Lexus has launched the fifth-generation version of its range-topping RX. The brand says it has “completely reinvented” the car for its latest iteration, which is probably just as well because the RX now sits in a crowded marketplace of premium hybrid SUVs populated by the likes of the BMW X5, Volvo XC90, Mercedes GLE and the all-new Maserati Grecale.
The latest Lexus RX moves onto a modified version of the GA-K platform found under the Toyota RAV4 and the Lexus NX. This brings a host of fresh technology with it, including fancy new multi-link suspension, a fresh 14-inch infotainment system, an arsenal of driver assistance technology and the RX’s first-ever plug-in hybrid powertrain. It’ll be on sale in the UK by autumn 2022. Prices are yet to be confirmed.
Fine. But just this once. Lexus offers three powertrains with the latest RX, all of which feature some form of hybrid assistance. The cheapest RX 350h is powered by a more potent version of the 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-hybrid system found in the Toyota RAV4. It has 242bhp and claimed fuel economy figures of between 41.1–42.2mpg.
Stepping up a rung, there’s the RX 450h+. It features the same 302bhp plug-in hybrid powertrain as the RAV4 PHEV, which delivers a 0–62mph time of seven seconds flat and claimed fuel consumption figures of between 235.4–256.8mpg. Lexus also says it’s targeting an electric only range of around 40 miles and CO2 emissions as low as 24g/km.
At the top of the line-up, there’s the RX 500h. It’s being marketed as the performance option in the SUV’s range, so it features a host of clever technology designed to maximise grip and handling. This includes a rear wheel steering system, better front brakes and Lexus’s DIRECT4 four-wheel drive system.
The 500h’s powertrain is also a bit more complicated than the RX’s other systems, so pay attention at the back. It’s built around a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and features a pair of electric motors – one mounted between the engine and the gearbox and one bolted to the rear axle.
The front motor plugs the gaps in the petrol engine’s power band (when the turbo is spooling up, for example), while the rear motor helps to nail the car to the road. The system has a combined output of 366bhp, which Lexus says is enough for a 0–62mph time of six seconds.
Brilliant. Now, what’s changed under the skin?
Lexus has designed a completely new rear end for the new RX, which features extra cross members and suspension braces to increase the SUV’s structural rigidity. Lexus says these changes have improved both the car’s handling and ride quality.
The new RX is also 90kg lighter than the old model, thanks to its new GA-K underpinnings and its fresh aluminium wings and bonnet. These changes have also dropped the car’s centre of gravity by 15mm, which should further benefit its cornering ability.
Lexus has tweaked the RX’s measurements slightly, too. The brand’s engineers widened the SUV’s track by 15mm at the front and 50mm at the rear – again, with the aim of improving handling. They also added 60mm to the car’s wheelbase, which should liberate a little more legroom for those in the rear of the cabin.
Speaking of which, what’s the interior like?
Rammed full of technology. There’s a new 14-inch infotainment system mounted on top of the dashboard, which Lexus says is 3.6 times faster than the screen fitted to the outgoing RX. The system also features over-the-air updates and smartphone connectivity as standard – Apple CarPlay is wireless, but Android Auto requires a cable.
Other features include a wireless smartphone charger, live traffic updates and a 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system on higher-spec versions of the car. There’s also a smart voice assistant which Lexus says can respond to commands given in a “more natural style of language.” Whether or not it’ll understand our resident Northerners remains to be seen.
Buyers can also control a range of functions from the Lexus Link smartphone application. Drivers can monitor their car’s battery level, schedule charging times, remotely lock and unlock the doors and operate the climate control system. The app provides driving analytics, too, with the aim of teaching you how to become a more economical motorist.
The seats, steering wheel and shift knob are trimmed in synthetic leather and are available in a variety of colours. There’s also a customisable ambient lighting system with a choice of 64 solid colours or 14 preset themes. Lexus hasn’t yet told us how big the RX’s boot is in litres, although the brand has confirmed that it’s 50mm longer than the old car’s.
And the driver assistance tech? There’ll be loads, right?
Right. The RX gets the newest Lexus Safety System+. Stand-out features include a new pre-collision system which can now detect motorcycles in front of the car. It’ll now also recognise pedestrians when turning into junctions and react more quickly to hazards.
The RX’s pre-collision system can be upgraded with active steering assist, adding an extra layer of protection in the event of an accident. The car constantly scans the road for hazards – and if it recognises that an imminent accident can’t be avoided by braking alone, it’ll take control of the steering in an effort to dodge the collision.
The RX’s adaptive cruise control system has also been improved over the old car’s. Now, it’ll react more quickly when some idiot in an Audi carves you up on the motorway – and Lexus says the system can even respond to warning signs and stop signs.
Fork out a little more cash and you can have a fancy automated parking assistant, which controls the car’s steering, throttle and brakes to position the car into spaces with the help of 12 ultrasonic sensors and four exterior cameras. It’ll also store up to three regularly used parking spaces.
Lexus is watching you, too. There’s an interior camera mounted above the steering wheel which constantly monitors the condition of the driver. If the driver doesn’t react to alerts on the dashboard, the car can automatically slow its speed or stop altogether.
