Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance 2026 Review

At $131,100 plus on-road costs, the 2026 Lexus RX 500h is the flagship of the Japanese premium brand’s five-seat large SUV line-up.

A new badge for the fifth generation introduced in 2023, the 500h F Performance is a turbo-petrol dual-motor ‘Direct4’ all-wheel drive hybrid that’s more expensive than any RX that’s gone before it.

Outputting a combined 273kW/550Nm, it’s also the most powerful RX to be offered in Australia, with the outputs being indicative of its sporting intent.

Standard RX 500h exterior equipment that helps it stand out from other RX models includes 21-inch matte black alloy wheels paired with Michelin rubber, F Sport front and rear bumpers and piano black side mouldings.

It shares a detuned version of the sometimes-confronting Spindle grille called the Spindle body with lesser grades, as well as black roof rails, a panoramic sunroof, rear privacy glass, a rear spoiler, LED light bar and a power tailgate.

Inside, it has nothing apart from some badging to separate it from other RX variants.

Headline equipment includes tri-zone climate control, heated and ventilated eight-way power adjustable leather-accented sports front seats, multi-coloured ambient lighting, aluminium pedals and a power adjustable F Sport steering wheel. Happily, a space saver spare tyre can be found in the boot.

A 14-inch digital touchscreen integrates into the dash, with a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display sitting in front of the driver. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is wireless smartphone charging.

However, it misses out on a couple of items RX Sports Luxury models pick up, including 10-way powered front seats with memory function.

Safety gear includes the usual suite of driver assists, eight airbags and a five-star ANCAP rating based on 2022 protocols.

All RX models come with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. RX ownership also includes three years complimentary membership of the Lexus Encore benefits program and roadside assistance.

Service intervals are set at 12 months/15,000km. The cost of each scheduled service for the first five years is $695.

The best thing about the 2026 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance is just how welcoming it is as a place to spend some time.

Sure, there’s meant to be some sporting intent here, most obvious in the sculpted exterior styling and deeply bolstered sports seats inside.

But a Lexus is first and foremost about comfort and quietness, and that’s what the RX 500h delivers.

Yes, you can get some engine noise going if you really hammer the throttle, and there’s some artificial piped audio as well.

The engine certainly delivers plenty of performance without being a rocket. The e-motors fill in any tip-in throttle (ICE) hesitation with instant response.

But the overall vibe is relaxed and isolated. It’s the little things like the soft bolstering of armrests in the doors and the way the cupholders can adjust their depth.

Even when set to its most aggressive mode, the driver-adaptable dampers still deliver a smooth and supportive ride.

Those big Michelins probably add as much sports flavour as any aspect of the car. Bigger brakes than other RX models help haul it all down to a stop too. Basically, F Sport Performance is not as fierce as the name might suggest.

In the back seat there is plenty of space and features to make it a soothing experience – we’re talking about the outboard passengers here, as the middle rear seat is very much an afterthought.

In the boot, there is plenty of space, starting at 612 litres with all seats up and a generous 1678 litres when the second row is power-folded.

Storage for smaller items is generous throughout the cabin: large door bins front and rear, two large bins in the centre console and map pockets in row two. Six USB ports are spread through the cabin.

The driver is aided by a shortcut in the touchscreen that allows a quick change of drive modes and the termination of intrusive driver aids. Happily, they weren’t a big issue.

As mentioned already, the F Sport Performance part of the RX 500h’s name is a bit misleading.

You don’t get hardcore excitement from the powertrain or the new-generation TNGA-K chassis.

The former just doesn’t accelerate hard enough or feel lively enough for that. The latter never escapes from the correct impression this is a large and quite heavy (2160kg) vehicle.

That’s despite rear-wheel steering that makes the car feel nimbler at low speed, something aided by light steering in Comfort mode.

Sport mode adds weight but nothing in the way of a clearer feel from the wheels.

These are not make-or-break criticisms, just trying to give you an accurate picture of what you’re buying – not an AMG rival, that’s for sure.

Potentially more distressing when it comes to the powertrain is the 10.6L/100km fuel consumption rate we recorded on test. This is substantially more than the 6.5L/100km ADR claim and emphasises the fact the RX isn’t that electric-dependant.

It only comes with an old-style NiMH (nickel metal hydride) battery in a time when the auto world has long shifted to lithium-ion and beyond.

Really, if you want an electrified experience in your RX, then go for the 450h+ plug-in hybrid, with its much bigger lithium-ion battery and its real-world ability to run on electricity alone for up to 80km (approx).

While the presentation, quality and operation of the interior is generally high, there are some niggling faults that can’t be let go without comment.

The gear tab is a notchy device that requires a circuitous route between different gear selection. The six-speed transmission can only be changed manually via plasticky paddles on the steering wheel.

Adjustment of the instrument cluster fields and head-up display is also something of a challenge, operated via buttons on the steering wheel – it’s complex and distracting.

The instrument cluster can also be partially obscured by the housing for the driver monitoring camera on top of the steering column.

The presentation of the infotainment touchscreen is also somewhat lacking without a homepage. At least there’s a volume button and some permanent air-con touch points.

What percentage of Lexus buyers want a real sports demon? A very small fraction I reckon.

So thinking that way, the 2026 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance actually walks a fine line very well.

It looks pretty mean and purposeful yet still manages to deliver a rounded and comfortable Lexus driving and riding experience.

By the rarefied pricing air of the segment, it’s also one of the better value mid-sized luxury SUVs going around.

Its primary issue could be that other RX models deliver much the same experience, but do it more affordably.

2026 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance at a glance:
Price: $131,100 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol-electric
Output: 202kW/460Nm (electric motors: 64kW/292Nm and 75.9kW/168.5Nm)
Combined output: 273kW/550Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km (ADR)
CO2: 148g/km (ADR)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)

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