Japanese people are not only very polite, but also extremely inquisitive. Anyone who has ever conversed with a person from the Land of Smiles will remember the eager “はい” (hai / yes) that is usually accompanied by an eager nod. Sometimes one could assume that the Asians are just too friendly to explain to the long-nose that they really don’t want to listen to him. Yet the Lexus RX 500h is proof that the gestures mean business. In order to have a chance of success against the BMW X5, Mercedes GLE and Audi Q5, the fifth generation of the crossover has to offer more than a few new equipment gimmicks and the umpteenth evolutionary stage of a continuously variable CVT automatic, which, despite all the brain power that the engineers invest, is basically a dynamic brake due to the rubber band characteristics.
So now a classic six-speed automatic takes care of the gear changes. The Japanese have also recognized that nothing can be gained against the competition from Munich, Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and Ingolstadt with a purely rational drive. A turbo is needed to get the top model of the fifth RX generation to compete for buyers’ favor. With the parallel hybrid concept in the RX 500h, the Lexus engineers have a trio consisting of a turbocharged 2.4-liter petrol engine on the front axle with an integrated electric front motor with 64 kW / 87 hp and another 76 kW / 103 hp electric motor on the Rear axle packed in the SUV. This results in a system output of 273 kW / 371 hp and a maximum torque of 550 Newton meters. The driving performance reads quite neatly: after just 6.2 seconds, the Lexus crossover reaches 200 km/h and stops striving forward.
“A Lexus should be fun,” says Lexus technician Paul Williamsen, and the top RX definitely has the makings of it. It starts with the new GA-K platform, which allows this RX to have a center of gravity 1.5 centimeters lower than its predecessor, as well as a wider track (front plus 15 millimeters, rear plus 45 millimeters). A detail of the fifth RX generation that promotes agility is the vehicle’s higher torsional rigidity, which the Japanese engineers have achieved with additional struts, longer weld seams and adhesive joints, among other things.
The powertrain also plays an important role, where the change from the tiresome CVT transmission to the classic torque converter six-speed automatic transmission is a decisive step in the right dynamic direction. In addition, there is the targeted use of the 76 kW / 103 PS electric motor on the rear axle, torque vectoring and rear axle steering, which turns the wheels by up to four degrees. This package has a noticeably positive effect. The RX 500h, weighing 2,190 kilograms, strives forward with commitment. But the positive impression is clouded a bit as soon as it comes to curves. In Sport mode, the steering is stiffened by artificially increased restoring forces, but gives little feedback about the condition of the asphalt, and the front end leans when it comes to jagged corners.
In the interior, it is primarily the rear passengers who benefit from the improved space economy associated with the new platform. With an unchanged length of 4.89 meters, the wheelbase is now 2.85 meters and is therefore six centimeters longer than before. So you can travel relaxed in the second row. The Lexus NX was the inspiration for infotainment. The 14-inch touchscreen is the communication center. Therefore, there are significantly fewer controls, knobs and buttons in the cockpit of the RX than before. It is helpful that after a certain time you find your way around the Lexus operating logic, especially since the symbols on the touchscreen are clear. A good idea is that the head-up display shows the function of the two large controls on the left and right of the valance. The fact that the Japanese have a heart for the non-digital natives is shown by the two USB-A ports at the front, plus two USB-C variants at the front and rear and one in the console box. Lexus is also following up with the helpers. The Japanese traditionally attach great importance to security. So the assistant also monitors the opening of the doors and warns if a cyclist or other vehicle is approaching from behind.
The fact that the Japanese are constantly learning is also reflected in sales ambitions. Lexus plans to sell around 12,000 RXs in Europe next year, of which only 1,000 will be in Germany. The most popular model will be the RX 500h, which will be available from dealers from mid-January 2023. However, the price of at least 92,500 euros is quite an announcement.
