lexus rx Full Review
Advantages
- Precise steering
- Comfortable ride
- Excellent tech suite
Disadvantages
- Performance limited by tires
- Rivals are faster off the line
- Expensive options spoil a good deal
If there’s one thing Lexus nails, it’s consistency. The RX SUV has enjoyed great popularity and has garnered a steady following since its introduction in 1998. Meanwhile, the RX helped shape the mid-size luxury SUV segment with its approachable character, ease of use and reputation for reliability, and it’s expanding its network with models like the F Sport. This trim has been offered since 2013, but the RX500h Direct4 F Sport version is the first to be properly ‘hot-rod’.
New for 2023, the RX500h goes well beyond the usual F-Sport styling upgrades with powerful hybrid powertrain, rear-wheel steering and handling-focused chassis tuning. Does the first really athletic RX work and does it have a chance of surviving among buyers of this SUV?
What’s in a (very long) name?
The RX500h Direct4 F Sport Performance is the top of the ten trim levels offered in the 2023 Lexus RX range. Accordingly, it gets a powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four paired with electric motors front and rear, a six-speed automatic transmission and model-specific all-wheel drive that can adjust torque split from 70 to 100 percent /30 percent front-to-rear to 20 /80. An electric motor powered by a 288-volt nickel-metal hydride battery powers the rear wheels. This F Sport Performance model shares adaptive variable suspension and six-piston front brake calipers with the petrol-only RX350 F Sport Handling trim level, but the aforementioned rear-wheel steering further sets the F Sport Performance trim apart from all RX variants.
Our test car sported a gorgeous coat of optional Copper Crest metallic paint and rode on a set of 21-inch matte black wheels. Dark exterior panels and black-painted brakes rounded out the exterior trim. Inside, an interior designed specifically for the Lexus F Sport Series has been outfitted with model-specific gauges, seats and door sills. With this configuration, the Lexus RX definitely looked like a sporty SUV.
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Does the RX500h live up to the F Sport Performance name?
The RX’s turbocharged and hybridized powertrain is unique within the SUV lineup, making it the fastest version of the mid-size Lexus ever. With a combined power output of 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, the RX completes the 0-60 mph sprint in 5.9 seconds. That’s not slow by any means, but the F Sport Performance name suggests the flashy Ute should be faster. Comparable competitors like the BMW X5 xDrive40i (5.1 to 60 seconds) and the Mercedes-AMG GLE53 (4.7 seconds) will leave it behind. On this metric, the RX500h is more in line with the Acura MDX Type-S and Genesis GV80 3.5T AWD, each hitting benchmark speeds in 6.0 seconds.
Despite its track performance, the RX500h feels fast in the real world. The electric motors are extremely responsive and the engine engages and disengages smoothly. Flooring the accelerator for an overtake enables instant downshifts and powerful torque delivery. We never felt like we were running out of juice within the bounds of legality.
The steering feel is a highlight. The weight is heavy, but it’s also extremely precise, making it easy to place the RX500h in lane on a freeway or a winding road. Rear-wheel steering is immediately noticeable in parking lots, where the rear wheels can steer up to four degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels to reduce the turning radius. At higher speeds, the rear wheels rotate up to four degrees in the same direction as the front wheels to improve stability and agility. This feature contributed to the RX500h’s excellent composure on the motorway and its maneuverability on more technically demanding back roads.
Braking is smooth, linear and combines the friction and recuperation systems well, but we really wish the pedal felt less wooden, especially with harder inputs. The RX500h is a heavy vehicle at 4,716 pounds, and we’ve consistently measured braking distances at 60-0 mph to within 132-137 feet, which falls short of most vehicles we’ve tested in the luxury mid-size SUV segment. The RX500h’s stock all-season tires aren’t the grippiest, which doesn’t help, and the rubber also likely contributed to the significant understeer we found in our borderline handling ratings. The 2023 Lexus RX500h F Sport Performance gets many subjective elements of the driving experience right, but needs stickier tires to truly strive for excellence.
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But is it luxurious?
The RX500h lives up to the F-Sport part of its name but fails to impress in the absolute performance class. But Lexus hasn’t compromised on comfort and luxury. The adaptive chassis ensures excellent body control at high speeds and provides well-damped handling on poorly paved roads. The excellent soundproofing further reinforces the feeling of calm in the interior.
The interior is full of beautiful materials; Metal trims on the dashboard and pedals, while soft leather covers the seats and door panels. There’s some piano black plastic on the center console, but for the most part the RX500h’s interior gives the impression that it’s the top-of-the-line model that it is.
