We tested the Lexus RX 2023: with a greater mechanical offer, it is also a more refined and more connected car with the driver

Here, starting in February , the first units of this new generation that we have had the opportunity to meet and drive will begin to be delivered, which incorporates many new features at all levels that we review below.

Exterior design

The RX has evolved and matured over time, staying true to its principles and its length dimensions in this particular leap from the fourth to the fifth generation. The 2023 RX is still 4.7 meters tall , but that size is segmented much differently than the previous generation did. The key is in the new GA-K platform that it uses, which allows gaining six centimeters in wheelbase, reducing the size of the rear overhang.

In this way, greater space is achieved in the passenger compartment and at the same time a 70-liter larger trunk , reaching 612 liters with five useful seats.

On the other hand, the new RX grows in width , 15 millimeters on the front axle and 50 millimeters on the rear. That, together with a center of gravity also 15 millimeters lower and the redesign of the rear, makes the car look much more compact and with greater poise on the ground, especially in that rear. There the wider hips that surround the rear axle, the new design of the optical groups joined between the ends by LED lights or the disappearance of the Lexus logo that give way to the letters in a central position, make the car look much more modern. and current.

But there is a very characteristic aspect of this car that marks its sideline that has not disappeared. It is the C-pillar with integrated glass , which is still present and its appearance hardly evolves. It maintains robust wheel arches, always outlined by a molding that is painted in the color of the body.

As the trend dictates, the tires also grow, now having a maximum diameter of 21 inches . The external door opening handles are fixed instead of handles, and inside there is a button that activates the mechanical opening.

And arriving in the review from back to front to the front, it continues to be marked by a grill of considerable dimensions, which has changed its morphology. It is now no longer framed or double pointed inward, but has grown in size and is an active part of the front bumper, reaching high up towards the hood.

Undoubtedly, it is a design solution that allows the essence that allows it to be identified as an RX to be maintained, but at the same time it looks cleaner and more avant-garde . This grill is accompanied by the new adaptive LED optics, now more precise than before in terms of the area that it is capable of selecting without dazzling the rest of the road occupants.

Very refined interior with just the right level of screens

Turning to the interior, the new Lexus RX continues to be one of those cars in which you sit down and perceive from the first moment a feeling of very high quality , both in the materials and in its settings and sounds.

Let's not forget that the Takumi masters are in charge of creating these atmospheres so characteristic of the Lexus, hence they are cars that have a very marked personality.

From the driving position, the feeling of being covered by the dashboard is very prominent. This is linked naturally at the ends with the door moldings, and at the same time has a module that surrounds the most comfortable driving position.

Beyond the new materials and redesign, marked by horizontal and pure lines, the highlight is the new multimedia system, which has a large 14-inch touch screen .

The physical buttons for the most common functions are rightly maintained, and also on the multifunction steering wheel you have access to the assistant that is capable of executing functions just by saying "Hey Lexus" .

It maintains very curious solutions, such as the glove box that separates the front seats, with double opening . The lid rises to one side if the pilot opens it, and to the contrary if the co-pilot opens it.

On the other hand, as on the outside, the handles to open the doors are electronic , although the same button that you press to open it can be moved outwards to open it in a conventional way by pulling the handle.

The front seats are very spacious and comfortable , and to access them you don't have to make great efforts. The car is lower than its predecessor and that allows the seat bench to be placed very low.

The same happens in the rear seats, which have gained significantly in space and in which you even have the possibility of reclining the backrest to travel more comfortably.

The car's shoulder line is now lower, allowing for a wider peripheral field of vision while also keeping the boot cargo area lower. This one has an outstanding capacity of 612 liters .

By the way, in this new generation there will not be an elongated version or a seven-seater as there was in the previous one. It did not do well commercially.

Three engines and three types of hybridization

One of the novelties that accompanies the arrival of this new Lexus RX is the expansion of mechanical offers. While in the previous one only one 450h version was offered, in this one there are three to choose from depending on the needs and tastes of current customers, which are segmented as follows:

- RX 350h

- RX 450h Plus

-RX 500h

The first of them, the RX 350h , is the access version of the model, and according to what those responsible for the brand in Spain told us, it is not expected to be widely accepted, remaining at just 5% of expected sales.

