Lexus LX700h Review: The SUV That Still Believes In Old-School Luxury Goes Hybrid

Luxury SUVs have become incredibly predictable: bigger screens, more ambient lighting, more touch-sensitive controls, and increasingly complicated technology. Every new model promises to be smarter, faster, and more digital than the one before it. The Lexus LX700h takes a different approach.

Yes, this is the first-ever hybrid Lexus LX. Yes, it produces more power and torque than the outgoing LX600. And yes, it uses electrification to improve efficiency. But the most surprising thing about the LX700h is that Lexus hasn’t allowed any of that to change the character of the SUV.

This is still a proper body-on-frame luxury SUV. It’s still designed to tackle desert dunes one day, and a Dubai-to-Abu Dhabi highway run the next, on repeat. And unlike many of its rivals, it still feels like it was engineered for ownership measured in decades rather than lease cycles.

In a segment dominated by the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, and Porsche Cayenne, the LX700h feels old-school. That might sound like criticism, but it’s actually one of its greatest strengths.

Lexus LX700h Design: Big, Bold & Unapologetically Lexus

If you were expecting dramatic visual changes to announce the arrival of the hybrid powertrain, you’ll be disappointed. The LX700h looks identical to the LX600. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The massive spindle grille continues to dominate the front end, but unlike some oversized kidney grilles seen elsewhere in the luxury segment, it actually integrates well with the overall design. 

Our test car, finished in a shade of White, named Sonic Quartz, looked particularly premium. Combined with the generous use of chrome trim, sharp triple-beam LED headlights, and Lexus’ signature L-shaped daytime running lights, the result is a design that feels expensive without trying too hard. The 22-inch alloy wheels look grand, wrapped in 265-section Dunlop Grandtrek tyres.

Lexus LX700h Dimensions

Lexus LX700h Interior

Physical Buttons In A World Obsessed With Touchscreens

The interior perfectly sums up Lexus’ philosophy. While competitors continue moving more functions into touchscreens, Lexus has doubled down on physical controls. And honestly? It’s brilliantly refreshing. Once you get used to the buttons placement, you can control stuff without having to take your eyes off the road. 

Ahead of the driver sits a fully configurable digital instrument cluster that allows you to customise exactly what information you want to see. The dashboard is dominated by a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, while a secondary 7-inch display handles additional vehicle functions.

On paper, that might sound less advanced than some rivals. But in practice, it often feels more intuitive. The reason is simple: buttons. Climate controls remain physical. Volume adjustment gets its own dedicated knob. Seat functions are easy to access. You don’t need to navigate three menus just to change the fan speed.

The main infotainment system is clean and responsive, although it can feel simplistic compared to the colourful and highly animated interfaces offered by German rivals. However, if you’re using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto most of the time, which most probably will, you’ll rarely notice.

The Luxury Features

The seats are exceptionally comfortable, offering the kind of support that makes long drives effortless. The massage function became something I used every minute spent behind the wheel. 

Lexus’ Climate Concierge system is one of those features that sounds unnecessary until you experience it. Simply choose your desired cabin temperature, and the Climate Concierge automatically manages airflow, fan speed, seat ventilation, and seat heating, all at the touch of one button.

Then there’s the Mark Levinson audio system. With 25 speakers strategically positioned throughout the cabin, it’s easily one of the best factory-installed audio systems available in this segment. More importantly, it doesn’t rely on exaggerated bass or artificial sound effects. The tuning feels balanced, detailed, and mature. Much like the rest of the vehicle.

How Practical Is The Lexus LX700h?

The second row offers generous space for two adults and remains one of the most comfortable places to spend time. Ventilated seats, dedicated climate controls, USB-C charging ports, and excellent legroom make it feel genuinely premium.

Technically, three passengers can fit across the rear bench, but the centre position isn’t ideal. The transmission tunnel eats into foot space, and the experience is significantly better with the centre armrest deployed.