The top-of-the-line Lexus RX comes standard with a 9.8-inch infotainment display, but our test car came with the available 14.0-inch unit that Lexus offers for $1,105. The touchscreen has crisp graphics and responds quickly to input, and the “Hey, Lexus” voice command control is very effective. The 2023 Lexus RX500h has plenty of other standard convenience features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, 12-speaker audio, a wireless charger and a head-up display. The front seats are electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated.
As with the larger infotainment unit, many features are only available as standalone options. These include upgraded curve-adaptive headlights ($1,565), 360-degree camera view ($800), subscription-enabled traffic jam assist ($620 front), power-folding rear seats ($550) with heating and ventilation ($680) and a 120-volt AC inverter ($550), a panoramic sunroof ($500), and smaller items like roof rails, a digital key, Lexus’ Advanced Park , a digital rear-view mirror and a step sensor for the motorized trunk. That’s a lot of desirable gear, many of which we’d like to see stock fitted to sweeten the deal.
security specifications
Every 2023 RX is equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 package of active driver assistance technology. It includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, motorcycle detection and intersection assistance. We spent most of our time taking advantage of the all-speed adaptive cruise control with cornering speed management, which did an admirable job on the rarely straight freeways that head into the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles. Acceleration and deceleration in tune with a leading car felt natural, but we also appreciated the impeccable lane centering.
Should something go wrong while driving, the RX is also prepared for the occupants in the event of an accident. Even after the IIHS tightened its requirements for its highest award, the institute named the Lexus RX 2023 a “Top Safety Pick+” and received top marks in every category evaluated.
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Is the Lexus RX500h F Sport Performance worth the money?
Not only is the Lexus RX500h F Sport Performance enjoyable and fun to drive in the real world, it manages to integrate fuel economy into its value proposition. This model boasts an EPA-rated 27/28 mpg city/highway fuel economy that eclipses comparable all-gasoline competitors. A 2023 Acura MDX Type-S is certified at 17/21 mpg, the 2023 Genesis GV80 AWD 3.5T is rated at 18/23 mpg and the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLE53 4matic Plus is rated at 18/22 mpg. These all-season tires may not have improved the RX’s handling at the limit, but they seem to have improved its impressive efficiency.
The 2023 Lexus RX500h F Sport Performance starts at $63,150 and our test car is $71,080 after options. Tick the boxes for the add-ons you can’t live without, but if you’re frugal on the extras, the top-of-the-line RX can still be a good deal. IntelliChoice’s experts also think it’s a smart financial decision and anticipate that the RX 2023 will offer excellent total cost of ownership over a five-year period.
Lexus may not have lived up to the pure “performance” aspect of the RX500h F Sport nickname, but it has produced a product that RX loyalists will feel both familiar and significantly upgraded at the same time. And buyers who are new to the brand should be satisfied with this luxury SUV that skilfully combines comfort, driving pleasure and efficiency. Not only is the 2023 Lexus RX500h Direct4 F Sport Performance well on its way to becoming a fan favorite, it also has a good chance of gaining new followers.
Looks good! More details?
| Specifications of the Lexus RX 500h Direct4 F Sport 2023 | |
| BASE PRICE | $63,150 |
| PRICE AS TESTED | $71,080 |
| VEHICLE LAYOUT | Front engine, 2 front and 1 rear engine, 4 wheel drive, 5 speed SUV, 4 doors |
| ENGINE | 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve I-4 turbocharged port and direct injection engine with three permanent magnet electric motors |
| PERFORMANCE (SAE NET) | 271 hp at 6,000 rpm (petrol engine), 86 (fr) + 102 hp (rr electr.); 366 hp (combo) |
| TORQUE (SAE NET) | 339 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm (throttle); NA (electric), 406 lb-ft (comb) |
| TRANSMISSION | Continuously variable automatic (fr), 1-speed automatic (rr) |
| TARGET WEIGHT (F/R DIST) | 4,716 pounds (55/45%) |
| WHEELBASE | 112.2 inches |
| length x width x height | 192.5 x 75.6 x 67.3 inches |
| 0-60 miles per hour | 5.9 sec |
| QUARTER MILE | 14.4 sec at 97.1 mph |
| BRAKES, 60-0 MPH | 132 feet |
| LATERAL ACCELERATION | 0.79g (average) |
| MT FIGURE EIGHT | 28.0 sec at 0.59 g (average) |
| EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON | 27/28/27mpg |
| EPA SERIES, COMB | 464 miles |
| ON OFFER | Now |
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