls and some off-road gauges and control visuals. And, the system still has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Interior looks wise the LX Overtrail gets a special “Stone Brown” semi-aniline leather option. I’d personally go with the other option, which is black. Either way, the Overtrail comes with Black Open Pore wood accents and rubber floor mats.

In the front seats there is relatively tight legroom, as the console is wide where your knees are. This is really the only dimension that feels restricting in the front of the LX. But, the worst part is that there is a sharp, hard plastic corner on the console right where your knee will rest (or does with my 32-inch inseam and preferred driving position, at least).

Second-row passengers get good head and shoulder room, and OK legroom. But, the seat is so low that if you have adult legs, you’re likely to have your knees up high and get little leg support from the seat cushion.

The LX 700h Overtrail can be optioned with two or three rows of seating. The third row is very small in all regards, but adults can fit back there for very short rides.

When the third row is in use, there is only 7.23 cubic feet of storage behind it. Lexus tried to enhance that space’s functionality with a small foldable parcel shelf, which can hold up to 175 pounds.

With the two-row option, you get a reasonable 30.98 cubic feet of cargo space. A bit less in the three-row with the third row stowed.

But, there is no completely flat load floor when the seats are all folded down to do things like sleep in the vehicle — without some sort of platform or cot.

All the way in the back of the hybrid LX Overtrail is a 2,400W inverter for powering all your electronics around camp or while tailgating.

Drive Impressions

I got to push the new LX hybrid pretty hard on- and off-road. In all scenarios, it has quite a lot of body roll. Especially under hard braking, as the nose dives dramatically. This, of course, causes understeer quickly if you try to turn. In order to extract the highest-speed performance out of the new LX on- and off-road, I found that I had to ensure that at most 70% of the hefty weight was on the front tires when turning.

Rock-crawling-type terrain is pretty effortless in this new LX for any skill level driver. It can essentially drive itself off-road, but also allows for tons of driver-selectable control, including the ability to left foot brake. I’m a driver, and I quite enjoyed controlling the body roll and suspension articulation with some left-foot braking and smooth throttle inputs over rough terrain.

I did find that the suspension allowed for quite a bit of articulation, but that, in turn, allowed the rear tires to rub in the rear fenders. Not enough to stop the vehicle, but enough to make noises I wasn’t excited to hear coming from the six-figure SUV.

There is great visibility over the hood, and the muscular bulges on the hood provide guidance as to where the front and corners are, which is great off-road and in tight urban environments. Those bulges also help make for a solid, sturdy hood that doesn’t flex — something that is an annoying distraction on many other Toyota/Lexus vehicles on this same chassis.

I also played with all the drive modes to see what they really changed. The basics: Eco is basically less AC, S shortens shift points and acceleration mapping/tip-in, and S+ adds heavier steering and stiffer suspension. Honestly, for normal driving, just drive in Normal mode in the LX 700h. It’s well-tuned to just cruise.

A quiet, comfortable ride over nearly any terrain is what a Lexus version of a Land Cruiser should provide, and the LX 700h Overtrail provides just that.

Life With LX 700h Overtrail

The new massage seats — utilizing star-shaped bladders that provide more focused pressure — also help with that comfort part, but to activate them, you need to go through at least five touches of the main infotainment screen. Lexus, please give us a single-button massage on option!

Also, there is a Climate Concierge Button. When activated, it combines seat heat/cooling, steering wheel heat, and HVAC, along with occupant detection, to match each passenger with their preferred climate setting. Now, that’s luxury!

There is a Driver Monitor Alert chime that is extremely sensitive — don’t look out the side window at the scenery — and annoying. The audible tone can be turned off in the settings, which is likely the first thing I’d do if I bought one of these.

Another noise I’d turn off right away is the Screen Beep, which beeps every time you touch anything on either of the touchscreens. To turn it off, go into Settings, General, and then turn off Screen Beep.

If you ever want to drive the LX 700h in a sporting manner — which it’s not all that great at — then you’ll want to turn off the Proactive Drive Control (PDC). It is always on unless turned off, and it automatically slows the vehicle for stops coming up and makes it harder to turn in the wrong direction. A scandi-flick won’t work well with this system — don’t ask me how I know.

I’m not a fan of the super slippery running boards. They need some texture or rubber grip where you step onto them. But, they are way stronger than most running boards and can handle some off-road abuse. I, however, would still take them off and put something like a Slee Off-road rock slider on, to improve capacity and protect the expensive body work.

