I’m casually looking at changing my daily driver for a 16+ lc or lx and can’t figure out the standard options. I prefer the lc and don’t mind paying extra over the lx for it but I must have auto dim on all the mirrors, ventilated seats and adaptive cruise. Seems they all have adaptive cruise and ventilated seats but it’s hard to tell if they have auto dim mirrors.
LX vs LC options
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My 09 LC has autodim rearview and side mirrors. I would expect everything later to have it.
You need to drive both.
The '16 LX seats are substantially higher quality IMO and this is where you'll spend all the time. LX also has auto fold side-view mirrors, one-touch lane indicator, mark levinson stereo and passenger door sunshades built in. These things may not matter to you but once you have them, you learn to enjoy them.
Many people dislike the lexus joystick controller that showed up in '16.
The '16 LX seats are substantially higher quality IMO and this is where you'll spend all the time. LX also has auto fold side-view mirrors, one-touch lane indicator, mark levinson stereo and passenger door sunshades built in. These things may not matter to you but once you have them, you learn to enjoy them.
Many people dislike the lexus joystick controller that showed up in '16.
Adding up. The 16+ LX's adaptive cruise works all the way to stop and resuming in bumper to bumper. The LC's stop working at 30mph or so and you have to take over control. Some to consider.
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Didn’t know that. That’s reason enough for me to go lx over lc. Thanks
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My mother in laws Lexus car has the joystick. I really don’t like it and it was one of the main reasons I wanted th lc over the lx
The last year I have been driving both an LX and a LC (2014's) The LX is hands down more worthy on the road. But the LC is....well...a Land Cruiser.
One can't go wrong with either.....
One can't go wrong with either.....
Not sure how I forgot this one: headlights.
The LX headlights, especially high beams are substantially better. LC low beams are great but high beams were a disappointment after experiencing the 16+ LX.
The LX headlights, especially high beams are substantially better. LC low beams are great but high beams were a disappointment after experiencing the 16+ LX.
Feature for feature, the LX will offer more for the money. However, those same features are, in part, what drives the long term resale values down.
My 2021 LC200 has folding mirrors (and so do 2020, 2019 and 2018) and all 16+ have dimming rear view mirrors (and as I see above many model years prior). Also 18+ has electrical rear tail gate which is nice yet a bit slow compared to other vehicles.
When you no doubt put tinted windows on the vehicle (if not already there), I do not see the value (like zero...) of having roller rear sunshades, other than complicating any future access and any repair behind the door panel (be it unlikely).
It is worth considering that as of mid 2018 the 200 series LC and LX came with an upgraded radiator which should eliminate any overheating concerns hidden by the previous owner and for that matter anything upto around 100k miles should be without such issue all together.
I personally much prefer the interior and exterior styling of the understated LC over the LX, though that is a matter of taste no doubt. Otherwise the LC will attract less attention, which is generally a good thing.
All in all both the LC 200 and LX 570 are great vehicles.
When you no doubt put tinted windows on the vehicle (if not already there), I do not see the value (like zero...) of having roller rear sunshades, other than complicating any future access and any repair behind the door panel (be it unlikely).
It is worth considering that as of mid 2018 the 200 series LC and LX came with an upgraded radiator which should eliminate any overheating concerns hidden by the previous owner and for that matter anything upto around 100k miles should be without such issue all together.
I personally much prefer the interior and exterior styling of the understated LC over the LX, though that is a matter of taste no doubt. Otherwise the LC will attract less attention, which is generally a good thing.
All in all both the LC 200 and LX 570 are great vehicles.
The joystick really isn’t the bad once you use it for a bit and know how to work it. I’m sure it’s not the best design but it works. Lots of people who review these cars talk down on it so bad but they are also someone who spends maybe a day in the car and don’t take the time to get use to it.
There is a good upgrade from Hamilton or similar to convert the screen to car play with a touch interface. Would definitely go that route with a 16+ LX570.