It is a version with the fourth generation self-recharging hybrid system, in which the 2.5-liter gasoline engine is combined with the small electric one to develop 250 CV that allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.

One of the aspects that stands out the most behind the wheel of this car is how light it feels for a hybrid SUV of that size, and that is that the weight has been reduced by 22% compared to the previous 450h.

Its operation is very pleasant as long as we take into account that it is not a car in which high performance is sought. Instead, it offers a level of refinement and driving pleasure that makes it a clear alternative to basic versions of its closest rivals.

The RX 450h +, the plug-in hybrid that will set the pace in the range

One notch above that is the RX 450h+, the first plug-in hybrid version of the RX in its entire history. This will be the model that capitalizes the highest percentage of sales in our country (estimate around 70%), and there are plenty of arguments to be the favorite.

It is a car that is equipped with an advanced and proven hybrid system, since it debuted in the Lexus NX. It combines the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a capacity of 18.1 kWh .

In addition, there is an additional rear electric motor with which the car has constant E-Four all-wheel drive. In this version the total power is 309 CV, with which it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds .

At the wheel of this version, the first thing to note is that its behavior varies significantly if we have selected the mode that allows the hybrid system to manage energy if we have it in the mode that forces it to go in 100% electric mode.

In this the car moves surprisingly well, agile and with the ability to gain speed with solvency. In this configuration, the car can travel up to a maximum speed of 135 km/h , and curiously, and contrary to what happens in other cars, it does not activate the combustion engine even if we suddenly step on the accelerator, indicating that we need the fastest response. quick of the set

In hybrid mode, which is the one normally used, the car stands out for its silence and ride quality when we don't demand too much of it. It is a very comfortable car and although we have not yet had the opportunity to drive a long distance on the highway in it, it seems like a good ally for long trips.

Despite its battery size, the car surprisingly doesn't feel any clumsier than the previous RX 450h. On the contrary, you have the feeling of having a better connection with the whole, and that makes the experience more pleasant.

When we want to get the best performance out of it, the fact that it does not rev excessively stands out , but both engines push together, taking the car to speeds that are more than decent without having to force the mechanics excessively.

This version declares a maximum autonomy in electric mode of 65 km , somewhat less than some of its most direct rivals, but in return the hybrid system in operation has seemed more efficient and refined than others. You will have to do a complete test to verify it.

Lexus RX 500h, the sports car

The Lexus RX range is completed at the top with the Lexus RX 500h, a version that manages to give 371 hp by combining a 2.4- liter turbo engine with a six-speed automatic transmission with an 80 kW electric motor located in the back.

This version comes finished with the F Sport package , which emphasizes its position as the sportiest and most high-performance model of the RX.

It features DIRECT4 , a new Lexus technology that constantly distributes power and torque between the front and rear axles. Using the separate electric motor and inverter, it does this faster and more accurately than a mechanical system could.

The system can command from 100:0 to 20:80 depending on the driving situation. In curves, the system also acts by distributing the torque to avoid pitching at the entrance of the curves, and then varies the distribution again, sending 80% of the torque to the rear axle.

In addition, there is the circumstance that this tall version has a directional rear axle , which allows the rear wheels to be rotated up to 4 degrees to gain agility at low speed or poise at high speeds.

At the wheel, the RX 500h shows power , and allows certain licenses and solve situations in which its range brothers would be a little more on the ropes. Undoubtedly, agility at low speeds and wandering the streets is its main hallmark, and we must also highlight the good behavior of the six-speed automatic transmission, much more precise than its brothers.

2023 Lexus RX Prices

In Spain they plan to sell 500 units of the Lexus RX this year , and it seems that the figure is quite affordable if we take into account that they already have 200 firm orders made by customers who have neither tried the car nor read these first contacts. with the new model.