2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail Review

This week, I am looking at the flagship of all Lexus SUVs, the 2025 Lexus LX. This large, luxury SUV comes in a 3-row configuration, or you can get it in a 2-row as well if you need a ton of cargo area.  This is the 4^th generation of this SUV after making its debut in 1996.  The current iteration arrived in 2022, and for 2025, the LX comes with a hybrid variation and a new trim level, the Overtrail, which is what I am bringing to you this week.  The LX 600 is a V6 gasoline engine, and they have named the hybrid version the LX 700h.

The LX comes in four trim levels: the Lux which starts at $106,850.  From there you go to the sporty F Sport, then the Overtrail, and the Ultra Lux which is akin to having an SUV limousine.  It has four captain’s chairs, and the rear seats are heated and cooled and massaging, with power footrests that come up like a recliner.  It starts at $141,350 and goes up from there. 

Exterior     

Given the Overtrail I have is a serious off-roader if you so choose, it is also a luxury SUV.  The exterior looks are terrific in this Earth color with the big Lexus spindle grill and LED headlights, daytime running lights, and fog lights. 

It sits on 18” wheels and beefy 33” tires, perfect for off the payment.  There is a large rear spoiler, body color accents over the tires, and black stationary running boards. 

Unfortunately, the rear wiper is exposed, and as always it would have looked so much better tucked under the spoiler, but that is just a quirk of mine. 

Powertrain    

The 700h features a 3.4-liter V6 with twin-turbos and is paired with a high-density battery pack and high-torque electric motor.  All that is hooked to a 10-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles.  The stats on the power train are impressive:  457-horses and an amazing 583 pound-feet of torque.  0-to-60 time is 6.4 seconds, which is great for a 6,000-pound SUV that will tow 8,000-pounds.  This engine performs much better than the old V8 that used to come in the LX.  It is important to note that the hybrid system, like the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia hybrids, is made more for power than it is for fuel economy, although there is a slight gas mileage improvement from the V8.  You can use regular fuel just fine, but it will cost you 20-horses versus using premium fuel.

Interior 

As you’d expect from a luxury SUV in this price range, the interior is just beautiful.  Large, slightly bolstered two-tone full-leather seats look fantastic and they are heated, cooled, and will massage you. 

As you sit behind the heated, power tilt, leather-wrapped steering wheel and hit the start button, a colorful gauge cluster lights up.  You can configure it many different ways, but right in the middle is a tachometer and a digital speedometer.  It is simple to read and if you want even more info, like traffic sign recognition, just look through the windshield to see the huge head-up display.

Moving over to the center dash of the LX, there is a 12.3” Lexus Interface infotainment screen that operates the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspot, the Mark Levinson Premium sound system, navigation, voice recognition, vehicle settings, and wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.  The system is incredibly simple and lightning fast, but not as colorful as most. 

You’ll also find a crystal clear 360-degree backup camera with overhead view, and a front-view camera that activates when you are coming to a stop, or if you are heading up a steep hill and cannot see where the road ahead is.  There is a second 7” screen under the big screen to operate the climate controls and it will show you which drive mode you are currently in.

Headed down towards the center console is a large knob for the drive modes, called Multi-terrain Select.  You can choose from options for Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, Rock, and Deep Snow, along with on-road modes like Normal, Eco, Comfort, Custom, Sport.

The console is huge and surrounded by real wood, which I love versus the normal gloss black that shows every fingerprint.  There are two cupholders, the electronic parking brake, Auto Hold activation, you can lock-in the front and/or rear axles, there is a button for crawl mode when you are off-roading, and there are 2 USB ports.  In front of the center armrest is a wireless phone charger, then if you raise the soft center arm rest, you’ll find a cool box that can be used for keeping items cold.  The center console can be open from the driver side, passenger side, and even by rear seat passengers.  There are switches for the heated and cooled seats, the heated steering wheel, and of course, the gear shifter.

Moving to the backseat, it is huge with lots of head and leg room.  There are air conditioning vents for the rear occupants, two USB-C ports, a power outlet, heated and cooled seats, map pockets in the back of the front seats, and rear shades to cover the large side windows.  The backseats are split, and there is a fold down armrest with cupholders, and the seats recline and slide.  Back seat passengers can control the climate temperature automatically.  There is plenty of room of three full-sized adults, beware, there is a large hump on the floorboard that could be uncomfortable for adults in the second row.

The 3^rd row seat is fairly limited.  You can put adults back there, but knee room is tight.  The third row folds flat into the floor with the push of buttons and opens up to the cargo area.  With the 3^rd row seats up, cargo is quite limited due to the hybrid battery being directly underneath the cargo floor. 

The cargo area has a bit of a weird shelf to it, but you can store things under it, and the seats do fold flat on top of it.  Still, you only get 7.2-cubic feet of cargo with the back seat up, but if you lower the third row, it grows to a respectable 31-cubic feet.  The third row folds up and down with a power button, but you have to hold it to get them all the way up or down, which is a little annoying.  In the rear is a 2400-watt AC power inverter positioned under the center console, allowing for an external power supply to give power to anything you wish.

Features and Options 

The LX 700h Overtrail comes completely loaded with most everything I talked about above.  It has a power moon roof with a sliding cover, but there is no panoramic moon roof.  Not previously mentioned is keyless entry, power-folding mirrors, headlight washers, power liftgate, soft-closing doors, a digital rearview mirror, and ambient lighting.  For you off-roaders, this SUV is serious about it.  It comes with triple locking differentials that you can activate for the front, the rear, or the center differentials.  You won’t get this one stuck anywhere.

Options on this one total $3,160, and includes the $2,660 Mark Levinson premium sound system, and there is a $500 charge for the Earth exterior paint.

Safety

On the safety front, Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 gives you pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, front cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure alert with steering assist.

Ride and Drive

The LX 700h drives like a dream, visibility is outstanding, it is whisper quiet inside-you don’t even hear any noise from the off-road tires.  This is just one of those SUVs that you can tell is built rock solid.  I think part of that feeling is the Overtrail offers a host of unique performance features to help optimize off-road functionality, but without sacrificing comfort on the pavement.

Power and acceleration are amazing, and fuel economy in this 5,900 pound SUV is rated at 19 in town, 22 on the highway, and 20 overall.  It is doing just slightly better than that without trying.  My only complaint on the fuel economy is the gas tank seems small to me for a large SUV at just 17.9 gallons.

What You'll Pay 

MSRP is $118,510-which I find to be on the high side if you don’t plan on doing any off-roading.  If you are in that camp, I’d probably drop down to the Lux, which is super nice without a lot of the 4-wheel drive functions.

Verdict

On the pavement or off, this is an exceptional SUV as all Lexus SUVs are. For its size, I was a little surprised there was no panoramic moon roof, and I thought it would have more third row seat room.  I would personally opt for the 5-passenger version for the cargo area.