Even stranger is a journalist trying to figure out which is better: Japanese luxury or English premium (or now, after the change of owners, is it Indian?). However, the tanks are already filled with 95-octane fuel, and we are determined to find answers to all these silly questions.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
For a professional, the identical power outputs of the Lexus and Range Rover engines mean nothing. Who knows at what RPM the peak power and torque are achieved. And it's hard for an ordinary person to understand which is better – a 4.2L supercharged or a naturally aspirated 5.7L.
LEANING TO ONE SIDE
Surprisingly, off the asphalt, I liked the LX570 much more than the Range. Although, if I were comparing them remotely, I would say: "Here are two cars, but only one deserves this title. It seems Toyota thinks that to make a good SUV, it's enough to have a half-century-old design and a price tag the size of Hokkaido Island. They didn't even bother to make a truly luxurious interior and have little idea what 'automotive culture' is." And that's true: the Lexus is built on a frame, with a solid rear axle and permanent all-wheel drive with a Torsen differential. True, the latter is a plus, no matter how you look at it: nothing better has been invented yet. The Range Rover has a unibody, independent suspensions, and permanent all-wheel drive with electronic control. Technically, there's a huge gap between them. And you can notice it not only on the road.
We descended into a sand quarry where 4x4 Club tests are usually held, and the Lexus immediately showed its character. Huge torque from the nearly six-liter engine from the very bottom, reliable hydropneumatic suspension, excellent geometric off-road capability – and the expensive "coffin on wheels" turns into a real off-roader. Sand is the most treacherous "material," perhaps even more unpredictable than silt. In our quarry, the Lexus didn't act up or ask for help. But the Range Rover with its "smart" electronics sometimes threw such tantrums that I doubted whether it even had all-wheel drive. True, our colleagues from the editorial office, fans of the LR brand, shamed me. It turns out that if you handle the Range skillfully, it can give any car a run for its money. And they even showed how it's done. But unlike them, I haven't taken the Land Rover Experience courses! And off-road, I feel calmer in the "Japanese."
Praise for the Lexus LX570 doesn't negate its bloated appearance, as if an obese seal from a zoo was used as a model. And it only temporarily makes you forget about the body roll in corners, the absurd rocking of the body on uneven asphalt, and the wandering front end with the shocks in "comfort" mode.
The Range Rover drives much more pleasantly... No wandering, precise directional stability, informative steering. But when it comes to sharp maneuvers, you're surprised to realize that the "Brit's" body roll is almost the same as the "Japanese." The Range Rover is saved by more effective brakes and a low center of gravity – which is extremely important for large and fast SUVs.
But let's return to the body roll. The Lexus LX570 can be forgiven for it, even though it's more pronounced. What can you expect from a modest frame-based vehicle? But the Range Rover is too thoroughbred to allow itself any mistake. And yet it also rolls...
SPECS: LEXUS LX570
SPECS: RANGE ROVER SUPERCHARGED
NOTHING TO RACE?
On the highway, the Lexus certainly loses to the Range Rover, but its charm, as I said, is revealed off-road. True, with the help of air elements, the Range Rover rises above the ground by 265 mm, while the Lexus remains at 225 mm – the body, of course, rises, but the solid rear axle doesn't allow changing the ground clearance. True, in our case, the English air suspension overheated and temporarily failed: as I was explained, there was nothing to race off-road. Of course – but why is the Lexus unaffected?
JEEVES OR WOOSTER?
Traditionally, each of our tests ends with a paired race. It's very revealing. This time too, the Lexus LX570 doesn't fall behind the Range Rover only in the first seconds. When the RR reaches its operating RPM, it's impossible to catch it. Although both have 7.5 seconds to 100 km/h! Despite this and turning a blind eye to the fact that the Lexus is an example of blatant sycophancy towards the UAE and California, I can say exactly why it's loved. This car is an attentive servant. And the Range Rover is a noble friend. It's funny that the sales volumes of these models in Russia are almost the same.
