Sometimes we need to recharge ourselves and also get away from the concrete jungle while also switching off. The best way to do this is with a road trip but to a different place. In our case, we went to India’s first forest retreat while on the way taking the largest SUV that you can get in India for the job. The car we are talking about is the massive Lexus LX and it is a rarer sight than most supercars since only a few units have been allocated to India with global demand being huge.
It is a rare beast and also much sought after which is why taking it for a road trip was perhaps the best way to test it further. Measuring over five metres in length and with a grille which can swallow a small car, the Lexus LX has massive road presence and possibly, the biggest grille that we have ever seen.
It stretches all across the front and along with the sharp headlamps, has a stance which is surreal to say the least. The rest of the SUV is a typical old-school luxury SUV being the luxurious sibling to the Land Cruiser. It is slab sided but proud of its origins. Then the 22-inch wheels which look small here showcase just how big the LX really is. Morning Delhi traffic meant a slow start but the drive to the forest retreat is a 7 hour affair while we suggest to start as early as possible. The big LX drew lots of stares in traffic while sitting inside, similar to piloting a luxury yacht. It is huge but you get used to the size but have to be careful of course.
Exiting Delhi, a quick breakfast of parathas and it was time to push the LX. The 3.3 litre twin turbo V6 makes 300bhp plus and 700Nm- enough to propel this beast to serious speeds. Despite its weight and size, the big LX moves all right and cruises effortlessly. Inside, our cold coffee was, er, cold thanks to a cooler box and ventilated seats kept us cool too. While not having a massage seat, the seats themselves were comfortable and you can do long distances without needing a break.
Despite a large fuel tank, the LX did slurp through fuel which was expected but 8 kmpl overall seems decent for something of this size. Our location was northwest of Chandigarh and being a forest reserve it was cut off from the city being aloof which meant narrow roads leading to the place. With the LX, anxiety struck as being huge, narrow double-way roads were perhaps the worst canvas for this beast.
That said, the light steering and many hours behind the wheel meant that the LX easily managed to go through these narrow roads with ease plus surround cameras came in handy too.
Spread over 1800 acres of forest, the forest retreat was quiet, removed from the technology infested world that we live in and comes with various activities including bird watching, treks and off-roading. We did not take the LX inside though as while it is a capable off-roader, the Rs 3 crore price meant no one will ever do so and better sense prevailed. 
After a day’s stay, it was time to head back and indeed, the tranquil surroundings and being closer to nature was the perfect way to cool off, while on the way back, the big LX simply ate up the kms.
With only a limited number of cars being allocated in India, the LX is not a common sight but it is also unlike any other SUV out there as it combines rugged old-school SUV ethos with its toughened up genes along with a dollop of proper luxury.