Lexus RX

It is the cabin of the Lexus RX which might give you a slight hint of its age, as most of the controls here feel a bit like half a decade old. However, it doesn’t look much dated, thanks to the use of top quality materials and a unique asymmetric arrangement of the dashboard. 

The three-spoke steering wheel and the analog-themed instrument console might not be the coolest driver cockpit combination around but serves their purpose pretty well with all the controls. The center console feels a bit old-school with a cluttered theme for the buttons and controls, however, the wraparound surrounds and free-mounted 12.3-inch wide touchscreen infotainment system make up for it. 

The seven-seater Lexus RX gets enough equipment to keep you pampered, the list of which gets electrically adjustable front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, panoramic glass roof, head-up display and more. However, for an SUV of its price, the equipment list isn’t too long enough and falls behind that of rival offerings. Also, the third row feels claustrophobic due to the sloping roofline and lack of knee room.

Despite the fact that the Lexus RX is one of the oldest designs in its segment right now, the SUV doesn’t feel its age a bit. A big credit goes to its edgy design language with lots of cuts and creases here and there, thus making it an attention magnet.

The front profile of the Lexus RX has got the trademark spindle-themed front grille, which has become the face of all the Lexus models worldwide. This grille gets brushed chrome surrounds and is flanked with sleek and stretched back full LED headlamps, which too get another trademark design element of Lexus – boomerang-shaped daytime running LEDs. 

While the side profile of the Lexus RX might not be too SUV-ish in its character due to the sloping roofline and curved profile, these same design elements help the RX to stand out. Helping matters here in its design is the squared wheel arches with slim body cladding, sharply tapering down upper window line and smooth curves flowing from fender to fender.

At the back, the Lexus RX looks equally dramatic as it is at the front, with a spindle-themed bulge below the rear windscreen, thus mimicking the front grille design here. The stretched wing-like tail lamps get LED inserts, with the tail lamp joined here by a sleek bar of chrome.

For a large seven-seater SUV, the Lexus RX has an astonishingly smooth ride quality, with the double-wishbone suspension at the front and gas-pressurized shock absorbers with a stabilizer bar at the back taking care of all kinds of roads. The RX might lack the outright go-anywhere capability of a true SUV despite having all-wheel drive, but the driving dynamics make it a perfect option for a long-distance tourer.

The entry-level Lexus RX 300 gets a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, which makes 234 bhp of power and 350 Nm of torque. The more premium RX 350 and RX 350L get a bigger 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, which makes 296 bhp of power and 370 Nm of torque in RX 350 and 289 bhp of power and 358 Nm of torque in RX 350L. The RX 350 and RX 350L get an 8-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

The Lexus RX, despite being one of the oldest SUVs in this class, gets a decent amount of safety equipment, such as ten airbags, a blind-spot monitoring system, lane departure alert, 360-degree camera, front and rear park assist and head-up display. 

The limited equipment list for comfort, convenience and safety as well as interior layout do make the Lexus RX feel a bit old by today’s standards. However, with the excellent ride quality and refinement in its engine options, it remains one of the most understated vehicles in the market right now.