The Lexus RX quickly became one of the best selling vehicles for the luxury Japanese brand when it was introduced. It was just the right size, it had the luxury features, and it was less expensive than its German and American rivals. 2023 marks the introduction of the RX’s 5th generation with the usual updates that are bestowed upon new vehicles. But one of the most interesting changes is the addition of the high performance Lexus RX500h. So that begs the question, does it make sense to have a performance RX?
Performance
Engine – At the heart of this new 2023 Lexus RX500h is a 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The V6 engine is gone. This 2.4L engine produces 271 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque (202 kW & 460 Nm) on its own which is not too bad. But with the addition of a couple of electric motors, the total power output is 366 hp & 406 lb-ft of torque (273 kW & 550 Nm). Lexus claims a 0-100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds which is fairly close to that of the NX450h+. However, the RX500h has a big weight penalty as it tips the scales at 2,155 kg (4,751 lbs).
Thankfully, the instant torque of the electric motors and the new turbo engine hide that weight very well when the SUV accelerates in a straight line. In Sport mode, response is immediate with the motors hiding the turbocharger lag at lower rpms.
But when there are police around, the RX500h drives almost like the previous generation hybrid RX. The electric motors of this 500h allow for momentary drives of electric only motoring. But only under 65-ish km/h (40 mph). Anything above that speed and the engine turns on, even if your foot is off the throttle pedal and coasting on a flat highway. In other traditional hybrids, I’ve noticed that they still try to maintain highway speeds (for brief periods) while running only on electricity. But not in this RX500h.
Fuel Economy – Due to this unique characteristic of the powertrain, this Lexus RX is not as efficient as the other 2023 Lexus RX350h hybrid that is also available. Having said that, this car’s fuel economy is still pretty good. It’s officially rated for 8.7 L/100km (27 MPG) in a city and 8.4 L/100km (28 MPG) on a highway. I managed to average 8.8 L/100km (26.7 MPG) which is a tiny bit higher but not too far off.
Transmission – A big surprise of the 2023 Lexus RX500h is the choice of transmission. Instead of the usual eCVT that most Lexus hybrids receive, this RX500h controls the power through a 6-speed automatic. This transmission is really smooth, though, the shifts are hidden behind the aid of the electric motors. You can really feel this when planting your foot for a burst of acceleration. The delay from the time your foot is mashed to the floor to the time the engine picks up is noticeable but the car still accelerates during that period thanks to the electric motor. There are also paddle shifters should you want to take over control.
Braking – The RX500h utilizes big 15.7” 2-piece front rotors that are clamped down by 6-piston brake calipers. Such big brakes are required when 2-tones of mass is moving so quickly. Regen braking helps to slow down the SUV as well but it does not have any different modes that you can select from. There is a bit more force in Sport mode but you won’t be saving much fuel if you choose to remain in that drive mode. The brake pedal is linear and easy to modulate for smooth stops while the brake pads do not have an overly aggressive initial bite.
Handling – Though this is touted as a higher performance Lexus, it doesn’t feel that way when driving through corners. The weight of this SUV is hard to ignore and the all-season tires can’t cope with it. Push too hard through a corner and you’ll hear them scream in agony. Additionally, the steering doesn’t provide as much feedback as that of the BMW X3 M40i for example. Having said that, it is very responsive and direct. Additionally, the RX500h is equipped with rear wheel steering which makes slow speed maneuvering a lot easier. All in all, you get the feeling that this SUV is more happy to be blasting down a highway or be in grid-lock traffic in a city rather than on a twisty back road.
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Comfort
Ride Comfort – With this being a Lexus, the ride cannot be compromised in the pursuit of sportiness and I’m happy to say that it is not. The 2023 Lexus RX500h is just as comfortable as one would expect from a luxury Japanese brand. It comes equipped with adaptive dampers that change stiffness between the different drive modes. The Normal drive mode is perfect for city use with Sport mode not providing much in the way of a stiffer ride. Instead, you can really notice how quickly the body gets settled after a big bump.
The front seats further add to the level of comfort with a soft cushion, supportive bolsters, and smooth to the touch semi-aniline leather upholstery. Both driver and passengers get 8-way power adjustable seats.
Interior Space – This new generation RX has a longer wheelbase than the outgoing model which means more legroom for occupants. I am above average in height at 6’4” but I have zero issues with legroom in the front seat nor do I have issues behind my tall driving position in the back. Additionally, the back of the front seat is soft leather rather than hard plastic so you won’t have any bruised knees. Headroom is ok in the front and it’s a bit less in the back seats. Happily, you can recline the back seats, electronically, for more comfort and a bit more headroom.
