Two f lavours of luxury SUV
The Lexus RX comes in several different flavours – today we take a look at two, writes Richard Bosselman.
An obvious drawback to living right on the leading edge is there is some risk of falling off it, with potentially injurious consequence. Far better then, to stand back a touch. You still get the same view as the daredevils yet the sense of security is so much greater.
So, continues life for the biggest-selling Lexus here, the RX medium luxury SUV. A facelift to this eight-model range brings styling improvements and fresh tech – fancy headlights and slightly awkward Apple Car Play/Android Auto integration – but nothing here sees it move to the edge of advancement.
What drives its pace is something that fuels SUV and crossover popularity in general – our insatiable desire to be driving anything that stands taller than a conventional car and has potential for above-andbeyond adventures, more often imagined than ever undertaken.
Consumer preference patterns notwithstanding, it’s still worth wondering how long before the RX’s flavour alters, because as much as harnessing to a pair of petrol-fired V6s – one using batteries to make aroundtown driving just a touch greener, the other simply supping dinosaur juice – has been a tried and true formula, it is also one falling behind trend.
Why hasn’t it ‘‘done a Volvo’’ and downsized from those carryover 3.5-litres and even moved to partial or full-scale electric? Well, who says it won’t happen. If any brand can, it’s cash and talent-rich Toyota. In fact, it needn’t stop there. The Prius Prime PHEV and hydrogen-fuelled Mirai are but tasters of technology a future RX could run with. What’s to stop it becoming a pathfinder for another Toyota tech push yet to be reconciled, the advancement to solid state batteries?
Taste change is already being experienced with RX, in that while the petrol models still warrant inclusion, the hybrid’s market share is increasing every year, which suggests buyers are increasingly looking for an efficiency edge.
In its current state, though, the RX can do only so much to meet green expectation. The Toyota/Lexus ‘‘self-charging’’ marketing line is disingenuous in this regard. Careful how you read into that, there’s a huge difference between electric and electrified (which is the RX).
Any hybrid purchaser imagining they’re cashing into the same cool club as buyers of pure EVs is misunderstanding what they’re getting into.
What you get here is the same hybrid 101 Toyota has been finessing for years. So forget about matching the 40-80km electric-only range that an equivalent-sized PHEV will deliver. Even reaching cruise on EV push alone is unrealistic, the battery pack being too small and weak to go alone.
Only low-speed reversing and initial step off is guaranteed to be fuel-free, the hybrid’s major trick thereon is benefiting economy (and emissions) from the electric motor more or less continually assisting on the run.
The impact of this was reinforced during the test drive – n I saw just over 9 litres per 100km from the RX450H Limited, against 12.1L/100km from the RX350 F Sport, when driven similar distances and over much the same terrain.
So while there was improvement, it was nothing like the optimal efficiency the maker claims. I must have had a head wind or something. I figure if you do a lot of urban running, the hybrid won’t beat a plug-in EV for uber thrift.
What you can’t knock the RX for is its schmooze. Uncanny refinement is a Lexus specialty and that reputation isn’t sullied at all here. The RX350 powertrain has a bit of a bark when extended, but if driven within normal bounds is hushed, whereas the hybrid is often even quieter.
The update editions also impressed with their luxury, improved road manners, spruced up styling – yes, the new grille is even bigger yet with better detailing now, and the five-seater shape tried here has absolutely improved with age – and impeccable build.
Well done Lexus for sharpening up on active safety features with cyclist detection, lane tracing assist, lane centring and road sign assist having been picked up. The parking radar now has a function that will automatically brake at low speed, including when rear cross traffic alert is operating.
A hands-free kick-operated power tailgate is now standard, there’s a Qi wireless phone charger in all models and six USB ports in the cabin. And, now, Car Play and Android Auto functionality.
Apart from the big phone friendly upgrade, the RX also debuts a fancy new adaptive headlight system. The BladeScan lamp system has 12 LEDs each, which switch on and off individually to shield oncoming traffic from their high-beam operation, but also through wizardry using mirrors that are said to give greater illumination and clarity than any rival setup. End result? They’re very bright but don’t seem to ever blind oncoming traffic.
The $17,300 price difference between a Sport and Limited isn’t too obvious in respect to spec. Yes, the latter is visually more plush – tan leather and a laser-carved wood steering wheel – but there’s no way the cheaper one could be considered a cost-cutter.
Lexus also claims subtle dynamic gains through retuned shock absorbers, an uprated rear anti-roll bar and some rigidity improvements, but even the F-Sports are not going to cause AMG or the M-Division sleeplessness.
However, they do drive nicely if you treat them the same way, the petrol having the edge for driver involvement simply because it has an eight-speed gearbox while the hybrid continues with a CVT that doesn’t ache for interaction.