The Lexus RX gets a facelift

For the first time, the Lexus RX will also be available in a plug-in hybrid version.

With over 3.5 million units sold since its launch in 1998, the RX is one of the pillars of the Lexus lineup. The refresh of this model is therefore an important event for the premium brand of Toyota.

A more consensual style

The new RX adopts the large trapezoidal grille, a central element of Lexus’s aesthetic identity. Compared to the previous generation, the lines soften and become slightly more conventional. The bulge between the two headlights still shows that Lexus likes to experiment with style. At the rear, the lights are connected by a light strip. A black finish visually separates the roof from the rest of the body.

Thanks to the extension of the wheelbase by 60 mm, the silhouette appears more balanced. Like its predecessor, the new RX measures 4.89 meters long. It is 10 mm lower in height and 25 mm wider.

Inside, a 14-inch touchscreen sits above the central console. Another screen on the left replaces the traditional analog gauges. The multimedia system can respond to voice commands. A customizable ambient lighting system offers 64 colors and 14 themes.

Of course very well equipped, the standard features include numerous driving aids. Lexus also offers a digital rearview mirror, which displays images captured by the rear camera.

Simple or plug-in hybrid

The new RX is based on an extended version of the GA-K platform. Powered exclusively by hybrid systems, it is available in 450h+ and 500h versions. The 500h features a turbocharged petrol engine, a first for Lexus, which has never offered a turbocharged hybrid engine before.

The RX 500h has a straightforward hybrid system, which operates with a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine. The combined output is 371 hp, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6 seconds. CO2 emissions range between 182 and 189 g/km, incurring a significant tax penalty (minimum €8,254).

The RX 450h is equipped with a rechargeable hybrid system developed around a 2.5-liter engine. Its combined power peaks at 306 hp. Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h takes an additional second. The 18.1 kWh battery provides an electric range of about 65 km. When the battery is depleted, the RX 450h reverts to a standard hybrid. With CO2 emissions oscillating between 24 and 26 g/km, the 450h does not face any tax penalties.

Lexus has not yet announced the prices for the new RX. Presumably, the most affordable version will start at nearly €90,000.

Read also: New RZ: the first truly ambitious Lexus electric?