Road Test: Lexus RX450 Hybrid

Lexus RX One of the veterans of the great crossovers scene has been updated and stretched, the interesting part is that you do not see from the outside. And is NIS 450,000 a bargain price against the competitors?

Road Test: Lexus RX450 Hybrid

Lexus RX, one of the pioneers of this prestigious crossover story, has been around the world since 1998. As one of the first to identify and gain hold in the category that has become one of the largest carmaker's money machines, along with Lexus' excellent reputation in car building, it has been a success story for more than two decades. He did it even though his competitors offered time and time again better dynamic capabilities, higher glory or more sophisticated design. But beyond all of that - stand a random line of ten RXs aged 15-20 and a random line of competitors, I'm willing to put money in the line of who will drive and work more cars.

First Driving: Lexus UX250 Hybrid

Sharp lines, reverse of everything we knew from previous editions

Road test: Lexus RX450h refurbished (Photo: Keenan Cohen, Keenan Cohen)

Small

The current RX generation was introduced in 2015 which means it's time for a facelift and model update. The external updates are really easy to spot. Headlights, backlights and new grills. Truthfully, it doesn't need much. The current generation of the RX looks the best of its incarnations, is a 180-degree second-generation inversion (which was the first to arrive in Israel) and looks like a giant dinosaur egg, especially in white. But on the other hand, he still looks like any other model of this manufacturer, who only if they stand next to each other can figure out who is who, this is simply a manufacturer whose all cars are so similar, like a motorized version of Russian Matriushka dolls. Except for the LC, atonement for it, what a bomb.

The quality is excellent, the decline in thorough detail at the obsession level

Road test: Lexus RX450h refurbished (Photo: Keenan Cohen, Keenan Cohen)

In the passenger compartment the change is already more tangible. But the thing worth dwelling on is the very large (12.3-inch) multimedia screen that has come a little closer, but not in the segment of helping his clients' average age tier, but that it now allows for touch operation. This solves one of the big problems the user interface has for Lexus cars - the horrible touchpad that is virtually impossible to operate in driving.

With this screen there is only one problem, the default display screen that it returns to constantly seems to be that of the navigation system, all is well and good, only that the system does not support maps in Israel, so you are doomed to look at the green / blue and empty screen. Unless you use Apple and Android systems on your mobile, both of which support the multimedia system.

Finally, multimedia does not have to operate through the touchpad

Road test: Lexus RX450h refurbished (Photo: Keenan Cohen, Keenan Cohen)

The driver environment, in Lexus like Lexus, is excellent at the material level. From floor mats to roof tops, from seat to fabric inside the small storage compartment to the left of the steering wheel. There is almost no place where your fingers do not meet carefully stitched skin, or any other soft and pleasant surface. The level of care for the seams also reaches places you did not even think you would meet - the folding cover of the trunk, for example. By the way, the trunk, too, is wrapped in a quality rug and even cozy to the touch - even at the door of the trunk.

True, along with the impression of material quality and rigor, his age is already beginning to be evident in the passenger compartment. But it may be that the older population of its customers will actually fit this arrangement where each button has one action, and is in front of the eyes and not buried in some menu that sends you to hover like some hacker just to turn on air conditioning circulation.

There are cars that would love the quality of this fabric inside the passenger compartment, the RX is in the trunk door at all ...

Road test: Lexus RX450h refurbished (Photo: Keenan Cohen, Keenan Cohen)

The spacing was and remains excellent in each of the five seats (there is also a seven-seat version), it was even slightly improved, by reducing the front seat frame, to the rear passenger lap 2 cm to the lap interval although the 279 cm wheelbase remained as it was. Despite the batteries, the trunk holds 539 liters and its electric door opens wide, convenient, accessible and accessible.

The level of finish that is being tested is the "premium" that among other things raises the diameter of the rims from 18 to 20 inches, a panoramic roof opens and additional safety systems identify vehicles in "dead area" and cross-traffic alert.

