Lexus launches the new LX500d in India at ₹2.83 crores!

Lexus India have officially launched the LX500d in India at a starting price of ₹2.83 crores ex-showroom. This makes it the closely competing with cars like the BMW XM, the Mercedes Maybach GLS, new-gen Range Rover and the Aston Martin DBX in India at least price wise. In terms of size and comfort, the Lexus wouldn’t fall behind much either. This new LX500d is based on the good old Toyota LandCruiser LC300 and will only be available in India with a 5-seater variant. Lexus are also not intending to launch the LX600 petrol version in India either.

This Lexus has always been about being a more luxurious alternative to the ever so popular Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 and gets the same butch styling with an upright body complimented with those massive squared wheel arches and large alloy wheels. The LX500d also takes the win in terms of the “go anywhere” ability considering it comes from the Toyota Landcruiser family. In laymen terms, the LX is to the Landcruiser what Maybach is to Mercedes. The SUV gets unique Lexus design cues which is straight away noticeable at the front with the MASSIVE Lexus grille flanked on either side by the hi-tech slim LED headlights.

Now, you may find that even if the LX 500d is very similar to the LC300 but, the rear is where they are a bit distinguished. Apart from all the overdose of luxury that you get being cocooned in this plush SUV. The rear quarter windows are different and the LX sports a connected light bar at the rear plus some Lexus lettering on the tailgate instead of the logo.

Coming over to the interior, this is where you feel the true difference in plushness and luxury when compared to the Landcruiser. You get four color choices for the interior i.e. red, Black, Tan and a white/brown combo. The global version o the LX gets both 5 and 7-seat configurations on offer as against the 5-seat only version being offered in India. When it comes to tech, let me just it is screens galore. There are 5 screens on offer in total giving you 38.9 inches worth of screen real estate. There is a massive twin-screen set-up on the dash but unlike the Germans, these two screes are vertically stacked. The upper 12.3-inch unit functions as the infotainment system and the lower 7.0-inch shows off-road data as well as climate control functions. It also has an 8.0-inch multi-information display in the instrument cluster for the driver all the while treating the rear seat passengers with two 11.6-inch touchscreens with wireless remote control.

Coming over to the powertrain, the LX will now only be offered in the diesel engine options as against the two options that were available with the previous iteration. And even though Lexus discontinued the previous generation 450d due to BS6 norms, India now only gets the diesel version of the ew LX. In fact, it comes with the same 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel engine as the latest Land Cruiser producing 309hp and 700Nm of torque mated to a 10-speed automatic. The LX gets all-wheel drive as standard, along with multi-terrain mode for off-roading. It also gets multiple drive modes – Normal, Eco, Comfort, Sport S, Sport S+ and a custom mode.