Overview

If you’re in the market for a luxury SUV you’re somewhat spoiled for choice these days, but those who don’t fancy one of the ubiquitous German brands might find themselves drawn to Lexus and the RX.

The RX is Lexus’ largest SUV and one that’s been a strong seller for the brand over the decades. Utilising a self-charging hybrid V6 powertrain makes it very different from most of its combustion or plug-in hybrid rivals. Not that the RX needs much help standing out, with its vast ‘Spindle’ grille dominating the front end and a swooping interior filled with plush materials.

There’s no escaping the RX’s newer and cleverer rivals, though. Where once Lexus was alone in offering a large SUV with a hybrid powertrain, now it almost seems behind the times in only offering a self-charging hybrid rather than the zeitgeisty plug-in hybrids offered by cars like the BMW X5, Range Rover Sport or Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Rivals are better to drive, cheaper to run and offer much more advanced tech that’s easier to use, especially on the move.

The RX hits back with typical Lexus traits – unimpeachable reliability and dealer service that’s second to none. It’s no wonder that owners think of them so highly, and often will continue to buy Lexuses (Lexii?) until they retire from driving.

But how does the aging RX hold up purely evaluated as a car? We’re going to do just that in the following pages, so keep reading to see how the Lexus RX fares in terms of practicality and running costs, what the interior’s like, what it’s like to drive and finally whether we recommend one.