Lots of details and lots of things the LC 16+ and certainly the 18+ already have including much of the sound dampening from factory, as I can compare my 2021 LC200 to my Daughter and Son in Law 2020 LX570.
Also I don’t know if it’s is just me but my Toyota app has very few features regarding connectivity on my ‘19 LC, whereas the Lexus app on my buddy’s 2020 LX has way more features and remote support.
Added comments for clarity to Teckis300 long list, as many aspects the 16 or 18+ LC200 also has and really few things which actually make a difference with some in fact in favor of the LC200 16 or 18+ (87 octane, better 360 camera projection, less complexity on details like electric vs manual rear seat movement, sunshade, cornering headlights, poorly done heads up display etc).
Now if you want to mount bigger than 33inch wheels AHC has advantages from a clearance point of view and if that is important to you, I would carefully study this forum. Also means you need to get aftermarket bumpers for sure on the LX570 low chin.
Also when towing the AHC will keep the vehicle level though I prefer the LC200 coil spring setup with Firestone airbags or better Australian made Airbagman airbags, which easily ship international to the US. More robust and simple for combined high tow hook and occupants/cargo loading.
All in all though both great vehicles. All the best making up your mind!
1) Substantially more sound deadening (16+ LC has a lot of this and is very quiet inside, I know from direct comparison driving a 2021 LC200 and a 2020 LX570)
2) Powered rear hatch for open/close (later LCs got this - correct 18+)
3) Soft open rear lower tailgate, with power latching (18+ LC 200 also, do not find it important though)
4) Surround camera system (16+ LC200 has this with larger in obstructed screen view. Comes on at low speed. Very useful feature)
5) Ventilated/Heated front row (later LCs got this - correct from 14+ I understand)
6) Mark Levinson Reference w/ 5.1 surround (LC sound system perfectly fine, key is both vehicle are quiet inside which makes listening to music easy. I do not want concert type volume so difference a mute point)
7) Power side view mirrors with auto-fold (later LCs got this - correct, 18+ has this)
8) AHC - AVS, lift on demand, auto and multi-step damping, anti-dive/roll/squat, leveling, etc., etc. (LC200 has KDSS which is excellent and is less complex as long as the KDSS valve body valves are not heavily rusted. I have coated those with a liquid film type fluid and put marine grease in addition. Rusted AHC components can also be an issue)
9) AHC underbody armor (KDSS components also have protection around them, mute point)
10) Shorter roof rack (LC has a longer roof rack with 3 supports per side)
10.5) LC200 allows for easy aftermarket rack install whereas LX570 16+ requires drop off headliner, a major job
11) Steering headlights (AFS) (LC200 headlights are slightly better in my experience and also have auto high beam feature for dark secondary road driving)
12) Projector headlights ('16+ LCs got this)
13) Headlight washers (16+ have this as well)
14) Storage in rear seat armrest (LC200 also has small storage as well, both not very helpful, however LX570 has rear AC controls in there which is totally useless when you have 3 people in the back)
15) Power slide rear seats (Manual on the LC200 set in rear position 99.9% of the time. Will never fail on a LC)
16) Second row storage on front seatbacks is a panel vs net (I do not keep stuff in there and remove when passengers leave anything there as easy to see)
17) 14-way adjustable driver seat vs 10-way LC (passenger 12-way vs 8-way) (As noted, the LX570 front seats are nicer and driver seat area can be adjusted which is the only item I wish my LC200 has. Still I like everything else more on the LC200 so it is what it is)
18) Dual adjustable sliding armrests (to low to be useful in either case and if you like to lean to the right the LC200 armrest is perfectly fine)
19) Power stowage for 3rd row seat (Removed my 3rd row and manual folding is easy and less complex. These are not full seats so get a Sequoia if that is really important)
20) All windows down by holding remote door open button for 3+ seconds (typical Lexus feature, not sure Toyota's have this?) (Yes, all 16+ have this, certainly 18+)
21) All windows down and up by using key fob in door (also not sure LCs have this?) (Same as point 20, LC has this as well, not really a feature which get used a lot. In case of parking in the Sun I keep my driver door open longer as I start the vehicle and then the AC quicks in which is very good)
22) Substantial Lexus key fob (LC uses same one as corolla) (Not true, LC200 18+ has a big and better looking FOB than the LX570 but who really cares)
23) Fade-To-Off interior lighting (I believe LC got this in 2014?)
