2005 Lexus LX470

The Lexus LX 470 demonstrates that unadulterated luxury does indeed coexist quite comfortably with blatant brawn. This high-end sport utility vehicle delivers luxurious comfort and is also able to tackle tough driving conditions.

The soul of the LX 470 is a 4.7-liter V-8 engine that produces 235 horsepower and 320 pounds-feet of peak torque at 3,400 rpm. The spunky V-8 is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission that provides smooth, seamless shifts. The resulting gas mileage of the V-8 engine toting the SUV’s hefty 5,590 pounds is rated at 13 city and 17 highway.

The LX 470’s luxury features can make a person forget she’s driving an SUV. There’s a standard DVD-based navigation system that includes voice command. The seven-speaker audio system with separate rear-seat controls is more than adequate, but you might want to kick it up a notch with the optional 11-speaker Mark Levinson system.

There’s also a feature that could save you untold amounts of repair costs. The LS 470 has a rear backup camera that automatically projects a color image on the navigation screen when reverse gear is engaged. However, don’t depend on backup perfection, since the fisheye lens of the camera gives an extremely wide field of view. For those who plan to take advantage of the 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, the camera will be greatly appreciated when lining up the hitches.

The feature I found interesting is the night viewing system. A black and white image of what’s in front of the vehicle is projected onto the lower section of the windshield. People and animals appear white — like looking at a negative image.

The night vision would be great for stakeouts and when driving in an area that’s populated by critters that scamper across the road. I turned it on while parked in front of a grocery store and was intrigued, but found the reflection and the movement of ghost-like images distracting while driving. Anyone who likes gee-whiz toys and high-tech gadgets will probably thoroughly enjoy this feature, if only for the bragging rights.

The one system that most people will appreciate is the navigation system. If you don’t think you’d ever use a navigation system, drive in any vehicle that has one. It’s especially effective if you’re unfortunate enough to ride with a backseat driver who’s always eager to give directions. Simply enter the address ahead of time and hit the road. A voice tells you well in advance of where you’ll need to exit and continue talking you through every turn. With a navigation system, you can keep your eyes on the road and your mind on your driving.

In addition to the $1,200 audio upgrade and the $2,200 night vision system, the tester also had an optional roof rack and accessory package that added another $452, which bumped up the bottom line to $69,403.

Lexus has done a good job of packaging luxury with muscle. It’s an all-season sport utility with a streak of sweetness that’s hard to resist.

Other Moving Right Along new car reviews

All content on this site protected by copyright and trademark laws. Logo and all associated content are property of Apex Marketing Strategy. (c) 2002-2005 Unauthorized use, including reprinting or publishing online is prohibited by law.  For information on reprinting or syndicating Sound Classics or Moving Right Along content, please call 360-402-6487 or email info@apexstrategy.com