The Lexus RX is again.
Now into its fourth technology, the big SUV is a pillar for the model in Australia. A whopping 37,000 have been bought because it debuted Down Underneath in 2003, of which 10,000 are hybrids.
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Lexus has massive plans for the brand new mannequin. It has an extended wheelbase to unlock extra inside area, a brand new infotainment system designed to correctly take the struggle to what Germany’s best have to supply, and extra energy throughout the board.
It additionally packs a daring new look that tightly aligns it with the RZ450e electrical automobile coming Down Underneath in Might.
Gone is the previous base engine, bumping up the value of entry by round $15,000 for 2023.
On the high finish of the vary is a brand new F Sport Efficiency mannequin that, with a sticker value of $126,000 earlier than on-road prices, is $12,500 dearer than the previous-generation, seven-seat flagship mannequin.
How a lot does the Lexus RX value?
Pricing is up for the brand new RX. Beforehand, the vary opened at simply north of $73,000 earlier than on-road prices, now you’re on the hook for a minimum of $87,500 earlier than on-roads.
Lexus accurately factors out the very fact the entry RX300 petrol has been axed for 2023, and the brand new automobile is a better-equipped, higher-specification automobile than earlier than.
On the backside finish of the vary, the RX is priced according to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. On the high finish, the RX500h F Sport Efficiency aligns with entry-level variations of the BMW X5 and Audi Q7.
Even with the value enhance it’s arduous to argue the RX doesn’t characterize stable worth alongside its German rivals, particularly when you think about the very fact none affords a straight rival for the RX350h or RX500h.
2023 Lexus RX pricing:
- Lexus RX350h
- Lexus RX350
- Lexus RX500h F Sport Efficiency AWD: $126,000
All costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Lexus RX like on the within?
Like its NX little brother, the RX has been given a high-tech makeover for 2023.
There aren’t any extra fiddly touchpads or hidden buttons right here, only a completely trendy touchscreen neatly built-in right into a good-looking dashboard. It’s an enormous enchancment, and regardless of the plain similarities with the smaller NX it feels a bit extra grown up.
The place the little NX feels a bit claustrophobic up entrance with a sunroof fitted, the RX has a greater seating place for taller drivers. There’s extra legroom, extra space beneath the roof lining, and extra space between the entrance passengers to stretch out.
All of the supplies feel and look high-quality, as you’d anticipate of a Lexus. The steering wheel in all fashions is trimmed in what seems like smooth, waxy leather-based, and even lower-end vehicles look high-end.
With generously bolstered seats and a smattering of additional badges, F Sport fashions particularly look unbelievable – try the crimson seats on the automobile pictured above.
The touchscreen is considerably higher than the touchpad-based tech within the final RX, with crisp graphics and a logical format. The lack of bodily buttons isn’t keenly felt as a result of there are nonetheless massive shortcuts to your local weather controls, and Hey Lexus voice prompts usually work nicely.
The cameras are clear and vibrant, and the Land Rover-style view that reveals what’s taking place beneath your automobile is helpful.
Together with 4 USB ports (three USB-C, one USB-A), there’s a wi-fi cellphone charger up entrance.
The driving force is confronted with digital devices loosely mimicking the cluster from the LFA supercar, with out the cool mechanical sliding ring that beforehand featured.
It doesn’t transfer the sport on, given the shortage of mapping or a lot in the best way of personalisation, nevertheless it’ll make returning house owners really feel proper at dwelling.
There’s loads of cupboard space up entrance to your drink bottles, snacks, and private bits and items.
Rear seat room is stable. Legroom represents an enchancment during the last automobile, thanks little question to an extended wheelbase, and the bench is sweet and plush. Headroom isn’t nice although, particularly with a sunroof fitted.
With the rear seats reclined it’s okay for adults again there, however with them set to a extra upright place that frees up additional boot area it’s a bit tight again there. Eradicating the sunroof improves issues, nevertheless it’s nonetheless tighter than in a BMW X3, not to mention an X5.
With two USB-C ports, air vents, a fold-down central armrest, and retractable window shades, the youngsters aren’t in need of creature comforts.
Claimed boot area is 612 litres with all 5 seats in place, increasing to 1678L with the second row folded.
F Sport fashions characteristic an area saver spare, whereas Luxurious and Sports activities Luxurious fashions have a tyre restore equipment.
What’s below the bonnet?