Road test: Lexus RX450h refurbished (Photo: Keenan Cohen, Keenan Cohen)

Hoppe, surprise

The Lexus RX450h is a hybrid propulsion unit that combines a 3.5-liter V6 configuration with an electric unit delivering 313 hp onboard and 34.2 kg. The paddle is a fixed double and the gearbox is continuous. Performance as a result of this combination is 100km / h in 7.7 seconds and a maximum speed of 200mph. In practice the vehicle accelerates very nicely, from the scene and the intermediate accelerators have a sense of constant power available. Not the back of the backrest, but you could certainly move fast and smooth in any route. The hybrid unit here is not one of the impressive ones we encountered. Its ability to propel the RX on its own is pretty much limited to very slow speeds, and only cruising on a plane. Its energy management requires steel nerves and cotton wool to really take advantage of it.

313 hp from a propulsion unit that combines a V6 engine with an electric motor

Road test: Lexus RX450h refurbished (Photo: Keenan Cohen, Keenan Cohen)

It swallows urban paving ills easily, hovers over pits, bulging sewer caps and bumps easily. On highways and smooth roads, he does what he always knows how to do - iron out miles upon miles with exceptional comfort and a very high noise isolation capability. I initially dismissed the talk of improving his dynamism as a regular huddle of press releases. Increasing the number of laser welds to the chassis, addition of glue to the vehicle, thickening of the stabilizer rod, hardening of the rear suspension bushes and new front and rear shock absorbers and also a torque-tuning system to improve the vehicle's turning ability. But even after the first bend, the dynamic handling of the vehicle is clearly not just on paper.

Shines on smooth roads, excellent on disrupted

Road test: Lexus RX450h refurbished (Photo: Keenan Cohen, Keenan Cohen)

His ability to turn is enhanced compared to the pre-facelift version, which, as I recall, was reluctantly applied. That doesn't make him some rival to Porsche Cayenne or Maserati Levante, not even close to that. He has many more points to improve if he wants to get the dynamism badge in such vehicles. The feedback from the steering wheel is meager, the continuous gearbox flips the engine up hysterically with every return to the gas and also the "sport" mode is as effective as the French army in the war.

One last point is the fuel consumption, which at the end of the test days was 11 km per liter, a fantastic figure for a huge vehicle weighing 2,215 kg.

On the one hand, this plurality of buttons is a very up-to-date design, on the other hand it is very simple to operate any system here

Road test: Lexus RX450h refurbished (Photo: Keenan Cohen, Keenan Cohen)

For those who love the genre

The refurbished Lexus RX, like the Lexus RX before the update, like the Lexus RX in the previous generation and the previous generation and in fact ever since - continues to do what its customers love very much. Offering outstanding finish, quality and construction in a first-rate packaging that puts you at ease. He has done all these things in the past and he continues to do so now. The additions in the areas of armor, safety and substantial but not revolutionary behavioral enhancement are another card next to possession that it has in dealing with other competitors in the premium group.

Road test: Lexus RX450h refurbished (Photo: Keenan Cohen, Keenan Cohen)

But his big shot ultimately lies in the bargain for the price, although, like me, NIS 450,000 is not exactly the amount we spend on credit, but take a moment to look at its competitors in terms of dimensions and suppliers and understand the whole story. The band for the Audi house, Mercedes and BMW, although larger than those on the island (better than it is much more dynamic) is more expensive than NIS 150,000 and up north. Volvo XC90 in the T8 version of the excellent hybrid is more expensive than NIS 100,000. In terms of price range, direct competitors are the Infiniti QX70 or Land Rover Discovery, which is smaller in size but offers better terrain capabilities and a 7-seater version, none of which offer Lexus accessory and finish levels and materials, such as the RX's customer tapset He is still one of the rational, economical and settled vehicles in his group.

Road test: Lexus RX450h refurbished (Photo: Keenan Cohen, Keenan Cohen)

From now on, a loan of up to NIS 100,000 for each purpose and the customers of all banks is the same

Subject to the terms as Financing Ltd / Diners Financing Ltd and compliance with the underwriting conditions. Failure to pay the loan may result in a charge on arrears and execution proceedings

On the technical side: Lexus RX450h Premium

Engine, propulsion: gasoline, hybrid, V6, dual
Volume: 3,456 cc
Power / rpm (kW): 313
Torque / rpm (kg): 34.2
Gearbox: automatic, continuous

Measurements:
Length (cm): 489
Width (cm): 190
Height (cm): 169
Wheelbase (cm): 279
Trunk (liters): 539

Performence:
0-100 acceleration: 7.7 seconds
Maximum speed: 200 mph

Competing:
Infinity QX70, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Cadillac XT5

price:
NIS 450,000 (test), NIS 420,000 (base)