The trunk can accommodate 838 L (29.6 cu-ft) behind the 2nd row seats and 1,308 L (46.2 cu-ft) with the 40/20/40 split power fold seats in the down position. Underneath the floor you’ll find the jack and a spare wheel.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The RX500h is as smooth as a Lexus should be. The transition from electric to gasoline is barely noticeable with the vibrations of the 2.4L engine being well isolated from the cabin. There is some augmented engine noise being played through the audio system but it doesn’t sound too bad in my opinion. Road and wind noise are kept in check while driving on highways with minimal intrusion.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2023 Lexus RX500h is not a cheap SUV to purchase or lease with a starting price of $79,800 CAD ($63,150 USD). Add on the F-Sport Performance 3 package and that number grows to $85,600 CAD ($71,230 USD). In the United States, you get to choose the different options separately.
Gadgets – At least for that money, the SUV is fully loaded and is not missing anything. There are heated & ventilated seats in all four corners, a large panoramic sunroof for more light, surround view cameras that can display an invisible car to see what is under the car, a rear camera mirror for an unobstructed view out the back, a larger head-up display, a wireless charging pad, and this particular demo car also had the subscription based navigation system enabled.
This was the first time I was able to try out Lexus’ built-in system. It reminds me a lot of Google Maps and it even looks similar to Google Maps. But one annoying thing I found out was that if you change the settings, like the map zoom, and then move to another menu in the infotainment system, as soon as you go back to the navigation, your personal settings are reset. It’s quite annoying as I like to view the map from a 3D perspective. But hopefully this is something that can be easily fixed through over the air updates.
Interior Design – The old Lexus RX used a lot of buttons for each of the different functions. I thought it was ok because I prefer physical controls to touchscreen controls but I’m probably in the minority. This new RX has far fewer physical controls but at least the important ones are there like the temperate knobs.
One thing that you won’t find is the old infotainment system touchpad. It’s all controlled through the touchscreen that measures 14” diagonally. There are, however, touch sensitive controls on the steering wheel for different functions such as cruise control or radio tuning. These are displayed in the HUD, if equipped. But one control that is sorely missing from this Lexus RX is a dedicated drive mode knob or button. If you want to change the drive modes, it must be done through the touchscreen which is cumbersome and slow. You need to press on the 6 dots icon next to the climate and then if the drive mode is commonly used it will appear immediately there. But if it is not, then you have to swipe to the drive modes and then you can select your desired drive mode. It’s odd that the Lexus NX450h+ that I drove earlier had a dedicated drive mode selector while the performance Lexus RX500h does not.
The rest of the interior is refined luxury. The red leather seats are eye-catching and soft to the touch, the suede on the door panels is a nice contrast to the rest of the interior and I like that there is minimal use of gloss black plastic.
Exterior Design – The 2023 Lexus RX500h has evolved the modern day Lexus styling. The hourglass grille is still there but it now blends into the hood. The LED lights look sharper than ever and the taillamps blend into a lightbar that stretches the width of the car. This 500h may be the performance version of the RX but it doesn’t look all too different from the RX350.
Safety – All trim levels of the 2023 Lexus RX are equipped with standard Lexus Safety System 3.0+. These include a lot of the driver & safety aids that consumers have grown accustomed to such as automatic emergency braking and dynamic radar cruise control to name a few. Opting for the F-SPort 3 package on this 2023 RX500h will add front cross traffic alert, driver monitor camera, and adaptive high-beam system with triple-beam LED headlights.
Warranty – Like many other Lexus vehicles, the 2023 Lexus RX500h has a 4 year / 60,000 km new vehicle, 6 year / 110,000 km powertrain, and an 8 year / 160,000 km hybrid component warranty. For more information on Canadian Lexus warranty, click here. For information on American warranty, click here.
Conclusion – So does it make sense to have a performance Lexus RX? Well, compared to other high performance luxury SUVs like the BMW X3 M40i or Mercedes GLC 43 AMG, this RX500h can’t keep up with them. This new performance Lexus is more similar to the Genesis GV70 3.3TT or the Acura MDX Type-S. Not quite the hardcore performance of the German rivals but a lot more exciting to drive than the standard Lexus RX. On top of that, this new generation RX retains the luxury and refinement that is expected of a car like this and it is miles better to drive than the previous generation RX. Thank you to Lexus Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Lexus.ca
2023 Lexus RX500h Gallery