All 2025 Lexus LX models can tow up to 8,000 pounds and come standard with a trailer brake controller. Surprisingly, the Lexus GX 550 can tow about 1K pounds more. Lexus engineers told me that it’s because the LX is heavier, while on essentially the same chassis.

Other 2025 Lexus LX Options

Besides the Overtrail, I also got a chance to drive and crawl around the rest of the 2025 LX lineup. Here are some quick thoughts on the rest of the LX models.

LX 600

The non-hybrid LX feels lighter and has plenty of power (409 horsepower, 479 pound-feet), but for sure, more turbo lag. And, the powerband is much more lumpy as you come on and off boost through the 10-speed gearbox.

The interior is nearly identical, but feels a little less premium. I do like the gear selector more, as it feels solid and less like a computer joystick.

When you similarly option them, pricing isn’t that far off, and the extra money on the hybrid powertrain is likely worth it.

LX 700h F Sport Handling

While you might think the F Sport Handling model of the LX 700h is just a styling exercise, you’d only be mostly right. It does get a limited-slip rear differential standard and is the only LX to get a rear sway bar. Even with the more street-focused tires and sway bar, the weight of the vehicle still overpowers the tires’ capability to find traction when hustling the big SUV through corners.

The exterior styling cues are subtle but sporty, with the big 22-inch forged alloy dark gray metallic wheels and diamond grille being the big standouts. Inside, you can option the Circuit Red perforated semi-aniline leather in the F Sport, which is very bright and very sporty.

LX 700h Ultra Luxury

The leather, foam, and overall plush feel of everything you touch in the LX 700h Ultra Luxury is premium.

The second row, especially on the passenger side of the vehicle, is really the priority of this model. This is the Lexus LX to be chauffeured in. It doesn’t have a third row and has second-row captain chairs with a fancy center console full of storage, controls, and charger outlets.

The front passenger seat even goes way forward, the headrests and/or TV flip down forward so as to not restrict forward visibility for the rear passenger, and a leg rest folds out. This is luxury!

One thing the Ultra Luxury doesn’t get that the other LX 700h does is a Forward Lean Button. By hitting this button on the dash, it drops the front of the vehicle — just front left or the whole front, depending on occupancy — to make ingress and egress easy. But, since the Ultra Luxury version prioritizes the second-row passenger side occupant, this model doesn’t have this feature.

2025 Lexus LX Hybrid Pricing & Availability

The 2025 LX 600 starts at $106,850, and the 2025 LX 700h starts at $115,350, with the Overtrail trim. The top luxury LX, and most expensive, is the LX 700h Ultra Luxury, which starts at $141,350.

The Lexus LX is expensive when you compare it to its closest equipped siblings, on the same chassis, the 2025 Lexus GX Overtrail+ ($82K) and 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 250 ($75K), 2024 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro ($79k).

But, when you compare it to competitors like the 2025 Nissan Armada PRO-4X ($76K), 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer ($110K), 2025 Range Rover ($115K+), or 2025 Mercedes G-Wagon ($150K+), it is in the right neighborhood when it comes to pricing.

The 2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail is just now hitting dealer lots across North America.

2025 LX 700h Overtrail Review Wrap-Up

Lexus and Land Cruiser have more than a parent in common; they are both vehicles that are undemanding of the driver. Both go about their business with ease. Whether providing a cocoon of solitude, luxury, and safety in the urban jungle or crawling through a muddy track in the actual jungle, the 2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail reviewed here gets the job done effortlessly.

Start by considering that this vehicle has the exact same 112.2-inch wheelbase as the 2025 4Runner, 2024+ Land Cruiser 250, and 2024+ GX 550. The LX is about 6-7 inches longer than either, 1.5-2 inches wider, and 1-1.5 inches less tall. But, it looks way bigger than any of its siblings and feels bigger from behind the wheel.

For reference, also massive-looking and riding on the same chassis, the 2023+ Sequoia has a nearly 8-inch longer wheelbase, is 8 inches longer, 1.5 inches wider, and about the same height as the 2025 LX. This makes the Sequoia much better at towing, accommodating second-row passengers, and hauling cargo, but also much less nimble and capable off-road.

Impressively, the Overtrail version is the base hybrid version of the LX, meaning the most “affordable” — if you can ever call over $115,000 affordable. All 2025 LX 700h offer a ton of standard features that make life on and off the pavement comfortable and confidence-inspiring. The latest Lexus LX carries on the heritage of its Land Cruiser roots in style, and will surely appeal to a wide range of wealthy buyers.