The fourth generation of luxury, this is the editorial test of the Lexus RX 450h. It is a pioneer of the luxury hybrid SUV category, which the Japanese automaker has been producing since 1997.
The fourth generation we tested had a hybrid drive in combination with a six-cylinder gasoline engine, an automatic transmission and the highest level of Luxury equipment.
With its hybrid drive, the RX lets you know that its ideal territory will be an urban environment, where, thanks to a pair of electric motors, it is able to travel several kilometers purely on electric energy. But make no mistake, the RX feels very good even outside the city environment and the expression of its petrol V6 is very addictive.
The hybrid modification of the car is always equipped with a 4×4 drive, because each of the pair of electric motors serves the drive of one of the axles.
The Lexus RX 450h will appeal to you with its distinctive design, excellent workmanship and advanced technologies.
EXTERIOR
The current external appearance of Lexus models is carried in the spirit of originality, elegance and clearly legible dynamics, the RX model is of course no exception.
The dynamics of the entire car is most noticeable from the front, which is elaborated down to the smallest detail.
It is dominated by a huge front mask that goes in one piece to the lower part of the bumpers. Thanks to the mask, it is completely suppressed and greatly reduced. The mask also has chrome edging, which on the sides is significantly broken into the center of the car and optically directs you to the places where the car company's logo is located.
The front bumper is further cut, effectively interrupted in places in front of the front wheels, fog lights are located in these places, which, like the front mask, are accented with chrome edging.
The front LED headlights are also in a similar spirit, the light signature of their daytime lighting again evokes the tremendous dynamics of the front part of the car.
As part of the side part, it is worth mentioning the molding of the lower part of the door, which effectively rises in front of the rear wheel and thus optically increases the car's threshold. Furthermore, it is the glazing that continuously transitions into the rear window within the C-pillar, creating the impression of a floating roof.
The rear part then looks the calmest of the entire car, the horizontally oriented lamps are effectively wedge-shaped in their upper parts. The rear bumper is further enlivened by a pair of vertically oriented reflectors cut into the bumper.
The tested version was fitted with 20-inch wheels with an effective design underlining the overall concept of the car.
INTERIOR
The interior of the RX is carried on a wave of calm elegance, it is no longer as sharply dynamic as the exterior, rather it calms you down with its lightness, clear lines and good internal ergonomics.
The tested version had an interior in a combination of cream semi-aniline leather upholstery with dark brown Shimamoku wood paneling with a matte finish. The wooden paneling of the instrument panel is laser-processed by Yamaha, which specializes in the production of pianos.
The dashboard offers quite simple and harmonious shapes, dominated by the central infotainment display with a diagonal of 12.3 inches. Information about the audio system, air conditioning, the vehicle itself or navigation can be accessed on this display via the latest generation Remote Touch controller, which is located on the center panel.
It is a very sensitive controller and it will take you a while to get used to its operation.
The instrument panel in front of the driver has a classic speedometer and a force meter, then a tachometer when the vehicle is switched to sport mode. The on-board computer display is located between the alarm clocks, and the fuel level and engine temperature indicators are also located within the instrument panel.
The tested version was equipped with a heated, multi-function steering wheel with wooden trim.
The central part of the dashboard has classic air conditioning vents, between which are located an elegant clock, as well as controls for the audio system and air conditioning.
The premium Mark Levinson audio system with 15 speakers takes care of the brilliant sound in the car.
The massive center panel is equipped with an automatic transmission selector, a drive mode selector, the already mentioned Remote Touch controller, a place for wireless phone charging or a pair of cup holders.
The RX 450h was equipped with a HUD system, a projection display that projects basic car information onto the windshield.
The interior of the Lexus RX has always had sufficient space for the driver and passenger, and this is not the case with the tested fourth generation. The same applies to the space in the second row, the asymmetrically divided rear bench can be moved in a range of thirteen centimeters and the backrest can be positioned electrically. The backrests can also be electrically folded using the controller directly from the trunk.
The luggage compartment has also improved as part of the fourth generation, it currently offers 539 liters, after folding the rear seats, then 1612 liters.
ENGINE AND RIDE
The Lexus RX is offered in two engines, the base is a turbocharged gasoline two-liter four-cylinder with an output of 175 kW, which drives only the front axle, another option for this engine is the 4×4 drive.
The second option tested by us is a fully hybrid drive combining a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine with the Atkinson cycle and a pair of high-performance electric motors. When braking or decelerating, the kinetic energy is converted by both electric motors into electrical energy, which is stored in the accumulator for later use when driving in electric mode or during brisk acceleration. The hybrid battery is continuously recharged while driving (by recuperation or by the engine itself), so it does not require recharging from an external source. The RX 450h is capable of traveling several kilometers on electricity alone, up to a speed of 60 km/h.
The atmospheric six-cylinder together with the electric motors have a total output of 230 kW.
You will simply enjoy this hybrid device, I personally like how different the driving poles of the Lexus RX 450h are. On the one hand, we have the option of a purely electric drive, which can be used for a considerable amount of kilometers in urban traffic, and on the other hand, there is the driving and sound effect of the 3.5-liter gasoline V6.
The consumption depends a lot on the place where you will operate the Lexus. In an urban environment, you are able to save some kilometers as part of recuperation, which you then drive in purely electric mode. Our consumption during the editorial test was around 10 liters.
CONCLUSION
The Lexus RX 450h is a premium luxury SUV that will appeal to you with its original and dynamic exterior, and a contrastingly light and elegant interior.
The vehicle also has a sophisticated hybrid drive, which can be not only economical, but also fun.
The price of the version of the Lexus RX 450h AWD tested by us in Luxury equipment starts at CZK 2,260,000 incl. VAT.
The segment of premium SUVs is quite busy, and Lexus does not and will not have it easy within the German, Swedish or British competition. So what makes it stand out from the rest is its original and dynamic appearance, driving comfort and, last but not least, its hybrid technology.