24) Puddle and side step lights
25) Door sil lighting (16+ LC200 has this)
26) Interior ambient lighting (16+ LC200 and even 14+ I believe have this as well)
27) Additional trunk side light and open tailgate lighting (16+ has this as well unless there is one more aft in the LX570. Will check this on my son in laws 2020 LX570 next time)
28) +2hp / +2tq (requires 91 octane, LC is 87 octane) (This is major BS from Lexus and fuel cost is therefore 20% or so higher, a real reason to get a LC or just use 87 in the 570 as the engine and motor management are identical part numbers and have maps for both)
29) More luxurious interior appointments (Both the 08 to 15 and 16 to 21 LX use a wood color I really do not like and are very old fashioned, excretion is the red interior 16+ or the 2020 amd 2021 “Sport” models with a near black looking wood which passes my grade. Talking taste here so go and drive and make up your own mind. This though is actually a key reason for me together with the exterior to get a LC)
30) Ventilated outboard rear seats
31) Four-zone climate concierge (Controls the seat heating and ventilation, the 16+ LC200 has this for the front where it matters)
32) LED Headlamp with AHS Sequential Turn (16+ LC200 is LED as well amd produces slightly more light than the LX570, though both very good)
33) LED Cornering Lamp (Another feature which can break, I have on my 2014 BMW 535d and is effectively a gimmick unless you live in the countryside on a winding road, which in Europe and Japan exists and hardly does with the straight roads in the US)
34) 12.3-inch high-res split-screen display (LC 9") (LC screen is a better format and shows more of the rear view in reverse than the LX570 screen, in fact we thought the LX570 was defective in comparisons but it is not)
35) Head-up display ( Very poorly done in comparison with other vehicle who have this and just adds complexity and windshield replacement cost)
36) All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (LC DRCC for 25mph and up) (This I never use in traffic as it works poorly, but for sure try it amd see what you think)
37) Steering wheel paddle shifter (Only useful in mountains when descending, though how often does that happen)
38) Door puddle projector lamps (already mentioned above)
39) Rear door retractable sun shades (This is an annoyance when going for tinted windows and also as a driver when looking to the left rear)
40) 2020 gets special trims: "LX570 Sport" to "LC Heritage" (Worth considering for the more modern looking wood trim, otherwise it adds bumper lips you rather do without)
41) Rear seat entertainment, single screen in early gens, dual in later (Outdated with iPads weapon of choice. Get an LC without it and if you like add iPad supports to the driver and passenger seats instead)
Now if you want to mount bigger than 33inch wheels AHC has advantages from a clearance point of view and if that is important to you, I would carefully study this forum. Also means you need to get aftermarket bumpers for sure on the LX570 low chin.
Also when towing the AHC will keep the vehicle level though I prefer the LC200 coil spring setup with Firestone airbags or better Australian made Airbagman airbags, which easily ship international to the US. More robust and simple for combined high tow hook and occupants/cargo loading.
All in all though both great vehicles. All the best making up your mind!
