Sunday Drive: Lexus RX350 F-Sport and RX450h limited

Friday, 31 January 2020

**LEXUS RX350 F-SPORT/ RX450H LIMITED

Price:** $109,600/$126,900.

Powertrain and economy: RX350 - 3.5-litre V6, 221kW/370Nm, 8-speed auto, AWD, combined economy 9.6L/100km, CO2 220g/km (Source: RightCar). RX450h - 3.5-litre V6 hybrid, 230kW/335Nm, continuously variable transmission, AWD, combined economy 5.7L/100km, CO2 131g/km (Source: RightCar).

Sport or luxury? Actually either way the RX is way more luxury than sport.

Vital statistics: 4890mm long, 1690mm high, 1640mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 519 litres, 20-inch alloy wheels with 235/55 tyres.

We like: Awesome build quality, refinement, styling.

The Limited version of the RX 450h gets a less aggressive face than the F-Sport.

We don't like: V6 thirst, CVT, hybrid tech less gloat-worthy now.

An obvious drawback to living right on the leading edge is there is some risk of falling off it, with potentially injurious consequence. Far better then, to stand back a touch. You still get pretty much the same view as the utter daredevils yet the sense of security is so much greater.

Beautiful build quality is a hallmark of Lexus interiors, and the RX is no exception.

So, continues life for the biggest-selling Lexus here, the RX medium luxury SUV. A facelift to this eight-model range brings styling improvements and fresh tech - fancy headlights and slightly awkward Apple Car Play/Android Auto integration - but nothing here sees it move to the edge of advancement.

What drives its pace is something that fuels SUV and crossover popularity in general; our insatiable desire to be driving anything that stands taller than a conventional car and has potential for above-and-beyond adventures, more often imagined than ever undertaken.

The RX350's V6 has a pleasing snarl under acceleration.

Lexus finally gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but its not the quickest. For all the occasional oddness, a Lexus 'with' is still better than one 'without' though.

* First drive review: Lexus RX

* There's an all-new version of NZ's most popular SUV

Extra vents and less shiny chrome differentiate the F-Sport versions.

* Lexus charges just $250 per extra chair for seven-seat RX**

Consumer preference patterns notwithstanding, it's still worth wondering how long before the RX's flavour alters, simply because as much as harnessing to a pair of petrol-fired V6s - one using batteries to make around-town driving just a touch greener, the other simply supping dinosaur juice – has been a tried and true formula, it is surely also one falling behind trend.

Why hasn't it 'done a Volvo' and downsized from those carryover 3.5-litres and even moved to partial or full-scale electric? Well, who says it won't happen. If any brand can, it's cash and talent-rich Toyota. In fact, it needn't stop there. The Prius Prime PHEV and hydrogen-fuelled Mirai are but tasters of technology a future RX could run with. What's to stop it becoming a pathfinder for another Toyota tech push yet to be reconciled, the advancement to solid state batteries?

Taste change is already being experienced with RX, in that while the petrol models still warrant inclusion, the hybrid is increasing share with every year, which suggests buyers are increasing looking for an efficiency edge.

In current state, though, the RX can do only so much to meet green expectation. The Toyota/Lexus ''self-charging' marketing line is disingenuous in this regard. Careful how you read into that; there's such huge difference between electric and electrified (which is the RX).

Any hybrid purchaser imagining they're cashing into the same cool club as buyers of pure EVs is misunderstanding what they're getting into.

What you get here is the same hybrid 101 Toyota has been finessing for years. So forget about matching the 40-80km electric-only range that an equivalent-sized PHEV will deliver. Even reaching cruise on EV push alone is unrealistic; the battery pack being too small and weak to go alone.

Only low-speed reversing and initial step off is guaranteed to be fuel-free, the hybrid's major trick thereon is benefitting economy (and emissions) from the electric motor more or less continually assisting on the run.

The impact of this reinforced during test; I saw just over nine litres per 100km from the RX450H Limited, against 12.1L/100km from the RX350 F Sport, when driven similar distances and over much the same terrain.

So improvement arrives, though neither plant delivered anything like the optimal efficiency the maker claims. Must have had a head wind or something. I figure if you entertain a lot of urban running, as is likely in a Lexus lifestyle, the hybrid won't bear a plug-in EV for uber-thrift.

What you can't knock the RX for is its schmooze. Uncanny refinement is a Lexus speciality and that reputation isn't sullied at all here. The RX350 powertrain has a bit of a bark when extended, but if driven within normal bounds is hushed, whereas the hybrid is often even quieter.

The update editions also impressed with their luxury, improved road manners, spruced up styling - yes, the new grille is even bigger yet with better detailing now it better suits, and the five-seater shape tried here has absolutely improved with age - and impeccable build.

Well done Lexus for sharpening up on active safety features with cyclist detection, lane tracing assist, lane centring and road sign assist having been picked up. The parking radar now has a function that will automatically brake at low speed, including when rear cross traffic alert is operating.

A hands-free kick-operated power tailgate is now standard, there's a Qi wireless phone charger in all models and six USB ports in the cabin. And, now, Car Play and Android Auto functionality.

Apart from the big phone friendly upgrade, the RX also debuts a fancy new adaptive headlight system. The BladeScan lamp system has 12 LEDs each, which switch on and off individually to shield oncoming traffic from their high-beam operation, but also through wizardry using mirrors (but no smoke) are said to give greater illumination and clarity than any rival set up. End result? They're very bright but don't seem to ever blind oncoming traffic.

The $17,300 price difference between a Sport and Limited isn't too obvious in respect to spec; yes, the latter is visually more plush – tan leather and a laser-carved wood steering wheel in this one being a particularly expressive statement of financial well-being – but there's no way the cheaper one could be considered a cost-cutter.

Lexus also claims subtle dynamic gains through retuned shock absorbers, an uprated rear anti-roll bar and some rigidity improvements, but even the F-Sports are not going to cause AMG or the M-Division sleeplessness. However, they do drive nicely if you treat them the same way, the petrol having the edge for driver involvement simply because it has an eight-speed gearbox while the hybrid continues with a CVT that doesn't ache for interaction.