Buyers willing to spend approximately AED 90,000 more can opt for the VIP trim, which transforms the rear cabin into a first-class flying experience. Ottoman seats, massage functions, and additional comfort features make it incredibly appealing. There’s just one catch. The VIP trim loses the third row, essentially turning it into a four-seater.

If you regularly need seven seats, the Signature and F Sport trims make more sense. Thankfully, the third row itself is surprisingly spacious. Aside from giant American SUVs, few luxury vehicles offer third-row seating this usable. The compromise comes in cargo capacity.

Because the hybrid battery sits beneath the floor, luggage space behind the third row is more limited than some buyers might expect. Lexus has cleverly addressed this by incorporating an elevated rear shelf, which allows the load area to become completely flat once the third-row seats are folded. The result is a practical and versatile cargo area that’s easy to load and unload.

What Is The LX700h Like To Drive?

Here’s where things get interesting. The LX700h uses a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 paired with an electric motor integrated into the transmission.  Combined output stands at 457hp and 790Nm. That’s 48hp and 140Nm more than the petrol-powered LX600. It does 0-100km/h in approximately six seconds, and the top speed is limited to 220km/h.

More importantly, it’s enough to make this large SUV feel surprisingly effortless. Put the drive mode into Sport+ and bury the throttle. The rear end squats noticeably before the LX surges forward with far more urgency than its size suggests. It’s genuinely quick. But speed isn’t really the point with this one.

Suspension & Handling

The first impression behind the wheel is that it drives like a small yacht. And I mean that as a compliment. The suspension is soft, the body movements are noticeable, and the LX doesn’t make any attempt to disguise the fact that it’s a large, body-on-frame SUV. There’s body roll through corners, some weight transfer under braking, and a sense of mass that never disappears.

Unlike many modern SUVs, it doesn’t pretend to be a sports car. Comparing it directly with a BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, or Porsche Cayenne misses the point entirely. Those vehicles are fundamentally road-focused luxury SUVs that can handle occasional off-road use. The Lexus approaches things from the opposite direction. It’s a proper off-road SUV that happens to be luxurious. And that distinction becomes obvious the moment the road ends. 

Off-Road Ability

Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, ride-height adjustment, locking differentials, and multiple terrain modes transform the LX700h into something genuinely capable off-road. Even during our brief time on sand dunes, with standard road tyre pressures and 4H engaged, the SUV felt completely at home.

Given the right tyres, reduced tyre pressures, and proper off-road settings, it would comfortably outperform all its luxury SUV rivals once conditions become challenging.

On-Road Performance

Back on the road, the hybrid system quietly changes the way it drives. In urban driving, you can feel the transition between electric and petrol power as the battery charges and discharges. The 1.87kWh battery isn’t large, but it does enough to improve efficiency and make low-speed driving smoother.

Under the right conditions, the LX can even travel on electric power alone even at speeds of up to 75km/h, although only for a couple of minutes. The result of this hybrid system is up to 1.7km/l better fuel economy than the LX600 while simultaneously delivering more power and torque. That’s a win-win, right?

Verdict: Old-School Charm With An Electrified Powertrain

If its European rivals are cryptocurrency, the Lexus is old money. The GLS, X7, and Cayenne impress you immediately. Bigger screens, flashier technology, sharper handling, and more dramatic styling. The LX700h impresses you gradually.

The physical controls. The comfort. The durability. The off-road capability. The way it shrugs off bad roads. The way the hybrid system improves efficiency without changing the vehicle’s character.

If there’s one luxury hybrid SUV on sale today that you’d confidently bet on reaching 800,000km, it’s probably this one. If your priorities are ultimate handling, cutting-edge technology, or rear-seat theatre, the Germans still have a compelling case.

But if you want genuine luxury, proper off-road capability, improved efficiency, and the kind of engineering that feels built to last, the Lexus LX700h stands in a class of its own. And in a segment increasingly obsessed with being modern, that’s exactly what makes it special.

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