The 2023 Lexus RX350h makes use of a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain with 184kW of energy. It’s obtainable with both front- or all-wheel drive, and makes use of an eCVT. It sticks with an older nickel-metal hydride battery rather than the lighter, extra vitality dense lithium-ion items rolling out in some Toyota hybrids.
The RX350 is powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 205kW of energy and 430Nm of torque. It’s all-wheel drive solely and makes use of an eight-speed automated transmission.
The RX500h F Sport Efficiency makes use of a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain with a complete system output of 273kW. It encompasses a ‘high-output’ eAxle rear electrical motor and DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system. The 0-100km/h time is a claimed 6.2 seconds.
Claimed mixed gas economic system for the RX350h FWD is 5.Zero litres per 100km, leaping to five.Four litres per 100km for the RX350h AWD.
The petrol-only RX350 makes use of a claimed 8.7L/100km on the mixed cycle, and the range-topping RX500h makes use of a claimed 6.5L/100km.
All three fashions drink 95 RON premium unleaded. Petrol fashions have a 67.5 litre gas tank, hybrids have a 65L tank.
How does the Lexus RX drive?
How the RX drives is determined by the way you specify it.
The RX350h is anticipated to be the best-seller, and it’s the mannequin that drives most such as you’d anticipate of a big Lexus. The experience in our Sports activities Luxurious tester was relaxed, with a stunning long-travel feeling and a touch of float over freeway crests.
It’s close to silent at a cruise, with hardly any wind or highway noise sneaking into the cabin. The hybrid powertrain generally is a bit noisy if you push it, although.
Like all Toyota hybrids, it defaults to electrical mode off the mark and accelerates to round 30km/h utilizing the motor earlier than the petrol engine kicks in. When it does, the engine fires easily and quietly.
On mild throttle inputs it usually hums away within the background, mixing the 2 energy sources to ship essentially the most environment friendly progress doable.
Put your foot down and it will get a good transfer on, regardless that the V6 has been ditched for a four-cylinder engine right here, however the e-CVT transmission accomplishes that by elevating revs and holding them there. Which means it could all get a bit droney behind the wheel.
Stepping to the RX350 F Sport adjustments the character barely. The petrol engine makes extra noise, nevertheless it’s a growly noise that nearly has a touch of Toyota GR86 about it, and the CVT has been subbed for a traditional automated.
It affords stable punch off the mark, and offers you a good shove within the again by way of the mid-range when the turbo is singing. It’s a sportier, extra standard feeling different to the 350h if you put your foot down, though the trade-off is of course gas economic system.
The F Sport feels tauter than the relaxed Sports activities Luxurious. It doesn’t have the identical barely floaty feeling on the freeway, as a substitute providing higher physique management, however even on pitted nation roads it’s by no means uncomfortable or crashy.
It feels keener to show than the RX350h if you’re in a rush, and there’s much less physique roll within the corners – but when it’s a sporty RX you’re after, the RX500h F Sport Efficiency is the decide. It debuts numerous applied sciences the RX badge, together with rear-wheel steering and a turbocharged engine as a part of a hybrid powertrain.
It’s designed to take a seat above the F Sport trim, however beneath full-on F fashions such because the previous IS F and GS F.
There’s a noticeable step up in efficiency. Put your foot down and moderately than feeling barely strained, there’s a wholesome slug of low-down torque from the electrical motor that doesn’t relent because the revs rise.
With a traditional (long-geared) six-speed automated, it pulls arduous out to the redline in a manner even the common petrol doesn’t.
Reasonably than a screamer that loves chasing the highest finish, the powertrain nearly seems like a distinctly Lexus tackle to the big-displacement diesel engines on supply in German alternate options. It packs a punch however by no means feels prefer it’s making an attempt too arduous, though the circa-6.Zero second run to 100km/h (moderately cruelly) sees it fall into the nice and cozy, not scorching, a part of the SUV world.
The rear-wheel steer helps make the F Sport Efficiency really feel extra agile than the common RX350 on tight roads. It turns in properly, and does a greater job disguising its dimension if you’re in a rush.
At low speeds the rear-wheel steer turns as much as 4 levels in the other way to the fronts; at increased speeds it turns them in the identical path to just about lengthen the wheelbase. It’s the form of factor we wouldn’t have anticipated from Lexus up to now, however matches properly into the 500h’s character.
What do you get?
