Gone are the days when a luxury vehicle can be just beautiful, it needs to be smart, intuitive, functional and more than that… a powerfully responsive drive, the 2023 Lexus RX answers the call.
A mainstay for the Lexus brand and a worldwide top seller, the RX is a vehicle that is hard to beat and easy to love. You have to wonder why Lexus would want to mess with a good thing that sells gangbusters and has created intensely loyal customers.
The answer is that it’s time.
ABOUT THE RX
First introduced in 1998, the RX, short for Radiant Crossover, was the first luxury crossover SUV on the market. It hit the sweet spot between performance-minded, four-door sedan and full-size SUV, and buyers responded enthusiastically, buying 42,000 in the first year. Buyers went gaga over the distinctive shape, higher seats, plush interiors, cozy, quiet cabins and decadent drive experience. Design elements that went on to become the hallmarks that Lexus is known for.
Meanwhile, the appearance of the RX significantly changed the automotive landscape into what we see today — a marketplace laden with crossovers and sport utility vehicles. Over the years, Lexus has done small tweaks to meet the market, advance technology and user experience while gently evolve through the years to become a first of-mind choice for their very loyal target buyer.
Enter this New Generation
This fifth generation brings a new look and a modern freshness to a beloved vehicle. Utilizing a Japanese term called omotenashi, which means anticipatory hospitality, this new rendition is available in multiple trims and powertrains including an RX first F Sport Performance, F Sport Handling, 2 hybrids and a plug-in hybrid to be delivered later this year.
Almost 200lbs. lighter and situated on the new, stronger and more rigid GA-K platform, the 2023 RX brings a more solid, stable yet responsive drive. It handled beautifully on the windy roads of California and the rocky pathways where I wondered if we would get stuck. My worries were quickly assuaged. The vehicle is more than competent, even on street tires.
Confidence-inducing and comfortable, I connected easily to Apple CarPlay on the 9,8 standard or expansive 14-inch touchscreen, found my playlist and settled in for a ride and drive that was pleasant, efficient and one that I want to repeat again and again. I was once again, reminded why Lexus is Lexus. Luxury, safety and ease are standard and most welcome in this world today.
Through the drive, I had the opportunity to experience the new GA-K platform on a larger vehicle.
Simply, easily — it works.
The use of the new platform creates wider space for the rear doors to open, more leg space for rear passengers and increased rear cargo space without raising the height of the vehicle. It also makes good use the talents available at Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama to create a vehicle that is more versatile than ever with the performance-driven minds of the F Sport models, the increased availability of all-wheel drive capability within the range and the creation of the DIRECT4 AWD system that is right now available in the 500h.
Giving Options and Creating Luxury
When the true essence of luxury is the gift of choice, Lexus strove to create a powertrain for every buyer and succeeded in bringing six distinct trims, the Standard, Premium, RX-first Premium+, Luxury, F SPORT Handling and the brand-new F SPORT Performance.
Taking the beauty of the distinctive hourglass – spindle grille and carrying over to the creation of this enhanced spindle body. Not just being aesthetically pleasing, it increases the aerodynamics of the vehicle and is simply a more efficient design. Elevated materials run throughout, and thoughtful details remind me of the patterns found in George Jensen bracelets and are inspired by the architecture of ancient Japan and the kageri aesthetic, which comes to life when touched by lighting.
All of the RX Grades come with a standard 9.8-inch or optional 14-inch information touchscreen, the award-winning Lexus Safety Sense3.0+ safety and driver assistance suite, Cloud Navigation that updates with an assist from Google points over the air and seamlessly between the vehicle and the server, Remote Start and Digital Key. Buyers can also choose to add the superb Mark Levinson Sound System and the drive-enhancing Heads-Up Display.
