Lexus Rx 500h

Lexus Rx 500h – Something about the body of a car evokes emotions in people. Evidence of the disgrace of the once mighty vehicle; Once upon a time, it was a family supercar, now it’s mostly only loved by people on the internet (who will never buy it) and hated by everyone else The vehicle has evolved into a minivan, which itself has lost favor with the SUV, but the real winner in recent decades has been surprise. Something of a “know it when I see it” category, the crossover is more car-like than SUV-like, and more SUV-like than car-like and subject to many arguments about what fits and what doesn’t fit versus a four-wheeled pigeonhole .

If you have crossover feelings – and I know from the comments some of you do – it’s probably Lexus’ fault for creating them in the first place. In 1998, the then Japanese luxury brand introduced the RX 300, an attractive luxury hatchback with off-road height, and thus a new segment was born. Now, nearly a quarter of a century later, the RX is in its fifth iteration, riding on a new GA-K platform that’s stiffer and lighter than before.

Lexus Rx 500h

His styling has recently become a bit more sophisticated – especially the large Cylon-like front fascia. Powertrain options are a bit more complex than before, though, as the entire lineup moves to turbocharged four-cylinder engines, some of which have hybrid support. Eventually, the US will get a plug-in RX hybrid, and the trusty RX 350h will return to the lineup, but new for the 2023 model year is the (deep breath) RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD, which starts at $62,750.

Lexus Rx 500h F Sport Hybrid First Drive Review: A 366 Hp Mouthful

This is the new king of the RX range, and once its moniker would have suggested that there was a big old 5.0L V8 under the hood, behind that big cheese grater. But now we’re all about downsizing, and instead you’ll find a 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends 271 hp (202 kW) and 339 lb-ft to the front wheels through a six-speed transmission, paired with its synchromesh engine with permanent magnet. A second electric motor drives the rear wheels, producing up to 107 hp (80 kW) at that axle. The two electric motors are powered by a nickel-metal hydride traction battery, and the total output of the powertrain is a maximum of 366 hp (273 kW) and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm).

With 4,751 lbs (2,155 kg) to move that torque, the RX 500h F Sport doesn’t feel terribly slow – 0-60 mph takes 5.9 seconds – but it also doesn’t feel that fast compared to many electric SUVs and crossovers which we tested this year. Additionally, the four-cylinder powertrain feels tired and angry when you take it to the top end of its rev range, which is frustrating in a car that’s supposed to be luxury. I also doubt the ride would be any better with higher profile tires, although it was never bumpy or uncomfortable.

Instead, the crossover prefers a more relaxed driving style; I tried for a while to see if it was possible to drive without burning the internal combustion engine, but unlike other Toyota and Lexus hybrids we tested, the RX did not do 500 hours on electric driving only under 25 mph (40 km). /h).

Fuel efficiency could also be better. Lexus claims 27 mpg (8.71 L / 100 km) combined. I’ll have to take his word for it, as the new infotainment system doesn’t seem capable of keeping track of total mileage; the trip computer would instantly tell me my mileage or give me a bar graph showing the last few miles.

Lexus Rx 500h F Sport Performance: Review, Price And Photos

Our test car was equipped with a 14-inch version of that infotainment system, which is much better compared to recent older Lexuses. But the UI designers still made some frustrating choices here and there. I regret not trying out the voice recognition and intelligent assistant to see if Lexus has reached feature parity with BMW and Mercedes-Benz. But I doubt most drivers will use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for their infotainment needs, both of which work wirelessly or via USB.

Lexus and its parent company, Toyota, have gone all-in on a standard suite of advanced driver assistance systems to make their cars safer. This ADAS package includes forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection in daylight and low-light, and bicycle and motorcycle detection in daylight), departure and steering warning, adaptive cruise control, adaptive high beams and traffic sign assist . , among other activities. Some drivers may find that the lane goes a little too far, but it can easily be turned.

Increase / Despite the clever hybrid system, the RX 500h F Sport never felt sporty enough to live up to its name.

For me, the RX 500h didn’t quite hit the mark. Assuming one likes the styling, the RX 350h is also a hybrid and averages 36 mpg (6.53 L / 100 km) combined. It’s not much slower either, and even though Lexus added “F Sport Performance” to the RX 500h’s name, it struggles and works to keep up with it.

Lexus Rx 500h F Sport At Ajac Ecorun

Jonathan M. Gitlin Jonathan is Ars Technica’s automotive editor. He graduated and received his doctorate in pharmacology. In 2014, he decided to leave his lifelong passion for cars behind by leaving the National Human Genome Research Institute to start Ars Technica’s automotive reporting. He lives in Washington, DC. Who exactly is the Lexus RX 500h F Sport intended for? The RX F Sport is smart and nimble, but it’s definitely not a premium SUV.

The letter F hangs over Lexus like a dark cloud. It used to stand for something—V-8 power, a raucous soundtrack, and stunning luxury. Today, it’s unclear exactly what Lexus wants to do with the letter F and where its performance division is ultimately headed.

The new IS 500 F Sport is a real example. What is supposed to be the successor to the IS F comes with high expectations and an unwieldy name. That way, they don’t have to explain to dirty journalists and internet trolls why it’s not as dynamic as the BMW M3. (For the record, the IS 500 F Sport is great despite its flaws and I love it).

The same goes for the RX 500h F Sport, technically the first RX ever to receive a performance upgrade, not counting previous F Sport visual packages. This could have been an all-terrain RX F with lots of power and a little suspension tuning – and we’d probably be singing its praises from here to eternity. Instead, it’s a warm crossover with minor performance enhancements. Still nice, but nothing that moves the needle.

Lexus Rx 500h Specs

It starts with the powertrain. This RX has a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that generate a moderate 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It has 91 more horses than the next-best RX and more power and torque than the rival Acura MDX Type S. But it’s more than 100 horsepower short of the IS of the same name. I know it’s unreasonable to ask Lexus to move a V-8 submodel here, but a so-called F Performance model with a four-cylinder engine just seems wrong, let alone a hybrid.

To your credit, the RX 500h is not broken. It hits 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, and the instant torque provided by the two electric motors gives it great feel off the line. Impressive for something that weighs 4,793 pounds.

Torque peaks at 2,000rpm, and the two electric motors work in perfect harmony with the gas engine – there’s no low-speed grip. One of these motors is placed between the engine and the gearbox, while the other is located on the rear axle. The six-speed automatic transmission is also very flawless.

The letter “h” means that the RX 500h is as efficient as it is fast. The luxury SUV returns 27 mpg in the city, 28 on the highway and 27 combined. It is right after the regular RX Hybrid in the range.

New Lexus Rx 500h 2023 Review

Dynamically, the RX doesn’t convince me that it deserves the F Sport designation. It uses the same Toyota GA-K architecture found on everything from the Camry to the smaller NX, but its heavy curb weight and complex structure make it lie flat in corners.

The steering seems unresponsive and the suspension is still too soft even with the adaptive dampers in sport mode (which requires digging around the touchscreen). That will likely appeal to most RX buyers, but won’t be welcome by enthusiasts. The standard Goodyear Eagle Touring tires also don’t have enough grip when you really want to punch this thing around the turns.

But this is still a Lexus RX. So, aside from a few performance flaws, it’s still a great everyday SUV. Keep it in normal mode and you’ll still get that peppy acceleration matched with super-soft suspension and effortless handling. The cabin is quiet; The sound of wind or tires from outside barely reaches.

Like any Lexus interior, it’s a sublime place to sit. Enhanced red

Lexus Rx 500h Review: No Longer Your Grandma’s Crossover

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