L ex us joins the big boys
AMAZING to think it’s 30 years since upmarket car brand Lexus was launched by the Japanese car giant Toyota. Big in Japan and the U.S., Lexus remains a niche player in the UK, targeting discerning drivers who want something a little different. It’s sold about 200,000 cars here since 1990 and this year is looking at a record 16,000 sales.
So to help celebrate its three decades on the road I’ve been for a spin in the new 5th generation Lexus RX SUV. Launched in 1998, it has sold 3 million worldwide since then. It’s been a while since I’ve driven a Lexus so I was taken aback by the huge size of the RX.
But it’s taking on big-boned rivals such as the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90, so size does matter.
There are three main trim levels from launch: RX with premium pack, F Sport and top range Takumi. It’s initially available as a flexible five- seater or as a slightly longer seven seater.
From early next year, customers will also be able to specify six stand-alone ‘captain’s chairs’ — two in each row. Prices range from £52,705 up to £62,605.
The RX certainly looks sharp. Loads of room inside, a commanding driving position and a premium dashboard. In a big nod to road safety, the topof-the-range Takumi trim has a new BladeScan Adaptive High Beam system that gives 24m of extra vision at night to help spot potential hazards, but without blinding other drivers.
Plenty of power too from the RX 450h’s self- charging hybrid system, comprising a 259bhp 3.5 litre direct injection V6 petrol engine working in conjunction with two electric motors — front and back — which create total pulling power of 308 bhp, about the same as three Ford Fiestas.
The five- seater RX F-Sport I drove on 20-inch multi- spoke wheels accelerated from rest to 62mph in 7.7 seconds with a top speed of 124 mph — the seven seater is a little slower.
Like me, this well-padded SUV is built for comfort not for sporty performance. The sinews tighten up in Sport and Sport- plus modes which give it more engagement, especially on corners, but it’s no sports car.
It will do up to 35.7mpg under the new ‘real-world’ tests with low Co2 emissions of 172g/km.
Lexus reckon that under average driving, around a third of the journey will be in electriconly zero-emissions mode.
However, if you press the EV button to drive exclusively in electric-only mode, don’t expect more than a couple of miles.