For years, the Lexus LX was the choice for people who wanted to survive an apocalypse but also wanted their seats to massage them while they did it. It was the Japanese Land Cruiser in a tuxedo. But now, it’s gone hybrid. This is the new LX700h. And today, I’m going to find out if it’s any good, or if it’s just a Land Cruiser that’s spent too much time in the jewelry department.
Performance
Engine – The V8 is gone. In its p[lace is a 3.4L twin-turbocharged V6 with hybrid assist. It produces 457 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque (341 kW & 790 Nm). Thanks to the instant torque of the EV components and the quick spooling turbochargers, the LX 700h accelerates ferociously. Whether it’s off the line or to overtake a slower moving vehicle, the big SUV sheds its weight and nearly flies. There’s a wonderful surge as you get pushed into the back of the seat.
However, although it is a hybrid, it doesn’t operate in the same manner as the hybrid system found in the Prius for example. Yes, at slow speeds, under 35 km/h or so, the SUV can be driven on just electricity. But under normal acceleration and at higher speeds, the engine is almost always on. The hybrid system in this LX is designed more so for power than outright fuel economy.
Fuel Economy – With the addition of the hybrid system and two fewer cylinders than the old V8, the 2026 Lexus LX 700h is more economical than before. It’s rated for 12.5 L/100km (18.8 MPG) in a city and 10.7 L/100km (22 MPG) on a highway. But achieving those numbers in the real world is a different story. Of all the times I’ve driven a Toyota or Lexus with this engine, I haven’t been able to achieve the rated fuel economy numbers. It’s always been higher. This LX is no different with an average fuel consumption rating of 14.3 L/100km (16.4 MPG), which did involve about 40% highway driving during my time with the SUV.
Transmission – Sending the power to the wheels is a 10-speed automatic transmission. The shifts between gears are smooth and quick enough for a full-size luxury SUV. You can take over shifting and the transmission reacts quickly enough on the upshifts but is slower on the downshifts. Overall, this is a good transmission.
Braking – The brake pedal has a long travel with a progressively firmer feel the more you push on it. The brakes themselves don’t require much pressure to bring the SUV to a stop on a daily drive.
Handling – When you turn off the highway and start going up the mountain passes, the Lexus LX700h is surprisingly graceful. It rides on the same platform as the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia. There is body roll, of course, but it’s controlled well by the adaptive dampers which stiffen up in Sport mode. The steering isn’t razor‑sharp, but it’s precise enough that you can place the big SUV confidently. The hybrid system keeps the powerband buttery smooth, and when you exit the corner, there’s this calm authority — no grunting, no drama — just forward motion.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The LX has adaptive dampers along with active height control suspension. These can make the road feel as though you’re driving on marshmallows. Sure, you’ll feel deep potholes if you drive over them with your shiny 22-inch wheels, but it doesn’t feel like you’ve hit a bombshell when you do.
Interior Space – You can get three rows of seats in the LX, though let’s be honest, the 3rd row is best left for those you don’t like very much. But the first two rows? Heaven.
The seating position is high up so you can look down on others with confidence. The front seats are like thrones. Wide, perfectly contoured, and plenty of space if you’re as tall as Shaquille O’Neal. The second row is nearly as indulgent. The seats can recline, there’s independent climate zones, sunshades, and even TV screens to keep your kids entertained.
Opening the power liftgate reveals 204 L (7.2 cu-ft) of cargo space behind the 3rd row. Fold them down (unfortunately the seats are not power operated in this trim) and cargo capacity increases to 875 L (30.9 cu-ft) of space. With the 2nd and 3rd rows folded, the LX700h has 1,767 L (62.4 cu-ft) of space. Is that class-leading? No. But who cares when your luggage rides this comfortably.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – On the move, the Lexus LX is very quiet. Almost electric. There’s acoustic glass all around, extra sound deadening materials, and active noise cancellation. All of it makes the LX feel more like a first class cabin than an SUV.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2026 Lexus LX 700h starts at $138,191 CAD ($119,450 USD). With the Luxury package that this one has, it’s $149,644 CAD ($121,450 USD). It’s not cheap. But then again, luxury isn’t supposed to be.
Gadgets – On the features list, the LX700h comes with heated, ventilated, & massaging front seats along with a heated steering wheel and heated & ventilated 2nd row seats. Annoyingly, to turn on those front massaging seats, you have to dig through quite a few menus in the infotainment screen to activate them. It’s not as simple as pushing the heated seat or ventilated seat button. There’s a wireless phone charging pad, a digital rearview mirror, a head up display, a 25-speaker Mark Levinson audio system that’s like having a concert in your SUV, ambient lighting, power sunroof, and more USB ports than you have devices to charge.There’s even a mini fridge in the center console for your glass of bubbly.
As for functionality, you get 2 screens, well, 3 if you count the driver instrumentation. The top 12.3-inch display is the main infotainment touchscreen. It supports wireless CarPlay & wireless Android Auto and it’s overall fairly intuitive to navigate around. The lower screen is for your climate controls and additional vehicle parameters such as a g-meter, but the LX keeps quite a few physical controls making it easy to change the temperature or turn on the heated seat while you’re wearing a thick glove.
Interior Design – Step inside and you’ll be greeted with semi-aniline leather upholstery, open pore wood trim, and a business-like lunge aura. Nearly every surface is covered by the rich leather and while it does have quite a few screens, it’s not as plain-Jane as it is in a Lincoln for example. Every commonly used function has a dedicated button or knob which I like very much. It doesn’t feel dated either, it’s just functional.
Exterior Design – Just look at the scale of the thing. The 2026 Lexus LX700h is not what you’d call “subtle”. It’s what you’d call, bold. That grille is large enough to swallow a sub-compact car whole. But it looks clean. It looks expensive. It looks like it owns the building it’s parked in front of. You get 22-inch wheels, triple-beam LED headlights to blind oncoming traffic, and active height control that will lower the SUV so that you don’t have to exert much effort to get into it. It’s a look that says luxury but also “move over, I’m upper management”.
Safety – Safety wise, there’s Lexus Safety System 3.0+ which includes a lot of the standard safety & driver aids that pretty much every vehicle these days comes with. But interestingly, this LX700h with the Luxury package doesn’t have things like lane departure alert with sterling assist, or left turn oncoming vehicle detection and braking, or traffic jam assist.
Warranty – The 2026 Lexus LX 700h has a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle, 6 year / 110,000 km powertrain, and an 8 year / 160,000 km hybrid component warranty. The Hybrid battery is covered for 10 years / 240,000 km. For more information on Canadian Lexus warranty, click here. For information on American warranty, click here.
Conclusion – So, the 2026 Lexus LX700h is a big, heavy, and deeply comfortable luxury SUV. But it doesn’t feel like it’s shouting all of that to the world. It’s quietly saying that you’ve made it. It’s still a rugged, body-on-frame beast that can climb a mountain, but now it does it with a conscience and a battery. It’s not the fastest, nor the flashiest, but it is an elegant way to get around without buying your own private jet.
Thank you to Lexus Canada for providing the LX 700h. www.Lexus.ca
2026 Lexus LX 700h Gallery
