Striking exterior and luxurious interior make this Japanese luxury SUV a compelling proposition
Lexus RX has never posed a serious threat to the popularity of its German rivals, especially BMW X5 and Mei Seiders -Mercedes-Benz GLE. Not as stunning as the stunning V8 Hero model, but it comes with sensible petrol and hybrid powertrain options and a gorgeous interior job. Despite some unsavory features, the Lexus RX offers a unique and attractive look for a large luxury SUV.
The condiment of choice
Like sinus-cleansing mustard, the 2021 Lexus RX 450h Sports Luxury can dazzle you with its samurai-shaped polarizing exterior design and counterintuitive infotainment touchpad functionality.
But if your palette is used to long burns, the shock value of this Japanese SUV - and its quirks - will fade over time, becoming a refined, acquired taste, Even a little desirable...
The Lexus is also good value for money, at least compared to its European rivals, as it's about $3 cheaper than segment leaders like the American-made BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE million Australian dollars.
What it lacks in handling and power at this level, it makes up for in superb levels of luxury and refinement.
The fourth-generation Lexus RX has been significantly upgraded for 2019 and now costs just over $73,000, plus on-road costs for the entry-level 2.0-litre turbo-petrol RX 300 Luxury 2WD, topping out at just over $113,000 (plus ORCs) ) for the RX 450hL AWD extended seven-seat version.
The model tested here is the flagship five-seat Lexus RX 450h Sports Luxury, priced at AU$111,088 with ORCs.
It turns out that the Sports Luxury badge may have been a bit oversold over the Lexus RX, which is about as sporty as Japan's delicious fried ice cream .
However, there is more richness to its superb level of sophistication that is definitely part of luxury.
In fact, the interior is one of the best in the segment, and the high-quality semi-aniline (i.e. super plush) leather upholstery with quilted stitching and micro-perforations is second to none.
This range-topping model's large heated and cooled cream (or black) front seats with soft cushioning and 14-way power adjustment are best in class, making your time spent in your Lexus truly transformative. Be special.
Pleasantly premium leather extends to the door trim as well as open-pore walnut highlights (or laser-cut bamboo if you prefer), but personally I think these elements differ from the more subtle ones among the alternatives The wood grain integration looks a bit old compared to European SUVs.
Just as the front seats are first-class, the rear seats are also very nice, with electric adjustment of the recline backrest and manual fore and aft slide adjustment of the seat cushions providing passengers with a flexible and spacious seating arrangement.
All RX models feature an easy-to-read 12.3-inch center multimedia screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six USB ports and a convenient power-adjustable steering column.
Sports Luxury variants add extra niceties over the base model, such as a beautifully crisp 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, digital radio and wireless phone charging, and a crystal-clear color head-up with live road signs (speed limits) monitor) and a panoramic glass sunroof, all of which make driving time in this car smooth and easy.
The 506-litre luggage compartment is accessible via the electric tailgate. It offers enough space to accommodate three people’s luggage, including outdoor and beach gear, during a 10-day holiday. The RX 450h in
's test was finished in khaki green exterior paint, which elicited mixed reactions from friends and family.It looks almost black in shady conditions, but flashes a dark green in full sunlight.
Digital Safety
The 2021 Lexus RX 450h Sports Luxury comes with 10 airbags and a suite of advanced crash avoidance systems, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), which activates the system if an imminent collision with another vehicle or pedestrian is detected. Able to automatically brake cars for all conditions as well as cyclists during the day.
Lexus' self-driving tech was a little too frenetic in previous iterations, but revisions to some features like adaptive cruise control and lane-tracing assist significantly improve its operation with this updated model, which uses it to accelerate, brake, and steer the vehicle. Long highway drives are relaxing smooth and automatic.
While Lane Tracing Assist can keep the vehicle in the center of the lane when driving through gentle curves (it can't handle twisty roads), it can also "lock on" to other vehicles in heavy traffic and works at all speeds . It's not as aggressive as the Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi systems, but it's certainly an improvement.
Front and rear sequential LED indicators are part of the Technology Pack, as are adaptive automatic high-beam anti-dazzle LED headlights from the flagship $200,000 Lexus LC coupe , providing excellent illumination at night.
The Lexus has a host of parking assistance features, including four camera displays (front, rear, side) and a 360-degree display for a bird's-eye view, which makes entering parking lots easier.
While the Lexus Remote Touch input pad that controls the infotainment system adds a high-tech look to the cabin, its functionality leaves a lot to be desired. Thankfully, the driver can also activate functions in the sat-nav, music and connectivity systems via voice control or the touchscreen.
The hybrid system is starting to show its age
These days, the 2021 Lexus RX 450h Sports Luxury's powertrain isn't what you'd call cutting-edge, especially when electric cars like the Audi e-tron and electric cars like the BMW X5 When plug-in hybrids exist in a similar space.
