UK Edition
Review
Lexus RX450h review: if there’s such a thing as an ideal urban SUV, this is it
So you want a luxurious SUV – but you don’t want a diesel, just in case your local city centre decides to try and ban the things in a year or two. What are the alternatives? A petrol engine in a large SUV is just too thirsty – and if you’re a company car driver, prohibitively expensive to tax, too, not to mention the environmental impact.
So how about a petrol plug-in hybrid? Well, that’s all well and good – if you have somewhere to plug it in and are willing to commit to doing so.
Alternatively, there’s this. On paper, at least, the Lexus RX450h looks like the answer to big SUV buyers’ problems. It’s a traditional hybrid that you don’t plug in – along the lines of the Toyota Prius, albeit much posher.
This is the fourth generation, and the third in which a hybrid has been made available since it was introduced 15 years ago. It’s just been on the receiving end of a mid-life primp that’s involved, in addition to the usual styling tweaks, a smattering of extra technology and, thanks to revised manufacturing processes, a stiffer bodyshell that, Lexus claims, will improve both ride and handling.
The hybrid’s powerplant hasn’t been changed, so it still consists of a 3.5-litre V6 engine, two electric motors – one for each axle – and a 1.9kWh nickel metal-hydride battery. The combination results in a maximum power output of 308bhp. And now that the petrol-only RX200t has been dropped, this is in fact the only engine option in the UK.
There are three basic versions to choose from. Go for either the entry-level Premium Pack or body-kitted F Sport and you can boost your car’s already generous specification by adding one of two options packages that comprise equipment that comes as standard on the top-spec Takumi.
Alternatively, you can pick the RX L, which gets two extra seats, and comes either as a Premium Pack or a Takumi – there’s no seven-seat F Sport option.
The biggest question to answer, of course, is whether the RX450h works as an alternative to an equivalent diesel. It’s certainly cheap to buy and own – cheaper like-for-like, in fact, than diesel versions of any of its chief rivals, those being the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and Jaguar F-Pace.
While the Jaguar beats it on price and fuel efficiency, the Lexus fights back with better resale values and impressively low maintenance and repair costs, helped along by that five-year, 100,000-mile warranty. It beats the BMW and the Merc here, too, while matching them on fuel economy, though there is a caveat here, which is that the Lexus’s hybrid drivetrain suits urban driving far better than motorways.
Mostly good news on paper, then. So what’s it like in the flesh? Well, rather nice, actually. For starters, there’s the interior. Granted, the slivers of metal-effect plastic aren’t particularly convincing, but frankly, you’re too busy gazing at the acres of soft-leather and beautifully curved open-grain wood surfaces to care.
Thankfully, Lexus has retained proper physical buttons for the climate controls, rather than resorting to a touchscreen like some rivals, and these feel slick and high-quality – as, indeed, do most of the other stalks and switches.
There are a couple of bum notes as far as usability’s concerned, mind you. Chief among these is the infotainment which, while looking rather swish, is a real pain to find your way around thanks to a touchpad controller that requires both dexterity and concentration to use accurately. As a result, you often end up overshooting the on-screen command you’re looking to select, which makes it fiddly, and therefore distracting, when you’re on the move.
Some of the switchgear is located in odd places, too, such as the heated seat switches, which you have to snake your arm around the gear selector to reach, and the random gaggle of buttons, located below and behind the right-hand side of the steering wheel, that the designers couldn’t find a home for anywhere else.
There’s plenty of space in the front, though, and some neat touches such as the pop-out door bins that mean finding homes for your odds and ends is a doddle. In the back, meanwhile, you can seat three abreast, and the flat floor, with no hump in the middle, will mean the middle-seat passenger doesn’t feel short-changed.
The seats themselves fold and slide, which is handy, though the 60/40 split bench isn’t quite as versatile as the three individual seats you’ll find in some rivals. The boot itself is tiny, too, whether the seats are up or down, while the high load lip will make it hard to load heavier items – and for dogs to jump in and out.
Inside, then, the RX450h is pleasing but flawed, and so it goes when you get it out on the road. On startup, the RX runs in electric mode, which means there’s nothing but a ‘bong’ to let you know it’s running. Pretty soon after you move off, though, the petrol engine kicks in – no hardship, given it emits a rather pleasing six-cylinder burble at pootling speeds.
