Lexus RX 450h
REPORT 3
£67,100 OTR/£81,600 as tested/£524 pcm
WHY IT’S HERE
Has Lexus squandered its lead in the posh hybrid SUV race?
DRIVER
Jason Barlow
BRITAIN’S NUMBER ONE TENNIS PLAYER CAMERON NORRIE HAS
A Lexus RZ It’s only his third car and his first electric one Watching him wrestle with the charging point outside the Lawn Tennis Association’s HQ it’s clear that even a world class athlete’s handeye coordination is no match for a recalcitrant charger At least we have that in common his crosscourt forehand is certainly a lot better than mine
Born in South Africa to British parents Norrie and his family moved to New Zealand when he was three His peripatetic teenage years saw him move to London then the US and now he bounces between Putney and Monaco A modest manual Hyundai was followed by a Ford Fusion and now the RZ He says his dad always told him cars were bad investments But time in Monte Carlo is strengthening the Norrie car game and when I steer him towards a Lexus LFA he’s impressed
“I like walking down to Casino Square” Norrie says “A few of the tennis players have Lamborghinis It’s a dangerous road dangerous for my bank account Every other car by the casino is something insane ”
Enough tennis back to the car which also requires good handeye coordination The RX’s touchscreen is deceptively simple in most use cases audio and climate primarily But the assistance systems are a different matter The prime offender is the speed limit warning which chimes incessantly Getting rid of that requires a deep dive five separate pushes on the screen in fact The RX’s rear parking sensors are hyperactive too Get a bit marginal on a reverse manoeuvre and the car slams the brakes on like you’re about to drive off a cliff Worse still a sensor on the wheel ‘reads’ your driving position and instructs you to sit up straight It’s more annoying than my fourth year maths teacher