Lexus RX 2013 Review

The four-cylinder RX270 is the only two/front-wheel drive model in the revised RX range, while the F Sport treatment is applied to only the RX350 petrol V6 and RX450h hybrid models. The Prestige specification in the previous RX range has been replaced by the Luxury model, meaning there are now three specifications for the RX350 and RX450h vehicles. These are now offered as Luxury, F Sport and Sports Luxury variants, while the new RX270 is only offered in a single specification.

With no true compact SUV in its range of vehicles, the RX270 gives Lexus a price point at which to compete with the new competitors and it comes with many standard features that are costly options on some of those competitor vehicles. The unique F Sport models add a sporty flair also previously missing from the RX range, tying in well with the stiffer chassis and revised suspension of the updated models. These additions and price reductions across the model line-up should see the RX firmly back in the sights of buyers.

At $82,900, the RX450h Luxury price represents a $6500 decrease over the outgoing RX450h Prestige. Some of this decrease has come thanks to the large uptake of Lexus and Toyota’s hybrid drive systems worldwide. The RX450h F Sport costs $89,900, while the range-topper is the RX450h Sports Luxury at $100,900, a price drop of almost $8000.

While it is the entry-level model, the RX270 is by no means a stripped out version. Standard equipment includes satellite-navigation with traffic alert, reversing camera with guide assist, power tailgate, a parcel-shelf blind, eight-way power adjustable front seats, leather-trimmed seats, climate-control, keyless entry and start, Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming, 12-speaker digital audio with voice command, steering wheel easy access, Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) stability and traction control, 10 airbags, privacy glass, daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels and metallic paint.
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The engine in the RX270 is backed by a six-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels only. There is no AWD option with the four-cylinder RX270 - for that you need to step up to the RX350 or 450h.

Combined cycle fuel consumption for the RX270 is quoted at 9.7L/100km, making it more economical than the V6 AWD RX350 at 10.8L/100km but falling short of the hybrid AWD RX450h, which achieves 6.3L/100km combined. CO2 emissions are 226g/km for the RX270; 254g/km for RX350 and 149g/km for the clean RX450h.

With its four-cylinder engine and lack of all-wheel-drive hardware the RX270 sheds 135kg over the RX350, helping to reduce its consumption figure as well as its claimed zero to 100km/h sprint time, which is 11 seconds. The hybrid RX is the 0-100km/h king of the three engine variants with 7.8 seconds just pipping the RX350’s eight-second time.

All new RX models benefit from a stiffer body structure thanks to additional spot welds placed in the rear wheel housings and C-pillars. Each model has a specific suspension calibration with the RX270 having a softer tune than the 350 and 450h models and the 450h tuned to accommodate its heavier mass.

First seen at the Geneva Motor Show back in March, the new RX’s exterior changes are headed by the spindle grille and bumper and new headlights incorporating daytime running lights. The specific model variants are differentiated by tweaks to the front-end design, with the top-spec Sports Luxury models featuring LED low beam headlights with active cornering lamps. New red-coloured tail-light assemblies distinguish the revised rear styling.

Aside from the RX270, the powertrains and drivelines in the RX range continue as before. The RX350 features a 204kW/346Nm 3.5L DOHC V6 engine backed by a six-speed automatic transmission and on-demand all-wheel-drive, while the RX350 F Sport adds paddle shifters for manual control of the transmission.

The RX450h remains the only petrol-electric hybrid SUV available in Australia. It uses an efficient Atkinson-cycle 3.5-litre petrol V6 that makes 183kW and 317Nm, combined with a pair of 650-volt AC electric motors for a total 220kW output.

One motor is at the front of the vehicle with the petrol engine, where it enhances drive to the front wheels while also providing generator and starter motor functions; the other motor is at the back, where it powers the rear axle as required by demand or traction. Drive goes to the wheels through a combination of planetary gear sets and a CVT with six preset gear ratios available via the floor-mounted gear shifter.

The Hybrid System Indicator in the gauge binnacle shows the driver the real-time status of the hybrid drive system. In the new model it has been made larger and has been revised to provide more detail about the system’s operation.

More photos of the new Lexus RX range

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In the RX350 and 450h vehicles, the F Sport specification sits between the Luxury and Sports Luxury variants. Externally, the deeper F Sport front bumper is the most obvious addition. It contains a mesh insert in the new ‘Spindle’ corporate grille, while F Sport badges are fitted to the front guards. Shadow-chrome 19-inch alloy wheels complete the look outside, while inside black leather-accented seats and F Sport badges set the models apart. RX350 F Sport vehicles also get paddle-type transmission gear shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

The F Sport front bumper and grille are also available on Luxury and Sports Luxury models as part of an ‘Appearance’ package, while the F Sport suspension package is enhanced with the addition of performance dampening struts, as seen previously on the CT200h F Sport vehicles launched around this time last year.

The RX range is available in 10 exterior colours, including four new colours, while inside there is a choice of ivory, black, tan or light grey trim.
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Lexus sold 2534 RXs in 2010 to finish third in the luxury SUV sales race behind the X5 and Mercedes Benz M-Class with 10.4 per cent of the market. In 2011 that dropped to 1758 sales and 5.9 per cent of the segment – placing the RX eighth behind many of the new players named above. To the end of May 2012 the RX has tallied 638 sales to again trail behind those same vehicles that are stealing the lion's share of the restructured SUV classification.

