In 2026, I still catch myself defending the 2021 Lexus LX 570 as one of those rare luxury SUVs that earned its reputation instead of borrowing it. I didn’t own one back in 2021, but I spent enough time in the driver’s seat and enough late nights reading owner reports to understand why people treated it like a dependable family member. It wasn’t perfect—far from it—but its reliability story was the kind of thing you tell your friends when they ask why you’d spend $90,000 on a vehicle that drinks fuel like a full-size truck.

The first thing I always mention is the repair math. For a full-size luxury SUV, the 2021 LX 570’s average annual repair cost of only $832 felt almost suspiciously low. Owners reported visiting a repair shop just once every 14 months on average. Translated into annual frequency, that came out to only 0.8 visits per year. Even better, only 9% of reported issues were classified as severe—meaning they cost three times the average annual repair bill or more.

A few numbers still stick with me:

• 🛠️ Average annual repair cost: $832

• 🔧 Repair frequency: 0.8 visits per year

• ⚠️ Severe repair probability: 9%

• ⛽ Fuel economy: 15 MPG with the 5.7-liter V8

• ⭐ US News reliability rating: 4.5/5

• 🛡️ Powertrain warranty: 6 years/70,000 miles

That combination made the LX 570 feel less like a fragile luxury toy and more like a vault. I also learned that the LX 570’s reputation didn’t appear overnight. Several earlier LX models had earned high reliability marks from J.D. Power, so the 570 arrived with a head start. Yes, the 5.7-liter V8 returned only about 15 MPG, matching competitors like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS in thirst but not in forgiveness. Drivers gave Lexus the benefit of the doubt because the brand had spent years building a name for low repair frequency and mild repair costs.

What surprised me most was the off-road story. The 2021 LX 570 wasn’t intentionally designed as a hardcore off-roader, but even a certain world leader apparently tested it in rough terrain. I remember reading that Kim Jong Un took an LX 570 off-road as part of a vehicle road test, and it passed without drama. Since Lexus had no dealership in North Korea at the time, the vehicle was likely imported from China. That story felt strange, but it underlined the SUV’s ability to handle more than its luxury badge suggested.

The LX 570 sat at the top of the Lexus lineup. It had multiple seating rows, a 6,000-pound curb weight, 8.9 inches of ground clearance, and a starting MSRP of about $90,000 in the United States. In China, the price was roughly double, which reinforced just how exclusive the model was. A sport version had appeared the year before, and Lexus kept updating the LX line in rapid succession since 2018. None of that would have mattered without the reliability underneath.

From a warranty perspective, Lexus backed the 2021 LX 570 with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. Dealerships also tended to include free maintenance visits and a free loaner car. That confidence wasn’t accidental. When US News awarded the LX 570 a 4.5 out of 5 reliability rating, it earned the highest score in its class—higher than RepairPal’s 3.5 out of 5.

Of course, the SUV had flaws. Cargo space was limited for its size. The infotainment system could be frustrating. Steering felt heavy. Fuel economy was poor. But in 2026, when I look back, I see why buyers repeatedly chose it over similarly flawed competitors. A luxury SUV that rarely needs repairs, avoids recalls, and handles rough roads without complaint becomes more than a vehicle. It becomes a long-term decision you don’t have to apologize for.