Lexus RX 2020 Review

The Chinese zodiac calendar might decree 2019 as year of the pig, but for new car buyers in Australia, it might well be remembered as year of the large luxury SUV.

Mercedes-Benz has updated the GLE, BMW the X5 and Volkswagen the Touareg, while elsewhere, Audi is readying a refreshed Q7 that is destined for showrooms early 2020 and follows in the wheel tracks of the all-new Q8. There’s been a lot of movement within the space of 12 months.

In the middle of all that is another updated luxury contender in the Lexus RX SUV. Building on earlier RX offerings that have been on sale in Australia since 2003, the newcomer is available in both five-seat and seven-seat configurations along with a choice of three petrol drivetrains; one of them a hybrid.

Headlining changes is the addition of new technology and what the car-maker claims are 10 underbody revisions designed to improve on-road performance. It is differentiated visually via sleeker headlights, resdesigned front and rear bumpers, reworked spindle grille and new tail lights.

Of the tech updates, it’s a new 12.3-inch centre screen that will be most welcomed by long-time RX proponents. Not only is it bigger than the previous 8.0-inch unit, but it has been brought forward in the cabin and added touch capability for the first time, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The dinky toggle-style touchpad remains and the basic infotainment interface is antiquated in the face of contemporary German rivals (read: the Volkswagen Touareg’s huge 15-inch centre screen), but accessibility is improved nonetheless.

Elsewhere, cabin functionality is improved with the addition of four new USB ports, a powered tailgate with kick function is standard and there are steering wheel mounted paddle shifters standard.

Despite the changes, the price of entry for the RX range has fallen $1600 to $71,920 (plus on-road costs), while the remaining 12 variants have increased in price between $730 and $1200. Seven-seat variants start at $85,000 (plus on-road costs).

Read our pricing story for the full rundown on specification and equipment levels, but essentially all grades come equipped with 18-inch wheels, wireless phone charging, Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, sat-nav, digital radio, 12-speaker sound system, electric front seats with heating and cooling functions, and automatic headlights.

The 2020 RX safety suite is extensive, incorporating 10 airbags and the latest safety acronyms including automated emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian protection and daytime cyclist detection, lane tracing, lane departure warning, rear-cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring.

The RX range is backed by a four-year/100,000km warranty, which is marginally better than luxury rivals but less generous than mainstream marques including its Toyota parent.

According to the car-maker, servicing for the RX will amount to $1710 and $2110 for the first years of ownership (across 12-month/15,000km intervals).

Nicer drive

The recipient of ’10 engineering updates’, according to Lexus, the RX boasts extra body adhesive, increased weld points, dynamic front dampers, tweaked hub bearings, thicker rear stabiliser bar, active cornering assist and a revised electronic power steering tune.

The real-world translation is more polished on-road experience that brings greater agility without a huge compromise in comfort.

In truth ,the RX simply can’t match the finesse and dynamic prowess of air-sprung European rivals including the new Touareg – and by the same token, its suspension’s ability to cope with pockmarked roads is inferior.

Instead, broken bitumen is relayed through the cabin with a slight edginess and the RX’s steering, brake and chassis tuning lack the delicate, intimate feel and feedback of German contemporaries.

Where the RX argument begins to stack up is the way in which it is put together. The cabin quality is admirable, with unmistakably aligned panels and no presence of squeaks or rattles. Equally, road noise and wind noise are well insulated and, irrespective of five-seat or seven-seat configuration, the RX feels planted on the road.

As before, boot space starts 453 litres, which is smaller than some rivals but rises to 924 litres with the split-fold seats down.

Space in the front row is strong, aided by adequate incidental storage and bottle-friendly door pockets. The rear seat offers decent leg and shoulder proportions, though head room is impeded in the outboard seats by a tapered ceiling.

In seven seat form, room in the rear bleachers is reserved to short journeys for adults, with limited knee, head and shoulder room.

The other point of difference is the RX450h’s hybrid drivetrain, which is unique for this price point. The hybrid works well, with rich and seamless torque from the V6 combining with quiet progress from the electric motor during slow speeds and gentle throttle applications.

If anything, the matching CVT automatic is prone to slurring and the engine is quite audible when it wakes to life between electric and combined power – which is quite frequent given the 450h’s kerb mass of 2.2. tonnes. But, all things considered, the 450h is a convincing proposition.

The biggest benefit comes in terms of real-word efficiency; we achieved 7.0L/100km in a mix of conditions – slightly above the claim. And while the hybrid’s regenerative brakes still don’t feel as consistent as its conventional counterpart.

Elsewhere, the RX 350L’s V6/auto combination delivers silky-smooth acceleration even if maximum torque arrives at a relatively high 4600rpm, while the entry RX300 gets the job done, but its smaller capacity requires more revs and less refinement.

As with other Lexus models, the RX brings a sense of assurance and continuity to a luxury market that is teeming with flashy, tech-laden rivals.

Slightly more generous ownership credentials and sharp pricing continue to bolster the RX’s prospects to pragmatic types. The latest changes build on what was already a strong, albeit less-hyped offering within the luxury SUV ranks.

Price: $71,920-$111,070 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol,  3.5-litre V6 petrol, 3.5-litre V6 petrol-electric hybrid
Output: 175kW/350Nm, 221kW/370Nm, 230kW/335Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, Eight-speed automatic, CVT
Fuel: 8.1L/100km, 9.6-10.2L/100km, 5.7-6.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 189g/km, 223-234g/km, 131-137g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2015 Year)