LEXUS RX 2020

Body, cabin and cargo space

Before 2018, the Lexus RX was strictly a five-seater. To insert an extra row, Lexus decided in 2018 to stretch the body by 11 cm, thus creating the RX L variant. However, the wheelbase of the lengthened version remains the same as that of the standard RX. As a result, adults in the third row feel cramped, and cargo space is reduced almost to nil when the bench is in place.

In contrast, the first two (and only, in the “short” RX) rows easily accommodate four adults. Wide door sills hamper access, but once inside, most occupants should like the well-shaped front seats. Only the high, wide centre console hinders the driving position, otherwise ideal for an SUV. The flat rear floor makes the middle seat more usable. The rear bench provides good support, and its 40‑20‑40 split/fold seatbacks add versatility to the cabin.

The cargo area is relatively long and wide; folding the rear seatbacks creates a nearly flat surface. However, the sharply raked rear hatch and the relatively high load floor reduce usable volume. Several SUV’s comparable in size to the RX can accommodate more luggage below the windows.

However, the biggest weakness is found in front, and that is the irritating Remote Touch infotainment system installed in most Lexus models. The touchpad that serves as the main controller on the centre console reveals a hyper-sensitivity that requires taking one’s eyes off the road for way too long.

The new, 12.3‑inch touch screen could save the day… if it was not positioned so far from the driver. It is best just to use the hard buttons on the dash and steering wheel, a goodly number of which Lexus, fortunately, has maintained. Or, to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which finally make their appearance this year.

The instruments and other controls are relatively simple, though the conventional shift lever blocks access to the seat heat/ventilation buttons. Nonetheless, this traditional gearshift lever is still easier to use than the buttons or switches found on competing vehicles. Lexus has added USB ports this year (for a total of six) and a vertical space for a mobile device, but storage is more generous in the Highlander, the similarly sized SUV by parent-company Toyota.

Apart from the annoying infotainment system, the relatively classic interior layout should please buyers who are turned off by the futuristic designs of the European competition. As always, premium materials and impeccable fit testify to the high quality of construction.

Safety features

• Antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist
• Brake override
• Stability and traction control
• Hill-start assist
• Front airbags
• Driver knee airbag
• Passenger under-seat airbag (to prevent submarining in a front collision)
• Front and rear side airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Pretensioners for front and outboard second-row seatbelts
• Five, six or seven head restraints, adjustable on outboard seats of first and second rows, folding on other seats
• Automatic post-collision braking
• Tire-pressure monitor
• Rearview camera
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Lane departure alert with steering assist
• Lane keeping assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic high beams
• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Rear parking sensors and automatic braking in case of rear cross traffic (standard, RX 450h L, and included in all optional packages)
• Surround view system (standard, RX 450h L, and included in Executive and F Sport Series 3)

Crash test results

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Overall score: 5 / 5
Frontal impact: 4 / 5
Side impact: 5 / 5
Rollover resistance: 4 / 5

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS)
Moderate overlap frontal impact: 4 / 4
Small overlap frontal impact:
- driver side: 4 / 4
- passenger side: 4 / 4
Side impact: 4 / 4
Rear impact: 4 / 4
Roof strength: 4 / 4

IIHS Top Safety Pick

Visibility

Good forward view thanks to relatively narrow roof pillars and small triangular windows in front of the outside mirrors. Wide side and rear pillars and slanted rear window hinder visibility in the other directions. Blind-spot monitoring, standard, is a big help.

Headlights: standard LED projectors and triple-beam LED headlamps included in options packages obtained an Acceptable rating (3/4) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; generally light a good distance, except in left turns in low-beam position.

Mechanical overview

The Lexus RX is still built on a reinforced version of the platform used by the former-generation Toyota Camry and Highlander, with a stiffer suspension for 2020. The RX likely will adopt Toyota’s recent TNGA global architecture in its next full remake. That even more rigid platform has contributed to improving the handling of several of the automaker’s models, without affecting comfort.

No delay in terms of powertrains, however. Gasoline-only models use the latest version of Toyota/Lexus’s ubiquitous 3.5-litre V6. Direct injection, advanced variable valve timing and the adoption of the Atkinson cycle have boosted power and reduced gasoline consumption over the years. Matched to this engine is an eight-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles.

The hybrid models come out on top in terms of power. The V6/electric motor/continuously variable transmission combination generates 308 hp, 13 hp more than the non-hybrid powertrain. On the other hand, the hybrids are 130 to 160 kg heavier, which cancels out their power advantage.

They make up for it in consumption, requiring 27 percent less fuel according to Natural Resources Canada’s combined city/highway rating (7.9 L/100 km for the RX 450h vs 10.8 for the RX 350). The hybrids do better in the city; on the highway, their frugality edge is about 1 L/100 km.

Furthermore, Lexus recommends premium fuel for the hybrids; otherwise the warranty could be voided. So remember to do the math if your interest in a hybrid is strictly financial.

All Lexus RX’s sold in Canada can tow up to 1,588 kg (3,500 lb) and come with all-wheel drive. Power goes to the rear wheels when the front wheels slip, during certain types of acceleration or in turns, for example. Gasoline models use a traditional drive shaft; an electric motor powers the rear wheels of hybrid models.

Driving impressions

The racy styling of the latest Lexus RX suggests an exhilarating experience, especially in F Sport trim. It is true that the F Sport options sharpen the drive slightly, thanks to lower steering assistance and, especially, adaptive shock absorbers. But generally speaking, the RX clearly remains focused on comfort rather than strong sensations.

That’s far from bad news. Drivers who demand truly sporty road behaviour from a two-ton SUV can turn to the German makes, notably. However, with certain competing vehicles, especially when equipped with big, 21-inch wheels and run-flat tires, the trade-off is an exaggeratedly firm ride on a daily basis.

None of that with the Lexus RX. Of course, the very perceptible lean in curves and the overly light and uncommunicative steering are not very stimulating. Braking is adequate in normal driving but does not have the phenomenal stopping power of the costly optional systems offered by European rivals.

Pleasure with this Lexus is found in the calm it injects into long trips. The suspension efficiently soaks up bumps while controlling body movements on pavement ripples. Stability and smoothness go hand in hand, with good straight-line accuracy and careful sound insulation as a bonus.

The gasoline engine displays a similar attitude: calm for the most part (too much so for some), it reveals its potential when passing or merging onto a highway. However, you have to play with the accelerator to wake up the energy, because of the transmission’s quick upshifts and delayed downshifts. Even here, smoothness transcends brilliance; the choice is up to you.

Other highlights

Driving assistance: lane keep assist is efficient, though the steering wheel feels like it is constantly moving. Lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control are excessively cautious: even when set at the shortest possible distance from the preceding vehicle, the adaptive cruise control slows the RX long before undertaking a normal lane change on the highway.