That’s much more closer to the rest of the class and marginally faster than the Genesis GV80 2.5T or Mercedes-Benz GLE350, but those are the base models of those vehicles. New to the lineup is the RX 500h, a more powerful variant that puts the turbo back on to increase output to 366 hp and 406 lb-ft, enough to propel it to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. Meanwhile, the engine moos like a recalcitrant cow as the continuously variable transmission (CVT) keeps the revs annoyingly high. On most highway onramps, you’ll have to pin the pedal to the floor to confidently merge into the flow of traffic. You’d think that would also be as adequate as the non-hybrid RX 350, but it’s not. Combined, they produce 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque and Lexus claims it’ll accelerate to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. The RX 350h hybrid loses the turbocharger and adds a hybrid powertrain and a supplemental electric motor to power the rear axle for all-wheel drive. These times are adequate, but far from impressive. That’s not enough to noticeably improve acceleration, though, as Lexus estimates it will take 7.2 seconds to reach 60 mph with the all-wheel drive model (the front-drive version needs 7.5 seconds). It makes 275 horsepower, 20 hp less than its predecessor, but its 317 pound-feet of torque is a 50 lb-ft gain. The RX 350 is now powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine instead of last year’s V6. Lexus also plans to sell the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid in the U.S., but exactly when that will happen isn’t clear yet. The new 2023 RX lineup is made up of the base RX 350, the RX 350h hybrid and the more powerful RX 500h hybrid. Lexus A Bronze Medal is Still Good, Right? The 2023 RX’s design is clearly evolutionary relative to previous versions, but it’s cleaner and more muscular looking than the angular outgoing version.
While that kind of honest assessment is appreciated, I contend that perhaps performance has been pushed too far back on the priorities list. Some people just want to cruise in quiet contentment.
2022 lexus crossover drivers#
Lexus recognizes that not all drivers want or need gobs of power and acceleration that pins you to the seat. We’ve been conditioned to expect that luxury vehicles can’t just be comfortable, they have to wow you with Nürburgring-tuned handling and hit 60 mph faster than DotCom-era supercars. There’s something admirable about being self-aware enough to know where your strengths lie and capitalizing on them, but at the same time, it tends to narrow overall appeal.
2022 lexus crossover full#
During that time, the RX has remained true to its mission of delivering efficient luxury and largely avoided other manufacturers’ performance wars.įor 2023, the Lexus RX lineup gets a full redesign and this new fifth-generation model sees big changes while maintaining its core personality. Competitors have come and gone over the years, with many evolving into plug-in hybrids or fully electric vehicles. It was the first hybrid luxury SUV in 2005 and 17 years later it’s the last vehicle in its class to offer a hybrid option. The Lexus RX was the first one in and the last one out. The top-tier 2023 Lexus RX 500h offers more speed than any previous RX and all versions are redesigned this year, but the rest of the lineup remains a little slower than average.
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