2023 Lexus RX review: Australian first drive

Can you believe 2023’s arrival of the fifth-generation Lexus RX marks 25 years of the nameplate, and 20 years on the Australian market?

Yes, the RX line was born in 1998 and in two and a half decades has evolved from a conservative, dependable luxury SUV into a more progressive-looking family wagon.

The fifth-gen continues to push the styling frontier with the spindle grille segueing into a ‘spindle body’ design in which the bonnet forms the upper half of the hourglass.

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Electrification headlines in the new model, which supplants the outgoing RX’s V6-based hybrid with four-cylinder petrol-electric combinations. A turbocharged hybrid debuts in the quicker 273kW flagship called RX 500h – in new F Sport Performance guise – that is pitched as the drivers’ pick.

A lighter body, wider tracks, lower centre of mass and driver-focused tech, on the brand’s GA-K architecture, suggest this new RX could elevate the nameplate’s dynamic experience to meet the flagship’s positioning – and the bold aesthetics.

Does the 2023 RX deliver? Let’s find out.

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JUMP AHEAD

• How much is it, and what do you get?
• How do rivals compare on value?
• Interior comfort, space and storage
• What is it like to drive?
• How is it on fuel?
• How safe is it?
• Warranty and running costs
• VERDICT
• Specifications
• Frequently asked questions

How much is it, and what do you get?

With electrification the brand’s focus – on a mission to be 80 per cent electrified by 2025 – the Lexus RX line-up duly opens with the hybrid RX 350h that teams a 2.5-litre petrol four with an electric motor and front-wheel drive for $87,500 excluding on-road costs – it’s $92,000 with all-wheel drive.

At the other end of the range, the new flagship RX 500h F Sport Performance with its 2.4L turbo-petrol parallel-hybrid AWD system costs $126,000 before on-road costs and leaves no options on the table.

In between, there are 2.4L turbo-petrol AWD RX 350 variants from $99,900 before on-road costs.

Luxury, F Sport and Sports Luxury trim levels continue, joined by the RX 500h’s new F Sport Performance grade, and a series of enhancement packs.

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2023 Lexus RX 500h F-Sport

The Luxury grade is standard for the RX 350h with bi-LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, roof rails and 19-inch five-spoke alloys among the highlights.

Inside, Luxury grade brings heated, eight-way synthetic leather front seats with two-way power lumbar adjustment, three-zone climate control with air purification, an electrically adjustable steering column and a powered tailgate.

Every RX gets Lexus’ latest multimedia system with a 14-inch hi-def touchscreen, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, and 12-speaker Panasonic audio.

The unit features satellite navigation, DAB+ digital radio and Lexus Connected Services functionality.

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There are five USB-C ports around the cabin, a pair of 12V sockets, and a single USB-A port for multimedia connection and smartphone charging.

Extensive safety features and technologies are also standard, which we’ll cover in a subsequent section.

An optional enhancement pack for RX 350h Luxury adds a panoramic glass roof, leather-accented seats, ventilated front seats, touch-sensitive steering wheel controls linked to the head-up display, an upgraded instrument cluster display, a smart key card and wireless smartphone charger.

F Sport grade for the 350h drivetrain adds gloss black 21-inch alloys, a specific grille and bumpers, and black roof rails and mirror caps.

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Similarly sporty touches inside include dimpled leather steering wheel, scuff plates, shift knob and instrument cluster, aluminium pedals and F Sport seats with heating and ventilation.

There are also three-projector bi-LED headlights with auto-levelling, cornering lamps and washers, a powered tailgate with kick sensor, a smart key card and rear door sunshades.

A colour HUD also features, with touch-type steering wheel controls, an upgraded instrument cluster display, wireless smartphone charging, active noise cancelling and a 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system.

F Sport hardware upgrades include adaptive suspension and aluminium monobloc six-piston front brake calipers.

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The RX 350 F Sport brings the optional EP1 – a sliding panoramic roof – and EP2 which, as well as the roof, adds a digital rear-view mirror, heated steering wheel and automated parking.

Sports Luxury grade builds on the key F Sport features, adding semi-aniline leather front seats with 10-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel with woodgrain detailing, power-folding and reclining rear seats, heated and ventilated outboard rear seats, and unique 21-inch wheels.

It also brings the choice of a panoramic roof (EP1) or EP2, which also adds a digital rear-view mirror and auto parking.

