verdict
DESIGN | COMFORT | TECH | PERFORMANCE | SAFETY | FUEL ECONOMY | PRICE |
Few luxury SUVs have been as successful as the Lexus RX. This is partly because RX is his OG in the group, but partly because he knows Lexus won’t fix what isn’t broken. So while the 2023 RX is certainly brand new from scratch, it doesn’t deviate much from the same basic formula.
On the surface, the 2023 RX looks a lot like its predecessor. The basic form and function remain the same, but the styling, upon closer inspection, is sharper and more sophisticated. Comfort is still the name of the game inside, but dig deeper and you’ll notice significant changes in material quality, technology, and safety gear.
Vehicle ratings relate only to that segment, not to the new car market as a whole. For more information on how Motor1.com rates cars, click here.
| quick stats | 2023 Lexus RX 350h Luxury AWD |
| engine: | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid |
| output: | 246 hp / 233 lb-ft |
| efficiency: | 37 City / 34 Hybrid / 36 Combined |
| Trim base price: | $50,150 |
| Price tested: | $62,725 |
twenty two Photo
design
- Exterior color: Nori green
- Interior color: Noble Brown x Black
- Wheel size: 21 inch
Previous RX buyers will love the familiar aesthetic of the 2023 model year. The new pointed nose is the biggest change. Extra sheet metal on top helps reduce the once-challenging size of the spindle grille, and additional detailing on the front bumper gives his RX a more athletic look.
An ever-on-trend light bar lines the rear end and a new ‘LEXUS’ wordmark extends across the trunk lid in case you forget. The lower part of the bumper also features a smoother wave-like design that blends sleek metals and plastics into one cohesive look. This free Nori Green Pearl paint job is especially pretty too.
Interior is much better than before. A cleaner console design with a smaller shifter and fewer trackpads makes things feel cleaner, and Lexus designers ditched most of the old buttons for a larger touchscreen with fewer knobs.Noble Brown leather, real aluminum around the vents and steering wheel, and even suede-like textures on the door panels in the same shade as the seats.
comfortable
- Number of seats: 5
- Seat configuration: 2 / 3
- Cargo capacity: 31.4 / 56.3 cubic feet
The Lexus RX is king in its class when it comes to ride quality. Even with his 21-inch wheels on as part of the luxury trim, the RX shrugs on rough roads and barely bounces on speed his bumps. The Lexus RX is surprisingly smooth on the highway.
Lexus has some great seats and the RX is no exception. These handsome leather buckets fit the driver and front passenger like fancy leather gloves with great power adjustability, heating, cooling and aggressive lumbar support. However, he has one small complaint. Even this luxury trim doesn’t have a massage function.
| Inside dimension: | Headroom, front/rear: | Legroom, front/rear: | cargo volume |
| 2023 Lexus RX 350h | 39.5/38.6 inch | 41.0 / 37.4 inch | 29.6 / 46.2 cubic feet |
| 2022 BMW X5 | 40.8 / 38.7 inch | 39.8/37.4 inch | 33.9 / 72.3 cubic feet |
| 2022 Genesis GV80 2.5T | 40.2/38.4 inch | 41.6 / 38.7 inch | 34.9 / 84.0 cubic feet |
| 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 | 40.5/ 39.6 inches | 40.3/ 40.9 inches | 33.3 / 74.9 cubic feet |
The only reason the RX doesn’t score out of 10 here is because it doesn’t switch between battery and petrol very well. When the petrol engine kicks in from EV mode to hybrid power, the engine makes a raspy noise that can be heard clearly throughout the cabin.When you accelerate hard from a standstill, the RX Hybrid roars in protest.
Technology and connectivity
Center display: 14.0 inch touchscreen
Instrument cluster display: 7.0 inches
Wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: Yes
Rest in peace. Touchpad and hello, a much improved infotainment system. Like all new Lexus and Toyota products, the RX boasts the latest and most advanced software interface from any automaker. Reminiscent of the latest smartphones and tablets, RX’s display has a clean, modern design that’s easy to analyze.
A beautiful new 14.0-inch touchscreen is the standard display on most trims except RX Luxury models and base models, but the base model uses a 9.8-inch touchscreen. Both screens offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, but navigation, heads-up displays, a Mark Levinson stereo system and more are standard only on the upper trim. Premium models make do with slightly less equipment.
RX’s steering wheel operation is interesting. They’re traditional, but when you place your finger over them without pressing anything, the image is projected onto the HUD so you can see exactly where your finger is. You can easily see what you are clicking.
performance and handling
- Engine: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid
- Output: 246 hp / 233 lb-ft
- Transmission: eCVT
When it comes to performance accolades for the Lexus RX Hybrid, there isn’t much to write home about. His 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain provides barely enough power to accelerate the RX for any purpose. It is no exaggeration to say that it is slow to the limit.
The RX is by no means a sporty SUV, but the new GA-K architecture offers better torsional stiffness, making the RX feel more poised. There’s still some body roll, but it’s much less than before and turns in noticeably faster. If you want something sportier, the new RX 500h F Sport Performance might suit your speed.
safety
- Driving assistance level: SAE level 2 (hands-on)
- NHTSA Rating: Not Rated
- IIHS Rating: Top Safety Pick Plus
All 2023 RX come standard with the Lexus Safety System 3.0. These include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, road monitoring, lane keeping and lane centering, as well as a collision monitoring system that can detect whether an oncoming vehicle is about to merge. The only thing you have to pay for is Traffic Jam Assist, an additional $650.
Active safety integration works almost flawlessly. This system keeps his RX calm in heavy traffic. No lane ping-ponging or hard braking when the vehicle ahead comes to a stop. But there are a lot of safety warning binges and bonbons that are overly sensitive and become a bit annoying after a while.
fuel consumption
- Cities: 37
- Highway: 34
- Total: 36
| efficiency | city | highway | Combined |
| 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid | 37MPG | 34MPG | 36MPG |
| 2022 BMW X5 xDrive40i | 21MPG | 26MPG | 23MPG |
| 2022 Genesis GV80 2.5T | 20MPG | 24MPG | 22MPG |
| 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 | 20MPG | 25MPG | 22MPG |
price
- Base Price: $49,000 + $1,150 Destination
- Base price for trim: $58,150
- Price tested: $62,725
The base RX Hybrid starts at a reasonable $50,150 (including a destination charge of $1,150), but Luxury trim costs $58,150, and with options, this tester is $62,725. The two most expensive are the Mark Levinson premium audio system ($1,160) and triple-beam LED headlights ($1,565).
If you want great features like semi-aniline leather, big wheels and a heads-up display, the Luxury trim is for you. But the only pure hybrid in the entire class, the Lexus RX offers great value even in its basic form. It’s the most efficient car in the segment by a long shot, and still has all the luxury features and high-end technology you’d expect from a luxury SUV of this calibre.
BMW X5: Unrated
Genesis GV80: 9.5/10
Mercedes-Benz GLE-class: 9.2/10
