Lexus RX 450h 2020 Review
Sharpened for 2020, Lexus’ biggest petrol-electric hybrid SUV is significantly improved. Just don’t mention styling or the infotainment system…What is the Lexus RX 450h Luxury all about?
Is it really five years since this generation of Lexus RX 450h was launched in the coffee and microbrewery capital of the USA: Portland, Oregon?
My timeline says yes. And oh, how the world and Portland have changed – neither for the better.
The Lexus RX 450h, on the other hand, has improved. Although let’s get two things out of the way first – I’m still no fan of the styling (especially that maw up front), and the infotainment system has no place in a current vehicle. Its base functionality is okay; its interface with real live human beings is abysmal.
Moving on…
In late 2019, Lexus made-over the RX range and the improvements have been worthwhile. Styling was tweaked but the more substantive and important changes were under the skin.
Some were hardware. Lexus claims 10 underbody revisions designed to improve ride and handling. In the case of the Lexus RX 450h, however, others were the result of applying learnings from building and refining more petrol-electric hybrids than any other luxury brand on the planet.
The 2020 Lexus RX 450h still pairs a 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine and Lexus’ proven hybrid hardware (including a much maligned CVT transmission) for a combined output of 230kW/335Nm. The torque in particular feels like more.
But, most importantly, in its latest version, the integration of the hybrid powertrain is more polished and refined and, as we found, real-world economy is improved.
The overall impression is that of a more cohesive powertrain execution that I think has the potential now to convince more hybrid sceptics.
How much does the Lexus RX 450h Luxury cost?
The 2020 Lexus RX 450h Luxury we tested is the entry level of the Lexus hybrid SUV flagship and is priced from $92,388 plus on-road costs.
Our tester had just two options fitted: a $4500 Enhancement Pack (with panoramic moonroof, head-up display and smart key card) and $1500 for premium paint.
The top of the three-variant RX 450h range is the RX 450h Sports Luxury which lacks for little and is priced at around $111K.
Some buyers see an attraction in the relative simplicity of Lexus’ offer when compared to the myriad options, enhancement packs, etc with which the Japanese luxury marque’s Euro competitors bombard buyers.
Others may lament the relative lack of customising choice Lexus offers. For those, Lexus recently pioneered a ‘Crafted’ series of its RX and NX SUVs with a little more bling.
Why should I buy the Lexus RX 450h Luxury?
A conventional two-row, five-seat large SUV, the Lexus RX 450h is very well equipped and beautifully finished at Luxury grade.
All the normal creature comforts are in place, the front seats are excellent and the materials used for cabin touchpoints are impressive. Our pricing and specification coverage delivers more detail. Suffice to say, you’ll want for little – there’s even that most 2020 of additions: wireless phone charging.
The new 12.3-inch centre screen is the most obvious change inside the RX 450h and dominates the centre stack. It’s a shame Lexus didn’t move to a new human machine interface – the haptic touchpad, etc is terrible and the touch-screen is a stretch – literally.
Overall, I find the system in the RX (and other Lexus models) next to impossible to use without significant distraction.
From the driver’s seat you will, however, appreciate the head-up display. Its digital speedo is a must around town as it’s easy to be 10km over the limit such is the refinement of the hybrid driveline.
Lexus’ standard adaptive cruise control also seems better behaved in this latest iteration, although it can still not be set below 40km/h (think: school zones).
The 2020 RX range’s standard safety suite is extensive, incorporating 10 airbags, autonomous 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 – a mark that most brands have now moved past, including its Toyota parent.
Who will the Lexus RX 450h Luxury appeal to?
Warranty periods aside, customer service is one thing that keeps Lexus buyers coming back. The brand has consistently topped quality surveys and is in the midst of rolling out an enhanced ownership program that includes everything from COVID-safe vehicle cleaning and servicing, right the way through to exclusive experiences.
That’s a tick straight away in the 2020 Lexus RX 450h’s box for consumers who are so disposed. The fact that the brand and its SUVs have an almost blemish-free reliability reputation doesn’t hurt either.
In the case of the RX 450h, we think it’s also ‘right sized’ for many buyers. There’s great space for five and luggage, but overall the footprint isn’t so large that it’s hard to manage around town.
Sight lines are good and control weightings are on the light side which some buyers and drivers prefer. It is, frankly, just easy to live with and drive.
The other key point of difference is the RX 450h’s hybrid drivetrain which is unique for both its price point and size segment.
Back at the RX 450h’s 2015 launch I was none too complimentary about the sum total of the hybrid’s parts but in this latest iteration the experience is very different.
Some consumers may still grate at the appliance-like nature of the transmission (it functions like a scooter and holds the engine at its most efficient rpms), but many, many more will just appreciate the rich, seamless and very hushed delivery of the combination of the V6 and the electric motors.
The RX 450h is definitely not a sporting drive, but it is a relaxed and refined drive which is at its best around town or on constant highway cruises. In the former too, fuel economy can be remarkable – I registered better than 6.5L/100km on a COVID-lockdown-legal cross-Melbourne trip.
So, what do we think of the Lexus RX 450h Luxury?
Perhaps I’m finally growing up – not much chance thereof… Perhaps it’s the ever-so-slightly slower cadence COVID has forced upon us, but the 2020 Lexus RX 450h Luxury and I clicked this time around.
The chassis improvements have gifted the large Lexus SUV better steering and chassis manners. It rides better than before and while it may not absolutely match the very best in balancing pillowy ride, comfort and agility (Audi’s big SUVs and the new BMW X5 are very impressive in this regard), it is no longer the wayward wagon it once was.
The Lexus RX is still definitely not the choice for someone who is a keen driver, but then, few large SUVs are…
It is, however, a choice for someone who wants to be pampered and sees merit in the balance of green credentials and everyday practicality good hybrid vehicles offer.
How much does the Lexus RX 450h Luxury cost?
Price: $92,388 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.5-litre V6 petrol-electric hybrid
Output: 230kW/335Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 5.7-6.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 131-137g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2015)
Related: Lexus RX 350L Luxury 2020 Review (seven-seat version)
Related: Lexus RX v Range Rover Velar 2020 Comparison
Related: Lexus RX 2020 Launch Review
Related: 2020 Lexus RX pricing revealed
- Impressive performance, economy
- Improved ride and handling
- ‘Right sized’ for many buyers
- Unappealing exterior design
- Distracting infotainment system
- Four-year warranty behind rivals
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