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The flagship RX 500h is offered only in highly equipped F Sport Performance trim, which features all the enhancement pack and F Sport extras, as well as leather upholstery and aluminium interior trim.

It’s set apart with matte black 21-inch alloys, matching black aluminium monobloc front calipers, piano black bumper side mouldings, and black badging and window surrounds. Lots of black, okay.

It also gets body-coloured side rocker trims.

The RX 500h benefits from extra driver-focused tech too, which we’ll cover in the driving section.

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How do rivals compare on value?

There are so many alternatives to the Lexus RX, the majority of them more costly European models that, it should be noted, differ from the Lexus in offering three rows of seats either as standard or optionally.

The BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class are presently the volume-selling Lexus RX competitors.

A BMW X5, for example, starts at $109,900 for the xDrive25d and runs to $139,900 for the xDrive45e (excluding the high-performance M models).

These are followed, in terms of popularity, by the Audi Q7 which runs from $108,200 for a 45 TDI Quattro to $164,100 for an SQ7 TFSI.

And the Volvo XC90, which is closer to Lexus RX territory, is $92,990 for a Plus B5 AWD and $121,990 for an Ultimate Plug-in hybrid, excluding options.

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2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e

Occupying a similar or slightly lower price point to the Lexus RX – depending on the variant – is the Genesis GV80, which runs from $92,200 for a 2.5T RWD to $109,700 for a 3.5T AWD.

All the above prices exclude on-road costs.

Based on its competitive standard equipment and nominally lower price points compared with models of equivalent powertrain and grade, the Lexus RX compares favourably to the majority of rivals on value for money.

In addition, the brand’s quality, dependability and customer service credentials translate to strong value (low cost of ownership) and perceived value (customer experience).

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2022 Genesis GV80

Interior comfort, space and storage

A more modern take, executed with the expected Lexus quality, fit and finish give the new RX a good lift in interior presentation from the outgoing model.

It’s an easy place to get comfortable, especially in the flagship’s form-fitting 10-way powered seats, which provide a welcome cooling function and terrific support.

The steering wheel is nicely tactile and features neat touch control buttons.

However, the headline cabin departure is the binning of the touchpad.

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It makes way for a smart new infotainment system featuring a glossy, tablet-like 14-inch display, sat nav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and DAB+ digital radio.

The unit is mostly intuitive to operate and helps free the cabin from buttons.

But there are still some features for which a button would be ideal – such as drive mode.

The drive mode settings are easy to find but on a bumpy road, it can take a couple of stabs at the screen before you bullseye the setting you want.

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While on quirks, the transmission drive selector is not so intuitive – it’s odd – although no doubt once familiar it’ll be easy to use.

The RX’s second row is decent for foot, leg and headroom and, as you’d expect, there are rear HVAC outlets.

The cargo area holds 612 litres, or up to 1678 litres with the second-row seats folded.

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What is it like to drive?

Our time in the RX started in the range-topping RX 500h that Lexus says will account for a quarter of sales, and bills as the most powerful and driver-focused RX yet.

It is certainly the most powerful, with 273kW from a petrol-electric powertrain which, as a turbocharged parallel hybrid system, represents a pair of Lexus hybrid firsts.

That’s 43kW more than the outgoing RX flagship, the 450h, and with a claimed 6.2-second 0-100km/h time, it’s substantially quicker than its circa-8.0sec predecessor.

EV-like immediate, electric shove on a light throttle stands out while driving the 500h in Normal mode. In this kind of driving, it’s quiet, refined and smooths small bumps well.

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Flicking through the modes, Eco brings a deliberately dulled response to the accelerator and Sport makes the 500h feel decidedly muscular.

The big turbo-petrol four is rarely heard in most driving but when load and throttle openings are increased, the induction sound – with input from an Active Sound Control system – has notes of synthesised six, rather than four.

Floored from a standstill, the 500h’s front tyres work on the cusp of slip as the big wagon squats and powers down the road with authority, and rapid, decisive shifts through the six-speed auto.

The rear electric motor provides drive to the back wheels and it works pretty seamlessly.

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As the mountain roads northeast of Melbourne tighten, the slightly busier adaptively damped ride in Sport mode is worth the trade-off because it noticeably enhances crispness and control.

The extra steering beef from an already well-connected system is welcome, too.

With the flagship’s standard dynamic rear steering adding up to four degrees of input, the 500h rotates around ultra-tight turns more keenly than you might expect from a big, heavy, long-wheelbase SUV.

