2023 Lexus RX

The most noticeable changes happen on the front end. The nose appears longer because the windshield and A-pillar were pulled back an inch. Lexus neutered its massive trapezoidal grille with a new hood that dips down into the Lexus badge. The grille’s diamond pattern stretches around the sides instead of being hemmed in by chrome, lending it a look of motion. Vertical air intakes complement a narrower headlight design, and the sporty vibe extends in profile, where Lexus smoothed some of the creases for a swoop rising up to the rear fender like the Toyota Highlander. The floating roof remains the same, and it resolves on a rear end trimmed by 2.4 inches. Lexus applies its name to the tailgate instead of a logo, and the RX draws eyes in colors such as Copper Crest and Nori Green Pearl.  

The interior centers around a curved wall of screens, ranging in size from a 7.0-inch instrument cluster with 9.8-inch touchscreen to a 14.0-inch touchscreen flanked by climate dials. The dash arches behind that screen in an odd way, fitting gloves or press materials perfectly, but at least it’s better than the predecessor’s screen that jutted out of the dash like a gravestone. Fewer dash layers and a cleaner console with an electronic gear shifter lend it some chill. There’s no trackpad, and no analog clock. Neither are missed. There’s more metallic trim pieces and attention to detail, including pushbutton door handles that take a minute to get used to but add a degree of simple elegance.

The turbo-4 options represent a sporting improvement over the outgoing V-6. 

The base RX 350 uses a 2.4-liter turbo-4 that makes 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. After a bit of turbo lag, the 350 responds sharply and the 8-speed automatic transmission flicks through gears but lets the engine climb into the 6,000-rpm range. Passing power is plentiful. Available AWD comes with paddle shifters for more driver control and a 0-60 mph time of 7.2 seconds, compared to 7.6 seconds with FWD. 

It is both stronger and smoother than the RX 350h. In the base hybrid, a 2.5-liter inline-4 pairs with a motor powered by a nickel metal hydride battery to make 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, but even under half throttle, the CVT keeps the engine revving. As a result, noise fills the cabin, popping the bubble of quiet calm that’s characteristic of the RX. 

Designed for efficiency, not performance, the RX 350h uses a more familiar and less sophisticated planetary gearset system than the range-topping RX 500h F Sport Performance. 

2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance

The performance hybrid employs the same 2.4-liter turbo-4 on the RX 350 but it’s supplemented by a motor generator up front and a rear motor powering the rear axle for a total system output of 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. With the rear motor, the full-time AWD system can split the torque from front-wheel drive to a ratio of 40/60 at launch to hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. But shifting out of first gear on the 6-speed automatic can take a beat longer than expected. 

Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom modes change the throttle response, so that Eco mode feels as if you’re stepping on a sponge, and the electronic steering feel, which is light by default. A Trail mode on AWD models uses brake-based vectoring to control wheel slip and distribute torque to the rear wheels. Still, the Lexus RX shouldn’t be exploring far off pavement, with just 8.1 to 8.2 inches of ground clearance and soft, on-road tires. 

The RX 450h+ shares a 18.1-kwh battery and plug-in hybrid powertrain with the smaller NX450h+ and the Toyota RAV4 Prime. It has a 2.5-liter inline-4 and two-motor system powering the front wheels, and a dedicated motor at the rear axle for AWD. Brief driving impressions were that EV mode was not as quick off the line as other PHEVs, but there’s a seamless shift between gas and electric power. It’s very quiet. It will be available in the U.S. at a later date. 

Is the Lexus RX 4WD?

All hybrid models come standard with AWD, but with different systems. The RX 350 comes with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available. The RX 350 F Sport Handling comes with standard AWD on demand, as well as adaptive dampers on its fully independent suspension with front struts and a multi-link rear. 

The F Sport grades dip into curves with a smooth weight transfer, and the body movements remain predictable for more spirited handling than in models without the adaptive dampers. Even with the 198-lb weight reduction, it’s hard for the RX to overcome its tall ride height. That may limit its sportiness but it remains a composed highway cruiser.

The RX 500h uses the brand’s latest AWD system that continuously factors in wheel speed, acceleration, and steering angle to apportion torque to the front and rear axles. Unlike the brake-based torque vectoring on the 350h, the Direct4 AWD system splits the available power to 70/30 front/rear at the start of a turn but then to 20/80 coming out of a turn. It can’t fully shed its 4,751-lb weight or its height, but it’s much sportier than any RX before it and the rear axle steering of four degrees noticeably helps the RX500h cut into curves. That makes it a compelling alternative to the Acura MDX Type S and it’s sportier than any crossover SUV from Infiniti, Lincoln, or Cadillac.

The touch-sensitive steering wheel controls are not so easy. Roll a thumb over either of the four-way arrows and, depending on the model, the faceless icons appear in the digital instrument cluster or on the head-up display. It lets Lexus add features over time, we presume, but it takes time to memorize what is where. It’s not complicated, just convoluted. 

All but the base model gets cooled front seats as well, and heated and cooled rear seats are an option, as are power folding rear seats. 

Two adults have plenty of room in the rear seats, and three kids in the back would have no reason to complain. The top plug-in hybrid model takes a page from Genesis with power buttons on the inside of the front passenger seat so anyone front or back can move the seat with the push of a button. The RX450h+ also has bamboo wood trim on the dash and console. 

With the 60/40-split rear seats folded down, the cargo room expands to 38.5 cubic feet, which is nearly six cubes more than its predecessor. Hybrids don’t sacrifice any overall cargo space from the 350 gas model, except for a slightly smaller gas tank. The hybrid battery pack sits under the rear seat, but those seats can still recline. A real spare tire and jack sit under the floor.

Every model comes with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Many luxury automakers charge extra for some of those features. Options available on all grades include a limited hands-free driving system at speeds of less than 25 mph on mapped interstates and an automatic lane change function when the driver selects the turn indicator. A surround-view camera system is also available. 

The only knock is limited rear and side visibility due to chunky rear pillars and small rear quarter windows.

Which Lexus RX should I buy?

Sold in six wide-ranging trims and four powertrains, it’s really going to come down to how you like your luxury and the optimal powertrain for your needs. The base engine in the 350 outperforms the coarse transmission of the 350h, but the 350h is much more efficient. For the performance curious, we’d probably look elsewhere than the capable 500h. That leaves the RX350 as our recommended pick, and we’d step it up to the Premium+ grade for a leather interior, the solid 14.0-inch touchscreen with good audio commands, and the classic Lexus heated wood steering wheel. 

How much is a fully loaded Lexus RX?

The RX500h tops the line in performance and price at $62,750. It comes in only one loaded trim, the F Sport Performance with AWD, and upgrades include 21-inch gray alloy wheels, lush leather and suede trimmed seats, and all the performance upgrades with that engine as well as the cosmetic black trim bits from the F Sport Handling. That also means bolstered bucket seats, a dynamic digital instrument cluster, and a head-up display.

The performance-leaning hybrid AWD system in the 500h gets 27 mpg combined.