Considerable work has gone in to the chassis, steering and suspension tune for what is essentially a mid-life model upgrade and the five-door Lexus crossover is now a far more interesting drive than the model it replaces.

The engineers have tightened up the body by reinforcing the firewall area behind the dashboard and adding 12 extra spot welds around the rear wheel-arches and C-pillars, while other welds within the body were repositioned. These modifications have stiffened the body to reduce flex, improving handling dynamics considerably.

The RX’s electric power steering also came in for a rethink, with the level of assistance changed to give more feel and feedback for the driver, while the spring and shock absorber calibrations have been revised and tailored to each of the three powertrains now offered within the range.

These changes alone have been enough to transform the character of the RX from a sedate tourer that was inclined to wallow and understeer to something more sporting and enticing for enthusiastic drivers. Taking this a step further is the F Sport package on RX350 and 450h variants for drivers wanting even more.

While the wholesale chassis changes bring vast improvements across the entire seven-model RX range, the RX270 also impresses on a number of fronts - from its level of standard equipment (considering it is the lowest priced model in the range) to the way it drives.

Images from the hard-drive sat-nav and reverse camera are displayed on the in-dash screen and accessed using a second-generation Lexus Remote Touch controller. This mouse-like device lies on the centre console and easily allows the driver or passenger to scroll through and select various functions from the menu list, which is now done by pressing on the controller itself rather than a separate button. The screen also displays the operation of the hybrid drive system on the RX450h.

The steering wheel on all RX models is a new leather-trimmed three-spoke unit that was inspired by the one fitted to the LFA sportscar. Its thick, soft grips add to the sportier feel of the vehicle, giving the driver a closer link to it, and the wheel also features controls for the driver information display menu, audio/telephone system and, on the RX450h, the sports/eco/EV modes.

As you might expect, the 138kW/252Nm 2.7-litre four-cylinder engine is no performance powerhouse, but it is by no means underdone either. It sings enthusiastically to the upper reaches of its rev range, where it delivers its best performance with a rorty and not unpleasant note and none of the harshness that inline fours can be known for. Twin counter-rotating balance shafts ensure smooth operation of the dual VVTi engine and it hums along quietly at highway and general commuting speeds.

If there is any fault in the RX270 engine it would be the lack of midrange performance, but that is to be expected of such an engine in a 1900kg SUV. It isn’t a major shortcoming but does mean choosing your moments carefully when overtaking on the highway.

The 270’s six-speed automatic gives swift and precise shifts under full throttle applications and smooth changes when cruising. Manual selection of gears is via the console-mounted shifter that sits higher than the traditional floor location for easy manipulation.

Lexus has altered the calibration of the electronic stability control on all variants via the VDIM system, which also takes care of traction control. It’s far less intrusive than it used to be, making it far less of the annoying nanny it was on the previous model. In fact, it didn’t even make itself known during a short dirt-road driving stint in the 2WD RX270, nor when driving the 350 or 450h on tarmac roads.

Even though the hybrid is the quickest to 100km/h on paper, the RX350 feels like the performance pick of the RX trio. The tauter dynamics of the uprated chassis allows the driver to make the most of the punchy 3.5-liter V6 and sharp-shifting six-speed auto transmission.

The RX350 Sport Luxury we drove displayed cornering prowess and stability the previous model could only dream about - without sacrificing ride quality or comfort. While still falling short of the exceptional dynamics of the BMW X5, the RX350 presents very little bodyroll and isn’t bothered by mid-corner road irregularities. It’s a refined and competent grand tourer in the true sense of the term.

On the other hand, the RX450h F Sport we sampled wasn’t as composed on the less-than-ideal country roads. The suspension really feels the extra 245kg of the hybrid drive system that includes two electric motors - one at the front and one at the back - and a battery pack under the rear seat. The 19-inch alloy wheels were more easily upset by mid-corner bumps and holes, inducing bump steer that wasn’t evident on the RX270, which rides on 18-inch rubber and its own suspension calibration.

How much of this was the result of the F Sport suspension with its Performance Damper strut braces and more sporting spring and shock calibration is unclear as we didn’t have the chance to drive F Sport and non-F Sport models with the same powertrain. The handling and stability of the RX350 Sports Luxury was sufficient to suggest that it has the dynamics required for swift touring, but it would have been interesting to drive an F Sport-equipped 350 as well.

With the petrol engine and electric motors operating in tandem under full throttle the acceleration of the 450h is strong but the performance is masked by the CVT transmission, which doesn’t deliver the same sense of urgency a conventional automatic gearbox does.

The 450h’s drive system does, however, offer distinct driving modes depending on requirements. In ‘sport’ mode, throttle sensitivity is increased for improved response and a sharper power steering assistance curve delivers better steering feel. In ‘eco’ mode the throttle and steering are noticeably slower and less responsive to driver inputs, while in ‘EV’ mode the vehicle operates solely on electric power for a range of up to 2km. This is said to be useful for saving fuel in stop/start traffic or to run silently in carparks or home garages.

There is no RX270 F Sport model offered at present, but a Lexus representative said it wasn’t out of the question for future introduction to the range depending on demand.

Lexus executives at the launch said they expect the RX350 to be the volume-selling model of the range and, for us, the mid-range RX was the most impressive to drive of the three models.

However, the new RX270’s combination of performance and value could well prove surprisingly popular, particularly as it can be optioned with the Appearance package that adds the exterior styling of the F Sport models.

More photos of the new Lexus RX range

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