Two powertrains, three trim levels … lavish provision for Aus suggests a wealth of choice for Kiwi market editions.

 WHILE Lexus here has yet to detail its plans for the LX large sports utility wagon, it appears there’s no shortage of choice.

 That’s going by the big fella’s provision in Australia, where no less than seven editions – so, five more than the NZ operation has ever made available previously - of the super-luxed LandCruiser 300 Series are going to be on offer when it comes on sale there in April.

The choices span LandCruiser-derived petrol and diesel power – the latter already cited as a probable for this market when Lexus NZ discussed the LX with this site last year - and the option of new F Sport (pictured) performance-themed and super-plush four-seat Ultra Luxury grades above a standard fitout.

Absent, however, is the hybrid that Lexus NZ also mused about being keen to see, as and when one ever became available.

Our neighbour has yet to reveal pricing for the new range, however increases are expected.

The previous LX was a big sticker item in selling for $160,400 in diesel and $181,700 in petrol.

The incoming Land Cruiser 300 spans from $124,900 through to $144,990. The latter family tops out with the GR Sport, a new alternate to the VRX and VRX Limited editions that continued over from the now defunct 200 Series.

Four LX600-labelled variants on offer to Australia use a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 developing 305kW and 650Nm, shared with versions of the 300 Series sold overseas.

The LX500d diesel provisions the 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 delivered to the ‘Cruiser, in the same 227kW and 700Nm tune. 

There’s been no fresh update on talk overseas, never substantiated by Lexus, about a battery-influenced version of the petrol also being developed, with rumoured outputs of 358kW and 871Nm.

Lexus New Zealand boss Andrew Davis last year agreed an electric assist formula would make sense to his customers, saying: “LX has a wide variety of uses that push drivetrains and technology so when an electrified option for LX comes available, we will be the first to ask for it.”

The LX engines ready for action both send drive to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with a low-range transfer case included as standard.

 The standard specification includes 20-inch wheels, seven seats, LED headlights, three interior screens, wireless phone charging, a head-up display, heated electric front seats, and a full active safety suite.

The F Sport and Sports Luxury sit above that line. These revert to five seats – as does the GR Sport - and offer buyers a sportier experience in the former (with adaptive suspension, a limited-slip differential, performance chassis bracing and more), or a more premium feeling in the latter (with twin rear screens).

 The Ultra Luxury grade avails only in petrol and adds individual second-row seats with power adjustment, heating, ventilation and massaging, individual ottomans and a wireless charger among its features.