2019 Lexus LX

The 2019 Lexus LX doesn't look or feel as fresh as many rivals' cabins, but it still uses premium materials throughout its interior. The seats are comfortable, but the third row will squeeze adults. Cargo space is below average for the class, and the infotainment system will frustrate many users.

• "Build quality is excellent. Inside, it's hard to hard to find fault with the interior material choices and assembly quality. The LX's interior is a clear upgrade over the Land Cruiser's." -- Edmunds
• "The posh interior offers room for eight passengers so everyone can tag along, even if your adventure is decidedly urban." -- Car and Driver (2016)
• "… it's comfortable, quiet and refined. You're surrounded by the finest leather, beautifully crafted wood trim, and all the luxury trappings you can imagine." -- Kelley Blue Book (2016)

Seating

The LX seats five people in 2-row models and eight in 3-row models. Leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats and power-sliding second-row seats are standard. Heated and ventilated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel are available. 

The front seats in this Lexus provide a commanding view of the road and tremendous comfort. However, some rivals' seats are more adjustable, making it easier to find a suitable driving position than in the LX. The second-row seats are similarly roomy and comfortable. The third row is cramped and probably too small for most adults. Normally that's not a knock, as many 3-row SUVs have smallish rear seats. But given the LX's exceptional size, you'd think there'd be an adult-friendly third row.

The LX has two complete sets of LATCH connectors for car seats in its second row. There are no LATCH connectors in its third row.

• One aspect of the LX's interior that continues to impress is seat comfort, at least in the first two rows. The front seats offer excellent visibility from their elevated perches, and though the second-row bottom cushions could be higher, there's still plenty of headroom and legroom. But the three-across third row is a different story. It just isn't wide enough for adults, and it's difficult to access. In a vehicle as big as the LX 570, it's fair to expect a third-row seat that's not just for kids, and this third-row just isn't." -- Edmunds (2017)
• "Unfortunately, the power front seats lack the extensive adjustability found in many LX rivals, while the second-row seats are surprisingly low to the floor and the third row is too cramped for adult comfort." -- Autotrader (2015)
• "One downside to the interior is less space than one might expect given the SUV's size. Though the LX 570 technically has room for eight passengers, the third row is cramped and best left to children." -- Left Lane News (2015)

Interior Features

Standard features in the LX include a moonroof, quad-zone automatic climate control, and an infotainment system with a 12.3-inch display, Lexus' Remote Touch controller, navigation, a nine-speaker audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, USB ports, and Bluetooth. Standard driver assistance features include a 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning with automatic braking.

Available features include a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, a 19-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system, wireless smartphone charging, a head-up display, a cooled center console, and Lexus' Enform Remote, which lets you control some vehicle systems via a smartphone.

The sharp graphics make the infotainment screen easy to read, but the big hang-up is still the Remote Touch Controller. It's a mouse-like device on the center console, and it makes it a pain to navigate the infotainment menus. It's especially distracting to use the system while driving. The good news is that some functions have physical controls as well.

See 2019 Lexus LX specs »

• "Lexus' Remote Touch system requires too much attention to use, and you have to use it all the time because some frequently used controls, such as certain audio and climate controls, are located deep in menus. Off-road functions are easily accessed, though, and most other switchgear feels great to operate." -- Edmunds
• "Rear-seat entertainment systems are nothing new, but the dual 11.6-inch screens available in the 2016 LX 570 are something else. Bigger than many laptop screens, they provide a cinematic experience that your pampered (spoiled) little ones will otherwise loudly demand." -- Kelley Blue Book (2016)
• "There's no shortage of switches an[d] control knobs, a look that works well with the LX's rugged positioning." -- Left Lane News (2013)

Cargo

The 2-row LX has 34.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 50.5 cubic feet with them folded down. The 3-row LX has 9.1 cubic feet behind the third row, 27.3 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and 44.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded down.

These dimensions for cargo capacity measure from the floor to the top of the seatbacks – for reference, a number of competitors measure from the floor to the roof. Even so, most other SUVs in the class provide more cargo space. Additionally, the third-row seats don't fold into the floor; instead, they fold to the side. While that provides a flat cargo floor, it also reduces the width of the cargo hold. A power liftgate and power-folding third-row seats are standard.

• But this big SUV differs from most others in that in addition to folding forward, the pair of small, power-operated 3rd-row seats also flip up against the sides to create a flat floor behind the second row, which also slides forward and back." -- Kelley Blue Book (2018)
• "And problematically, the third row doesn't fold flat — you fold it up against the side walls and that means less cargo space." -- Edmunds (2017)
• "The third row powers up against the cargo walls when not needed, which ultimately reduces storage capacity compared to most rivals. Fault the off road-oriented solid rear axle for prohibiting in-floor storage." -- Left Lane News (2013)