Lexus LX 700h Ultra Luxury: The obvious option for luxury SUV that cost $100,000 or more are typically from Germany. With three row a luxurious cabin, and the kind of badge recognition that comes with a six-figure SUV the Mercedes-Benz GLS has long been one of the largest names in the market.
However, the contrast is made much more intriguing by a Japanese substitute.
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The Lexus LX does not attempt to outperform the GLS by imitating it. Rather, it adopts an entirely new strategy. You get full-time four-wheel drive, a really luxurious cabin, remarkable rear-seat comfort and the kind of tough engineering that enables the LX to travel far beyond a city parking lot.
When you consider the best variant it’s also difficult to ignore the price difference.
The LX 700h Ultra Luxury cost rough $141,000 while the Maybach GLS 600 starts at almost $180,000 before option. Even wealthy SUV buyer would hesitate to explore their option because to the roughly $39,000 gap.
Is the GLS a better luxury SUV than the Lexus LX then? Not always, though. However, the LX presents an exceptionally compelling case for those seeking significant capability, comfort, and durability all in one package.
The Mercedes GLS Still Sets the Luxury-SUV Standard
First let’s talk about the Mercedes-Benz GLS.
Like the S-Class in the sedan market the GLS is at the top of Mercedes-Benz’s conventional SUV series. It’s spacious, cozy and tech rich with adequate room for families who require three rows.
The GLS 450 4MATIC which retail for about $90,250 in 2027 is the first model in the GLS lineup. Customer can then go to the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 the AMG GLS 63 and the V-8 powered GLS 580.
The figures start to become serious with the Maybach version.
With a starting price around $180,000 before option the GLS 600 is aim at buyer who want something closer to a luxury limousine with an SUV body. It delivers a beautifully finished cabin, powerful performance and plenty of prestige.
There is little doubt that the GLS remains an excellent luxury SUV.
But there’s another question worth asking:
Do you actually need to spend Maybach money to get Maybach-level comfort?
That’s where the Lexus LX enters the conversation.
The Lexus LX Takes a Completely Different Route
The Lexus LX was never intend to be a luxurious crossover.
A real body on frame SUV based on Toyota’s GA-F platform lies beneath the pricey leather, display and polished trim. The LX has an off-road capability that many premium SUVs just don’t value thanks to the same fundamental idea.
The LX series for include the LX 600 and LX 700h.
The LX 600 3.4 liter V6 twin turbo engine produce 409 horsepower and 479 pound feet of torque. The LX 700h add hybrid assistance and increase output to 457 horsepower and 583 pound feet of torque.
Both model have full time four-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The LX is not intended to be a sports SUV due to the number. The point isn’t really that.
Rather the LX offers consumer something unique: a high-end SUV capable of handling legitimately challenging terrain on Saturday and a lengthy road trip on Friday.
Additionally it has an 8,000 pound towing capacity.
One of the main thing that make the LX unique is its adaptability.
The LX 700h Ultra Luxury Is the Real Maybach Alternative
The most interesting version isn’t necessarily the rugged Overtrail model.
It’s the LX 700h Ultra Luxury.
By substituting two spacious captain chair for the traditional rear seating arrangement Lexus transform the back compartment into a private lounge. The seats have massage, heating and ventilation feature and they can recline up to 48 degree.
Additionally the passenger-side rear seat has a power-operated ottoman.
That may seem like a minor detail, but it’s precisely the kind of innovation that alters the LX’s rear seat experience.
In addition the cabin has wireless charging, a folding table, a dedicated rear console, touchscreen controls, ceiling-mounted air conditioning vent and reading lighting.
Rear passengers have two 11.4-inch screen for entertainment, and the soundtrack is provided by the Mark Levinson audio system.
To put it another way, Lexus has done more than just add leather seats and label the SUV as premium.
It has designed the Ultra Luxury around passengers who may actually spend a lot of time being driven.
And then there is the price.
At around $141,000 the LX 700h Ultra Luxury sit approximate $39,000 below the Maybach GLS 600.
That’s not a tiny saving.
It’s a difference large enough to pay for years of fuel, insurance and maintenance—or simply leave a substantial amount of money in the buyer’s bank account.
The Lexus Is More Rugged Than the Mercedes
This is where the comparison becomes less straightforward.
The GLS is primarily engineered around luxury road travel. For a huge SUV, it’s really capable, but most customers aren’t selecting it because they anticipate driving on bumpy trails.
The LX is not the same.
Its off-road hardware, four-wheel drive system, and body-on-frame design are essential components of its character.
For instance the LX 700h Overtrail has 33-inch all terrain tire set on 18-inch wheels, underbody skid plate and electronic locking differential.
Additionally, when the terrain becomes challenging the Multi-Terrain Monitor helps the driver see what’s going on around the car.
You don’t purchase a Mercedes-Maybach GLS for that purpose.
Without feeling like you’ve brought a costly piece of furniture into the bush, the Lexus can actually leave the pavement.
That capability won’t matter to some buyers.
For others, it’s exactly what makes the LX special.
Luxury Starts Even Lower in the LX Range
A well equipped LX doesn’t have to cost $141,000.
Leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row outboard seat and a power-folding third row are already features of the LX 600 Premium.
A chilled center console, hands-free liftgate, ambient lighting, a motorized sunroof, and Lexus’ Active Height Control with Adaptive Variable Suspension are further features.
Additionally, technology is not an afterthought.