The transmission does a fine job of downshifts, which leaves the shift paddles as a nice-to-have but not really necessary.

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And the brakes are reassuringly strong and reasonably easy to modulate.

Is the RX 500h the world’s finest driver-focused luxury SUV? No, but it’s not supposed to be.

More importantly, if utter dependability and fine customer service are non-negotiables, and so you find yourself in the Lexus showroom, then the RX 500h’s capabilities should have your family SUV dynamic aspirations comfortably covered.

Hopping from the 500h to the RX 350h – ours was front-wheel drive – brings a more relaxed pace. But it’s worth pointing out that even this, the least-quick RX, is about on par with the outgoing flagship 450h, with a claimed 8.1sec 0-100km/h sprint.

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Lexus says this is the volume variant, with a roughly 50 per cent share of initial orders.

With a CVT here, rather than the conventional autos found in the two variants above, it’s super smooth and driveable most of the time, but flares and gets noisier when asked to deliver more performance.

Happily, the crisply connected steering translates into the base model, as does the generally tidy chassis composure and balance.

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2023 Lexus RX 350 F-Sport

Surprisingly, though, the ride isn’t quite as polished here, without adaptive dampers, despite the switch from 235/50R21s to chubbier 235/60R19s; there’s a light jiggle even on visibly smooth roads, a bit like when the 500h is in Sport mode.

The non-hybrid RX 350 is the more conventional package, then, and with a smart eight-speed auto (and variable torque split all-wheel drive) it’s a bit more satisfying from a powertrain point of view, while continuing the new RX’s well-sorted steering and chassis.

Its turbo 2.4, without any electric assistance, can seem a fraction coarse. Maybe it works a bit harder without motor torque to cover the step-off, as it does in the hybrid. Either way, it’s no deal-breaker.

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2023 Lexus RX 350h F-Sport

How is it on fuel?

Our launch drives of each of the 2023 Lexus RX variants didn’t allow for tested fuel figures, which we’ll cover come comparo time.

What stands out is the RX 350h should be very good on fuel, especially in front-drive form.

Based on ADR combined cycle figures, the 350h uses 5.0L/100km as a front-drive and 5.4L/100km as an all-wheel drive.

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The RX 500h should also be good given the performance, with an ADR combined cycle figure of 6.5L/100km.

The RX 350 by comparison, looks less good, particularly when you focus on the 11.5L/100km urban consumption figure.

Here are the full figures:

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How safe is it?

ANCAP has not published a safety rating for the 2023 Lexus RX but we’d be surprised if it didn’t earn five stars like its predecessor.

The Lexus RX range features many Lexus Safety Sense + active safety features.

Among them are a pre-collision system with intersection collision avoidance, emergency steering assist and low-speed acceleration suppression, blind-spot monitoring, and a driver attention monitor.

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There are also lane departure alert, lane tracing assist, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, adaptive cruise control and parking support brake systems.

F Sport variants build on the standard safety with a panoramic view monitor and adaptive high-beam headlights.

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Warranty and running costs

The RX is covered by the Lexus brand’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Five years of capped-price servicing is also part of the deal, with services at 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) and the price set at $695.

Lexus also offers a complimentary service loan car which will save customers hassle and, probably, money. The brand also offers a pick-up service.

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The Encore owner benefits program runs for three years and provides 24-hour roadside assistance among the perks.

Every Lexus RX variant will run on 95 octane unleaded, which saves the costs of filling up with 98.

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VERDICT

The 2023 Lexus RX is almost exactly the sort of next-gen model a customer could hope for.

Prices have risen but upgraded hybrid powertrain technology means performance and efficiency have taken a sizable step up.

By doubling down on the potentially polarising style of the outgoing car, Lexus has somehow come up with a more resolved take on the design.

The new ‘spindle body’ works better than the spindle grille, and we particularly like the rear treatment, which applies the Lexus wordmark rather than a badge.

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Satisfying steering and capable dynamics come courtesy of the new GA-K platform and, provided you’re on adaptive suspension, decent ride and a switchable ride/handling compromise.

As ever in a Lexus, the cabin is a nice, high-quality place to be, now brought up to date with the latest infotainment.

The 350h is superbly economical, based on ADR figures. From an enthusiast’s point of view, the only letdown is the CVT, especially given the excellent autos in the other variants.

Sealing the range’s appeal is the new 500h F Sport Performance which, although pricey, is easily the best-driving RX yet.

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Frequently asked questions