1) Substantially more sound deadening (16+ LC has a lot of this and is very quiet inside, I know from direct comparison driving a 2021 LC200 and a 2020 LX570)
2) Powered rear hatch for open/close (later LCs got this - correct 18+)
3) Soft open rear lower tailgate, with power latching (18+ LC 200 also, do not find it important though)
4) Surround camera system (16+ LC200 has this with larger in obstructed screen view. Comes on at low speed. Very useful feature)
5) Ventilated/Heated front row (later LCs got this - correct from 14+ I understand)
6) Mark Levinson Reference w/ 5.1 surround (LC sound system perfectly fine, key is both vehicle are quiet inside which makes listening to music easy. I do not want concert type volume so difference a mute point)
7) Power side view mirrors with auto-fold (later LCs got this - correct, 18+ has this)
8) AHC - AVS, lift on demand, auto and multi-step damping, anti-dive/roll/squat, leveling, etc., etc. (LC200 has KDSS which is excellent and is less complex as long as the KDSS valve body valves are not heavily rusted. I have coated those with a liquid film type fluid and put marine grease in addition. Rusted AHC components can also be an issue)
9) AHC underbody armor (KDSS components also have protection around them, mute point)
10) Shorter roof rack (LC has a longer roof rack with 3 supports per side)
10.5) LC200 allows for easy aftermarket rack install whereas LX570 16+ requires drop off headliner, a major job
11) Steering headlights (AFS) (LC200 headlights are slightly better in my experience and also have auto high beam feature for dark secondary road driving)
12) Projector headlights ('16+ LCs got this)
13) Headlight washers (16+ have this as well)
14) Storage in rear seat armrest (LC200 also has small storage as well, both not very helpful, however LX570 has rear AC controls in there which is totally useless when you have 3 people in the back)
15) Power slide rear seats (Manual on the LC200 set in rear position 99.9% of the time. Will never fail on a LC)
16) Second row storage on front seatbacks is a panel vs net (I do not keep stuff in there and remove when passengers leave anything there as easy to see)
17) 14-way adjustable driver seat vs 10-way LC (passenger 12-way vs 8-way) (As noted, the LX570 front seats are nicer and driver seat area can be adjusted which is the only item I wish my LC200 has. Still I like everything else more on the LC200 so it is what it is)
18) Dual adjustable sliding armrests (to low to be useful in either case and if you like to lean to the right the LC200 armrest is perfectly fine)
19) Power stowage for 3rd row seat (Removed my 3rd row and manual folding is easy and less complex. These are not full seats so get a Sequoia if that is really important)
20) All windows down by holding remote door open button for 3+ seconds (typical Lexus feature, not sure Toyota's have this?) (Yes, all 16+ have this, certainly 18+)
21) All windows down and up by using key fob in door (also not sure LCs have this?) (Same as point 20, LC has this as well, not really a feature which get used a lot. In case of parking in the Sun I keep my driver door open longer as I start the vehicle and then the AC quicks in which is very good)
22) Substantial Lexus key fob (LC uses same one as corolla) (Not true, LC200 18+ has a big and better looking FOB than the LX570 but who really cares)
23) Fade-To-Off interior lighting (I believe LC got this in 2014?)