RX350h Luxurious highlights:
- Bi-LED headlights
- LED daytime operating lights, fog lights
- Heated exterior mirrors with driver’s aspect auto-dimming
- Rear privateness glass
- 19-inch alloy wheels with vibrant machined end
- Roof rails
- Energy tailgate
- 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- 12-speaker Panasonic sound system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- Lexus Related Providers
- 5 x USB-C, 2 x 12V, 1 x USB-A
- 8-way energy entrance seats with two-way energy lumbar
- Heated entrance seats
- Leatherette upholstery
- Tri-zone local weather management
- Energy-adjustable steering column
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Paddle shifters
- Ambient lighting
Enhancement Pack ($5100 FWD, $5500 AWD) provides:
- Panoramic sunroof
- Leather-based upholstery
- Ventilated entrance seats
- Quick access seat
- Driver’s seat reminiscence
- Head-up show
- ‘Excessive-grade’ instrument cluster show
- Sensible key card
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Contact-sensitive steering wheel controls
RX350 F Sport provides:
- Turbocharged four-cylinder engine
- 21-inch gloss black alloy wheels
- Bi-LED headlights
- F Sport exterior look bundle with distinctive bumpers, grille
- Adaptive suspension
- Aluminium monobloc six-piston calipers
- Palms-free energy tailgate
- Encompass-view digital camera
- Dimpled leather-wrapped steering wheel
- F Sport scuff plates
- F Sport shifter
- F Sport instrument cluster
- Heated and ventilated entrance sport seats
- Aluminium pedals
- Quick access driver’s seat
- Contact-sensitive steering wheel controls
- Multi-colour ambient lighting
- 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system
- Lively Noise Management
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Rear door sunshades
- Sensible key card
The $3000 Enhancement Pack 1 provides a panoramic sunroof, whereas the $1100 Enhancement Pack 2 provides a digital rear-view mirror, semi-automatic parking help, and a heated steering wheel.
RX350 Sports activities Luxurious and RX350h Sports activities Luxurious add (over Luxurious):
- Bi-LED headlights with adaptive high-beam
- 21-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels
- Encompass-view digital camera
- Adaptive suspension
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system
- Lively Noise Management (RX350 solely)
- 10-way energy entrance seats with semi-aniline leather-based upholstery
- 4-way lumbar help and reminiscence
- Heated steering wheel with woodgrain trim
- Energy-folding and reclining rear seats
- Heated and ventilated outboard rear seats
The $3000 Enhancement Pack 1 provides a panoramic sunroof, whereas the $900 Enhancement Pack 2 provides a digital rear-view mirror and semi-automatic parking help.
RX500h F Sport Efficiency provides (over F Sport):
- Enhancement Pack 1 + 2
- Matte black 21-inch alloy wheels
- Black aluminium monobloc entrance calipers
- Piano black bumper aspect moulding
- Physique-coloured rocker trim
- Lively Sound Management
- Dynamic Rear Steering
Is the Lexus RX secure?
The Lexus RX has but to be examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
Normal security gear contains:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Intersection collision avoidance help
- Emergency steering help
- Lane departure warning
- Lane Tracing Help (lane centring)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Driver fatigue monitoring
Some fashions additionally embody a surround-view digital camera.
How a lot does the Lexus RX value to run?
The Lexus RX is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
Upkeep is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, and the primary 5 companies will every set you again $695 below the Lexus capped-price service program.
Lexus additionally affords its house owners a spread of perks as a part of its Encore program, starting from the choice to have their automobile collected earlier than a service, entry to live shows or occasions, and advantages from companions resembling Ampol.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Lexus RX
Quiet, comfy, and splendid, the brand new Lexus RX vary doesn’t deviate removed from the formulation laid down by its strong-selling predecessors.
Its inside is an enormous step ahead, lastly including a correctly trendy infotainment system to the standard supplies and enticing design we’ve come to anticipate from Lexus, and there’s polish to the best way the RX350 and RX350h drive.
Neither will set your pulse racing, however consolation and refinement have all the time been core to the RX attraction anyway, proper?
As for the RX500h F Sport Efficiency? It’s one thing a bit totally different from Lexus.
The rear-wheel steering system and punchy hybrid system give it a definite character alongside the remainder of the vary.
It delivers on the promise of that new F Sport Efficiency badge, and represents an intriguing different to hotter takes on the BMW X5 or Mercedes-Benz GLE.
If solely you would get one…
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MORE: Everything Lexus RX
Professionals
- Big enchancment in inside tech
- RX500h F Sport Efficiency is one thing new for Lexus
- Vary of variants means one thing for everybody
Cons
- Considerably increased beginning value
- Restricted rear headroom
- Lack of seven-seat possibility… for now