These vehicles use high-capacity lithium-ion battery packs to achieve decent range using electric motors, while Lexus continues to use less efficient and heavier nickel-metal hydride batteries - the same ones used by parent company Toyota for more than 20 years.
In fact, the smaller battery in the RX can only provide a very short period of pure electric cruising - we're talking a kilometer, tops. Nonetheless, it should be acknowledged that the system is effective in reducing daily fuel consumption and offers an impressive level of improvement.
The hybrid system connects a 3.5-litre petrol V6 (193kW/335Nm) driving the front wheels with a single electric motor on the rear axle providing an additional 50kW/139Nm.
can each be operated independently or in series, with a combined output of 230kW. While Lexus says it can maintain a maximum torque of 335Nm from the petrol engine alone, the extra thrust from the electric motor feels a bit stout at full throttle.
Flatten the gas pedal in Sport mode and the 2210kg little tube-shaped Lexus moves relatively quickly, but it's hardly what I'd call sporty.
Taking full advantage of EV mode can best be described as frustrating, as the undernourished 50kW electric motor struggles to transform the hybrid SUV's qualities on its own. It can accelerate from a standstill to city speeds, but doing so requires breathing on the accelerator with such a light right foot that it may cause other drivers to honk their horns in frustration.
Nonetheless, the package has been refined over the years and delivers surprisingly good fuel economy, with Lexus claiming an average of 5.7L/100km.
However, after almost 1000km of mixed driving conditions, much of it on the motorway, we struggled to hit that figure during that time, with an average reading of 7.4L/100km.
The gearbox is a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic, which is smooth and suited to the relaxed nature of the vehicle itself, but is rather lacking in character even though the has a six-step quasi-manual mode via the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Less forces me to use them.
Ultimately, the Lexus RX 450h powertrain is smooth, quiet and refined rather than muscular and enthusiastic. More luxury than sport.
If you're looking for a cleaner, quieter alternative to Lexus, the Japanese brand will bring its first electric vehicle, the Lexus UX 300e compact SUV, to Australia later this year. While it's smaller than the RX, it can still seat five people and has a range of 400 kilometers on a single charge.
Ride and Handling Fit for Purpose
The Adaptive Variable Suspension, part of the 2021 Lexus RX 450h Sports Luxury Package, delivers excellent ride comfort, almost even on 20-inch alloy wheels with low-profile tires. There's no road noise invading the cabin. The flip side of
is that it's dynamically uninspiring. The body rolls and pitches around corners, and although the suspension settings were tweaked for 2020 as part of a mid-cycle update to provide crisper handling, it's still not what I'd call inspiring on demanding roads. .
However, I doubt many potential owners want to whip the Lexus like a racehorse and drive it as a comfortable cruiser or city commuter, a mission it fulfills admirably.
Light steering and simple controls make driving effortless, the comfortable suspension wraps passengers in a luxurious cocoon, and the high ride provides clear visibility.
Overall, this is a relaxing vehicle to drive, easy to use, and creates a calm, peaceful atmosphere for all occupants.
It's an acquired taste
Although the Lexus RX easily surpassed the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE in 2020, it ranked third in the large luxury SUV segment, behind the Audi Q7 and Range Rover Sport is more popular.
The exterior design may turn off some buyers, but from a driving perspective, the 2021 Lexus RX 450h Sports Luxury is unlikely to disappoint with its luxurious on-road character, well-appointed cabin and overall refinement.
The more I drive it, get used to its laid-back character, and use its hybrid tech to extend its range, the more I like it.
Frankly, it's been a long time since I last drove an RX, and I was expecting this newer version to feel a bit dinosaur-like, with few eye-catching elements.
But it's surprising how Lexus manages to associate this car with generous equipment levels and a luxurious interior that's worth the price of admission alone.
When you consider the improvements made to its self-driving car technology — and how intuitive they are now to operate — the RX has evolved into a more capable machine than I expected.
All in all, despite some flaws with its infotainment system, it offers a unique and attractive look for a large luxury SUV.
The bottom line is that while the four-year/100,000km warranty isn't as robust as Mercedes' five-year warranty, Lexus sets the benchmark for customer support as it collects and returns owners' cars for repairs while providing Free loans on cars – including new Lexus models – and a wide range of unique customer experiences.
Lexus vehicles also consistently rank high in customer service and reliability surveys, and given its relationship with Toyota it has a rock-solid reputation for not letting itself get into trouble.
Of course, there's the mustard factor to consider here due to the SUV's unconventional exterior design and sluggish powertrain.
But unless your next SUV must wear a European badge—and remember that both BMW and Mercedes are actually made in the United States, not Germany—there are plenty of reasons to consider the Lexus RX.
2021 Lexus RX 450h Sports Luxury
Engine: 3.5-liter V6 petrol-electric hybrid
Output: 193kW/335Nm (230kW combined)
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 5.7L/100km (ADR combination)
CO2: 131g /km (ADR Comprehensive)
Security Level: Five Stars (ANCAP 2015)