It gets more vocal if you give the RX the full beans, thanks to the CVT transmission’s habit of holding the engine at high revs during prolonged hard acceleration. Mind you, the mellifluous engine note means this isn’t as much of a chore for the ears as in some lesser hybrids, and thanks to the relatively potent and pleasingly flexible powertrain, the times you’ll actually need to call for full power are few and far between.
It might be quick, but the RX450h is not a particularly sporting car to drive. Both the Takumi and F Sport versions come with adaptive suspension as standard, which is a promising start, and fundamentally the RX doesn’t handle badly, with plenty of grip and traction on offer.
But even with the suspension in its stiffest mode the body leans over quite a bit, and there’s always a sense of its weight trying to push its nose on ahead, which prevents it from turning crisply into corners. There’s no feel through the light, over-assisted steering, either, and the combination of those two traits mean you never feel all that keen to push on.
This rather lumpen driving experience extends to the way the RX rides, too. Over larger bumps and fluctuations in the road surface, it feels stiff and slow to react, transmitting them through to the body of the car rather than ironing them out; this woodenness causes the RX to float over larger crests before crashing down on to itself as the road levels.
It’s a shame, because smaller imperfections and ridges are dealt with very well, and the RX is delightfully serene when cruising, with engine, road and wind noise all kept in check admirably.
If you can live with its thirst, then, the RX450h is very pleasant on a motorway. But it’s a better bet if you do most of your driving in town: not only does the hybrid system do its best fuel-saving in this environment, but you’ll rarely notice the slightly dim-witted handling, and the relaxed driving experience will help make up for the small boot and fiddly infotainment.
As a straight replacement for a diesel-powered luxury SUV, the RX450h won’t suit everyone. But if you’re worried about being clobbered by a town-centre diesel ban and don’t want a plug-in, it might fit the bill rather well.
THE FACTS
Lexus RX450h Takumi
TESTED 3,456cc V6 petrol with two AC permanent magnet synchronous motors and a 1.9kWh battery, CVT continuously variable automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
PRICE/ON SALE £61,705 OTR/now
POWER/TORQUE 308bhp / 247lb ft
TOP SPEED 124mph
ACCELERATION 0-62mph in 7.7sec
FUEL ECONOMY 35.3mpg (WLTP Combined)
CO2 EMISSIONS 134g/km
VED £200 first year, £465 next five years, then £145
VERDICT It’s comfortable, reliable and beautifully finished; with better resolved suspension and a larger boot, the RX450h would be ideal for those getting the jitters about diesel power in their next luxury SUV. As it is, it’ll work well for some, but not for others – if you need to haul large loads and do lots of motorway miles, you might be better off looking elsewhere.
TELEGRAPH RATING Three stars out of five
THE RIVALS
BMW X5 xDrive45e xLine, from £63,175 OTR
Behind the mildly ridiculous name lies a car of real talent. The X5 in this plug-in hybrid form is slick to drive, beautifully finished inside, and more spacious than the Lexus. What’s more, it’s much cheaper as a company car, and as long as you plug it in regularly, it’ll be more efficient too. It isn’t quite as well equipped, though, despite being pricier to buy.
Jaguar F-Pace 3.0d S, from £54,490 OTR
If you can live with diesel power, this F-Pace looks like a bargain next to the Lexus. It’s better to drive, just as well equipped, and while its interior isn’t quite as nicely finished, it still feels affluent and upmarket. There’s a good deal more space in the boot, too, and thanks to a low P11D value, it’ll be cheap to tax as a company car.
Volvo XC90 B5 (Petrol) Inscription Pro, from £61,360 OTR
Thanks to its mild hybrid drivetrain, this petrol-powered XC90 isn’t as thirsty as most petrol SUVs, though it’s still much less frugal than the Lexus. However, you do get a tonne of equipment, two extra seats, super-smooth air suspension and one of the best interiors into the business thrown in – which might make it worth the extra you’ll spend running it.
For tips and advice, visit our Advice section, or sign up to our newsletter here
To talk all things motoring with the Telegraph Cars team join the Telegraph Motoring Club Facebook group here