Upmarket SUV follows the smaller NX in being reborn with the option of plug-in hybrid power On sale Now Price from £59,950
Lawrence Cheung lawrence.cheung@haymarket.com
BEING AHEAD OF your time can be tough. If you launch a revolutionary product before the majority of buyers are ready for it, it’s likely to be a flop. As a hybrid, the original Lexus RX was undoubtedly a pioneer among luxury SUVs, but luckily it found plenty of acceptance, despite having some notable shortcomings.
This brand new model promises to be more spacious and better to drive than its predecessor. There’s now a choice of two regular hybrids (the 350h and 500h) and an all-new 450h+ plug-in hybrid (PHEV), all of which combine a petrol engine with an electric motor to drive the front wheels, with an additional electric motor driving the rear axle to make them four-wheel drive.
The entry-level 2.5-litre 350h has a combined power output of 247bhp, while the turbocharged 2.4-litre 500h is the quickest and most powerful (366bhp), sprinting to 62mph in 6.2sec. The 450h+ sits between the two, with a brawnier 304bhp output from essentially the same 2.5-litre engine as the 350h.
Although it’s not as rapid as the rival BMW X5 xDrive50e and Range Rover Sport P440e, the 450h+ is sprightly enough. While the engine chips in when needed, the electric motors are strong enough to eagerly pick up the pace and do much of the leg work in everyday driving.
The 450h+ can officially cover up to 43 miles on electric power from a full battery, closely matching the Volvo XC90 T8 but trailing the X5 (67 miles) and Range Rover Sport (70). However, while rivals will run only on the petrol engine when the battery is depleted, the RX can maintain enough juice in the battery for the electric motors to keep helping out in short bursts, to the benefit of fuel economy.
High-spec F Sport and Takumi models come with adaptive suspension, which can be stiffened or softened on demand. On the conventional suspension fitted to other versions, the ride is firm yet comfortable, with only minor fidgeting over sharp-edged bumps. The air-sprung Range Rover Sport is more cosseting, though.
On winding roads, the RX has much better body control than before. It’s still not as tightly composed or as grippy as the X5, but the steering responds accurately and is nicely weighted. The sportier 500h adds four-wheel steering to further improve agility.
On the motorway, the RX is a peaceful cruiser, with hardly any