Versions of the RX350
The mainstay standard is the RX350. Available in FWD and AWD and formerly a V6, now a teched up, turbocharged 4-cyclinder with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the RX350 is the model that most people know and recognize as the RX. It delivers more power, more torque at 317 lb.- ft and a smoother drive than the previous generations due to the increased usage of more advanced tech systems that regulate combustion and an electronically controlled shift program — enabling you as a driver to feel confidently in control of the car but supported well and seamlessly by the tech woven throughout the car and systems beneath the hood.
The 350 is also available in a hybrid motor edition as well. Toyota/Lexus do hybrids better than most manufacturers on the planet, and this is no exception. It comes equipped with a gas powered 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine paired with 216-cell battery that is situated under the rear seat.
The high-output, low-resistance nickel-metal hydride battery offers efficient fuel economy and a high level of energy output. Combined the 2.5L based system, it gives drivers 246-horsepower and 233 lb.-ft. of torque. The rear placement of the battery places a premium on the rear passenger comfort and maintains storage capacity — another reminder of thoughtful design in this new gen.
The RX 5ooh FSport Performance
My personal favorite of the new rendition of the RX is the 500 F Sport Performance AWD. The FSport handling is a favorite of mine. I love the responsiveness, the sportiness, the rev of the engine, the rumbly sound that is available at a touch of my fingertips, the feel of the drive and the ease of performance that I first discovered in the IS500 at Texas Auto RoundUp. There is something divine and decadent about that combination of driver and vehicle — and it’s present in the 500h. Quite frankly, it is about time that performance drifts further into the SUV/ Crossover space. Dig it.
As far as this new offer, the combination of power, color, drive, comfort and efficiency made this a standout from the lineup for me. High-performance minded, 271-hp 2.4-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine is paired with a six-speed automatic and an integrated Power Control Unit and electric motor. My drive partner wanted a few more clicks to the transmission at higher speeds, but I loved it like this. For the demands of everyday life, the pep and presence are solid. The safety features are seamless, bold and adaptable to your comfort levels. Even the Driver Monitoring System that alerts you to wandered attention or when the system cannot sense your presence is helpful and mitigatable, if undesired.
The interior is discreet American luxury graced with the elegance of Lexus’ Japanese heritage with a place for everything and everything in its place dressed in neutral vegan leather and wipeable microsuede. The space for rear passengers has been improved providing more leg space, comfortable seating and smart placement of convenience tools like charging parts and cupholders and the rear cargo space has been stretched to create a more functional region in the vehicle.
Once again combining a high-output, low-resistance nickel-metal hydride battery with ideal placement under the rear back seat, but also introducing the DIRECT4 AWD system, it creates 366 hp and 406 lb.-ft. of torque total. Only available in the 500h, this new all-wheel drive system facilitates a nearly effortless response to subtle driver input that results in improved handling and vehicle controllability. Through the direct application of drive force between the front and rear axles the electronically controlled system responds and improving handling and driver experience feel. Once I had experienced it, I realized that it was an offer that the other trims are ready for.
Coming soon… RX450h+ Plug-in Hybrid
Available for the American market later this year, Lexus is bringing the RX’s first plug-in powertrain with full time AWD. It will bring together a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an 18.1-kWh lithium-ion battery and a rear E-Four motor. It looks like a viable step into the luxury hybrid space. More details as they evolve.
Choosing Yours?
Tapping its loyal client base and welcoming a new generation of younger, affluent buyers with all the features that they crave in a SUV, the new RX offers options that make it a compelling offer from Lexus. Our personal favorite is the 500h for its smooth tech, easy shift into AWD and decadent drive experience, and the 350 AWD for those seeking an efficiently luxurious SUV option with all the bells and whistles. Fans of the Acura MDX, Jaguar SVR and Lincoln Corsair should give this one a look.
Available in an array of 10 exterior neutral and bold colors like Copper Crest, Caviar and Matador Red and starting at just over $47k, the all-new RX proves that a next level experience is available for Lexus buyers. We are looking forward to watching the evolution of the brand as it continues to shape itself into its next chapter. To try it for yourself, visit here.
Thank you to Lexus for airfare and lodging for DSMDrive to bring you this first drive report.
