2018 Lexus LX450d on sale in Australia

Lexus Australia has introduced a diesel-powered variant of its LX large SUV range, with the 2018 Lexus LX450d now on sale in Australia. Having been initially revealed some time ago, the LX turbo diesel has been approved for sale in Australia, and costs significantly less than its petrol-powered LX570 sibling at $134,500 plus on-road costs.

The first diesel-powered Lexus to ever be sold in Australia, the LX450d uses the same twin-turbo V8 diesel as its cousin, the Toyota Land Cruiser, and its fuel economy is rated as 9.5L/100km – significantly less than the 14.4L/100km for the LX570.

Lexus Australia chief executive Scott Thompson said the LX 450d would expand the brand’s sales with turbo-diesel being the powertrain of choice in the luxury 4WD market.

“We have had consistent demand for the LX with a turbo-diesel and Lexus has responded by developing an extremely well-specified vehicle that we are able to offer at a remarkable price,” Mr Thompson said.

“The turbo-diesel engine is smooth, quiet and powerful and will suit a wide variety of applications.”

Priced from $134,500 plus on-road costs, the LX450d is well equipped. Standard equipment includes ten airbags, LED lighting with sequential indicators, 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, a 360-degree parking camera, a 12.3-inch high definition screen with inbuilt satellite navigation and DAB+ digital radio, leather upholstery with heated and electric front seats, a nine-speaker sound system, four-zone climate control as well as Lexus’ Safety System+ with radar cruise control, lane departure warning, adaptive high-beam headlights, a heads-up display, blind-spot monitoring and rear traffic alert.

However, unlike the LX570, the LX450d is only available in five-seat form – which goes some way to explaining the price cut the diesel enjoys. The Lexus LX 450d is powered by a 4.5-litre twin-turbo direct-injection V8 engine, delivering 200kW of power at 3600rpm and 650Nm of torque from 1600-2800rpm, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Like the petrol LX570, the LX450d offers a 3,500kg towing capacity.

The Lexus LX sold 324 cars in Australia in 2017, an increase of 13.7 percent compared with 2016. The addition of a diesel powertrain will undoubtedly increase the LX’s appeal in the upper large SUV segment, especially compared with predominately petrol-powered rivals. 2018 is shaping up to a big year for Lexus Australia, with the seven-seat RX-L just launched, as well as the incoming UX small SUV, an all-new ES large sedan and possibly a new IS medium sedan as well.