The SUV has a head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10-speaker audio system and a 12.3-inch upper touchscreen with a lower display.
Even more comfort features, such as semi-aniline leather, massaging front seat and ventilated second-row seats, are available to buyers upgrading to the Luxury trim.
The Mark Levinson audio system also becomes part of the package.
So even before reaching the Ultra Luxury model, the LX already feels like a proper flagship.
Where the Lexus Has an Ownership Advantage
Luxury isn’t just about what happens when you first drive a vehicle home.
It’s also about what happens several years later.
Lexus has established a particularly solid reputation in that field.
According to ownership statistics used in the first comparison, the Lexus LX is expected to have an average lifespan of more than 15 years, with a considerable percentage of vehicles forecast to exceed 200,000 miles.
These figure do not guaranty that every LX will be trouble-free. Every vehicle may experience problems, and maintenance records are crucial.
However Lexus’ reputation for long term dependability accounts for a sizable element of the LX’s appeal.
The customer may not want to think about maintenance if the SUV cost more than $100,000 but they also don’t want to spend their weekend at the repair shop.
This is one of the reason the LX has such a devoted fan base.
Resale Value Is Another Piece of the Puzzle
Depreciation can hurt when you’re shopping at this end of the market.
Just because a car has been on the road for a few years can cause it to lose tens of thousands of dollars.
In the past, the Lexus LX has outperformed other large luxury SUVs in this regard.
According to the data shown in the source material, the LX 600’s five-year depreciation was around 43.9%, leaving an estimated retained value of 56.1%.
Compared to the average depreciation rate reported for the large luxury SUV market, that is far better.
Once more, these are approximations rather than assurances. Mileage, condition, trim, location and market demand all affect actual resale values.
But strong resale performance adds another layer to the LX’s value proposition.
You’re not simply comparing purchase prices.
You’re comparing what each SUV could be worth several years down the road.
The LX Isn’t Perfect
When contrasting a costly Lexus with an even more expensive Mercedes, it’s simple to get carried away.
There are flaws in the LX.
Its body-on-frame design adds to its toughness but it also makes driving less enjoyable than with some high end crossover SUVs.
Fuel efficiency is also not a strong point. Buyers shouldn’t anticipate fuel expenditures similar to those of a Prius because the LX is a big, hefty SUV with strong engines and four-wheel drive.
Even if the infotainment system has changed over time, some competitors continue to provide a more visually striking digital experience.
And while the LX is exceptionally luxurious, the Mercedes GLS has an advantage in certain areas of on-road refinement and high-speed comfort.
Then there’s the styling.
The Lexus LX has a bold, polarizing appearance. Some people love its aggressive design. Others may prefer the understated shape of the GLS.
That’s ultimately subjective.
So Which One Should You Buy?
If your priority is maximum road going luxury effortless performance and the Mercedes Benz badge the GLS remain an excellent choice.
If you want the ultimate version the Maybach GLS 600 take the luxury experience even further.
But it becomes quite hard to ignore the Lexus LX if you’re looking for something more adaptable.
The LX 700h Ultra Luxury has a very comfortable cabin, reclining, massaging rear seats, top-notch audio, and rear entertainment.
In addition it keep the underlying machinery that qualifies the LX as an off-road SUV.
Additionally it is significantly less expensive than the Maybach GLS 600.
The true tale lies in that combination.
The Lexus LX isn’t necessarily attempting to demonstrate Mercedes’ lack of expertise in producing high-end SUVs.
It’s demonstrating that toughness doesn’t have to be sacrificed for luxury.
The Lexus LX’s Biggest Advantage Is Its Personality
There’s something appeal about an SUV that refuses to fit neatly into one category.
The LX can be a comfortable executive vehicle during the week, a family hauler on a road trip and a capable off-roader when the pavement disappear.
Most buyers will never use all of those abilities.
But knowing they’re there is part of the appeal.
The Mercedes GLS is polished and prestigious. The Lexus LX is polish, prestigious and slightly more adventurous.
And when the highest spec Lexus cost roughly $39,000 less than the Maybach GLS 600 that difference becomes impossible to ignore.
For buyers who value long term durability as much as luxury the LX may be the more interesting choice.
It doesn’t simply offer a cheaper way into a luxury SUV.
It offers a completely different definition of what a flagship luxury SUV can be.
Final Verdict
When people discuss full-size luxury SUV the Mercedes GLS may still be among the first names that spring to mind.
However, the Lexus LX should be on that shortlist particularly for consumers who are thinking about purchasing a six-figure SUV.
The LX 700h Ultra Luxury demonstrates that true off-road capability and a luxurious rear cabin are not mutually exclusive. The Japanese SUV begins to appear less like an alternative and more like one of the best options in the class when you take into account Lexus’ reputation for dependability and the significant price difference over the Maybach GLS 600.
The Mercedes badge will always win over certain buyers.
The Lexus LX presents an unexpectedly strong argument to everyone else.
FAQs
Q: Is the LX less expensive than the Mercedes GLS?
A: It depend on the comparison made. Although the price LX 700h Ultra Luxury is less expensive than the GLS 600 the LX is not necessarily less expensive than the entry level GLS model.
Q: How much does the Maybach?
A: The Maybach GLS 600 is more valuable than the most expensive LX model because its initial cost was close to $180,000 before the extra.
Q: How actually good the Lexus LX is off-road?
A: Rather much Off road abilities is one of the most notable merit of LX. The model construction four wheel drive and special feature make it good for off road driving.
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