24) Puddle and side step lights
25) Door sil lighting (16+ LC200 has this)
26) Interior ambient lighting (16+ LC200 and even 14+ I believe have this as well)
27) Additional trunk side light and open tailgate lighting (16+ has this as well unless there is one more aft in the LX570. Will check this on my son in laws 2020 LX570 next time)
28) +2hp / +2tq (requires 91 octane, LC is 87 octane) (This is major BS from Lexus and fuel cost is therefore 20% or so higher, a real reason to get a LC or just use 87 in the 570 as the engine and motor management are identical part numbers and have maps for both)
29) More luxurious interior appointments (Both the 08 to 15 and 16 to 21 LX use a wood color I really do not like and are very old fashioned, excretion is the red interior 16+ or the 2020 amd 2021 “Sport” models with a near black looking wood which passes my grade. Talking taste here so go and drive and make up your own mind. This though is actually a key reason for me together with the exterior to get a LC)
30) Ventilated outboard rear seats
31) Four-zone climate concierge (Controls the seat heating and ventilation, the 16+ LC200 has this for the front where it matters)
32) LED Headlamp with AHS Sequential Turn (16+ LC200 is LED as well amd produces slightly more light than the LX570, though both very good)
33) LED Cornering Lamp (Another feature which can break, I have on my 2014 BMW 535d and is effectively a gimmick unless you live in the countryside on a winding road, which in Europe and Japan exists and hardly does with the straight roads in the US)
34) 12.3-inch high-res split-screen display (LC 9") (LC screen is a better format and shows more of the rear view in reverse than the LX570 screen, in fact we thought the LX570 was defective in comparisons but it is not)
35) Head-up display ( Very poorly done in comparison with other vehicle who have this and just adds complexity and windshield replacement cost)
36) All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (LC DRCC for 25mph and up) (This I never use in traffic as it works poorly, but for sure try it amd see what you think)
37) Steering wheel paddle shifter (Only useful in mountains when descending, though how often does that happen)
38) Door puddle projector lamps (already mentioned above)
39) Rear door retractable sun shades (This is an annoyance when going for tinted windows and also as a driver when looking to the left rear)
40) 2020 gets special trims: "LX570 Sport" to "LC Heritage" (Worth considering for the more modern looking wood trim, otherwise it adds bumper lips you rather do without)
41) Rear seat entertainment, single screen in early gens, dual in later (Outdated with iPads weapon of choice. Get an LC without it and if you like add iPad supports to the driver and passenger seats instead)
That's very kind of you to write that up. Thank you.
I will add the most obvious of all - styling. If you get the 2016+ LX570, you have to eat that grill. Which I can't. And, per multiple reports, the driving dynamics of the LX are much softer with more body roll around corners at speed (comparing stock LX to stock LC).
My two cents is that the 2013-2015 LX is the most attractive, followed by the 2016+ LC.
Thanks all for sharing your opinions.
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as noted above the 16+ LX has radar cruise that goes to stop. I use it 10/10 times when driving my 19 LX570 whether it be freeway or street. Maybe im getting old but not having to hold down the brake at a stand still is nice... when the cars in front move just tap the gas and the cruise control will continue.
AHC (For me at least) has been great and very practical for me when camping as i get to lay it out when parked to easily unload cargo from the rear or access my Iceco Fridge in the back.
One thing i dislike about this platform, which i guess is fixed in the LC300 platform, is that the cooling seats are just room temp air instead of AC air.
AHC (For me at least) has been great and very practical for me when camping as i get to lay it out when parked to easily unload cargo from the rear or access my Iceco Fridge in the back.
One thing i dislike about this platform, which i guess is fixed in the LC300 platform, is that the cooling seats are just room temp air instead of AC air.
For LC:
2020+: new front differential design…maybe better/stronger differential carrier??
2018+: KDSS bolt change, automatically power-folding outside mirrors, late-2018s have new radiator design, late-2018s have capacitive touch screen on center display, powered lift gate, non-mandatory rear entertainment, newer transmission software (flashable on 2016-2017), and new key (very cool) design.
2016+ LC also gains bigger front brakes, 8-speed auto, semi-aniline leather of the LX, and has better buttons arrangement than prior years.
2020+: new front differential design…maybe better/stronger differential carrier??
2018+: KDSS bolt change, automatically power-folding outside mirrors, late-2018s have new radiator design, late-2018s have capacitive touch screen on center display, powered lift gate, non-mandatory rear entertainment, newer transmission software (flashable on 2016-2017), and new key (very cool) design.
2016+ LC also gains bigger front brakes, 8-speed auto, semi-aniline leather of the LX, and has better buttons arrangement than prior years.
LX has much better tow leveling due to AHC. But LC has higher tow rating.
And before anyone states that LX lower tow rating because of higher weight or blah blah, please refer:
And before anyone states that LX lower tow rating because of higher weight or blah blah, please refer:
