Lexus RX Review & Prices

The Lexus RX is a left-field choice of upmarket SUV - most of its alternatives are big, brash and German - cars such as the BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne and Mercedes GLE.

By contrast, the Lexus RX is a bit more like the Volvo XC90 - it flies a bit more under the radar. It’s like one of those quality watches that you can only tell is expensive if you’re in the know - rather than a flashy Rolex.

That’s despite the fact that the RX is really quite sharp-looking these days, in contrast with its ever-so-slightly dowdy predecessors. It has an eye-catching grille design that sort of fades out at the edges rather than being crisply defined, flanked by angular headlights. The side has plenty of chrome and creases, while the roofline slopes sharply at the rear with a black panel on the C-pillar giving it a floating effect.

You can even specify some very bold colours - the usual array of silvers, greys and blacks meets a handsome deep red, dark metallic blue, khaki green and even a rose gold shade called ‘Sonic Copper’. Snazzy.

Inside, it’s not quite as glam, but you do still get wonderfully comfortable seats and a pretty clean design. Material choices are high quality and everything feels well-built enough to handle a medium-sized nuclear holocaust without too many issues.

You also get Lexus’ latest infotainment system, which features a mixture of a touchscreen and two physical dials for climate controls. It’s a big, clear and responsive screen, but the interface can be a bit difficult to use at first and some features are buried in way too many menus.

Practicality is also a mixed bag. The RX has reasonably capacious rear seats, but there’s no option for seven seats like you have with the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90 or BMW X5. Boot space is also way down on those cars, and with just 461 litres of space it’s worse than many much smaller SUVs.

There are three engines to choose from. The basic 350h is a self-charging hybrid in typical Lexus style, while the 450h+ is a plug-in hybrid that should provide a cost-effective option for company car drivers. At the top, the 500h is the first time Lexus has paired a turbocharged engine with its hybrid system - but it falls a long way short in terms of being a ‘sports SUV’ compared to the German opposition.

So it’s not exciting to drive - but the good news is that the Lexus is also pretty unexciting to own, in the best possible way. Up to ten years of warranty cover is available, and Lexus’ dealers have a fantastic reputation for looking after their customers. The hybrid system is also legendarily reliable.

So, if you value dependability, aftercare and build quality over keeping up with the Joneses, then the Lexus RX could find its way onto your drive. Check out our best Lexus RX deals, or get a great Lexus RX lease deal on Carwow. You can browse used Lexus RX models for sale, or search through other used Lexus cars for sale. And remember that Carwow can even help you to sell your old car when the time comes, with our network of trusted dealers bidding to get you the best price.

The Lexus RX starts at more than £60,000, which is midway between a BMW X3 and an X5 in price - though it’s rather closer to the X3 in terms of size. It’s a couple of thousand pounds off an entry-level Volvo XC90, and around £10k off an entry-level Audi Q7 - so a relative bargain compared to those cars.

That carries through to the plug-in hybrid variant, which is much cheaper than alternatives - and could save you a packet in company car tax. The RX is reasonable value as long as you’re not expecting a car that’s as physically big or as powerful as the alternatives.

At the top of the range, you’ll be paying more than £80,000 - which does feel rather a lot for a car with a comparatively weedy four-cylinder engine. The top-end 500h models don’t feel as though they’re worth the money compared to more genuine sporting SUVs.

Comfy and composed, great for a long trip - but the hybrid engines don’t like being pushed, even the 500h range-topper

In town

All RX models are hybrid, so they’re ideally suited for driving across town. Lexus has been building hybrids for two decades now, so it’s matured nicely - the shuffle between petrol and electric power is almost imperceptible, helped by the excellent sound deadening which means that even when the engine’s on you barely hear it.

You can do short bursts on electricity alone in the self-charging hybrid and up to 40 miles in a fully-charged plug-in hybrid. The brakes aren’t the best-managed thing, though - you need to feather them or you might find your passengers headbutting the dash.

The turning circle on most models isn’t the best, but higher trim levels get rear-wheel steering which improves manoeuvrability around town. Visibility is pretty good out the front, though over-the-shoulder visibility could be better. Still, an array of cameras help with slow-speed work, and all models get electronic door latches with ‘safe exit assist’ a feature that’s intended to stop you from ‘dooring’ a passing cyclist when you get out of the car.

On the motorway

The peace and quiet of the RX is spoiled a bit when you put your foot down on a slip road - the CVT transmission sends the revs spiralling, and none of the four-cylinder engines sound very nice. It’s certainly much more satisfying to accelerate in a six-cylinder BMW X5 or Audi Q7.

Still, there’s plenty of punch even in the base 350h model, so you don’t have to suffer the noise for very long. Once you’re up to speed, long-distance cruising is a pleasure thanks to standard adaptive cruise control that works well, great refinement and superbly comfortable seats.

On a twisty road

Those who want a sports SUV, look elsewhere. The RX’s powertrains don’t lend themselves to spirited driving, because as soon as you put your foot down they start revving wildly. There is a sport mode, which sharpens up responses, and the handling is actually quite good - not too much body lean, with sharp, accurate steering. But the BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover Velar are all much better for a blast down a good B-road.

The range-topping 500h (which costs more than £80,000) is rather disappointing if you’re expecting a sports SUV. Though it has a beefy 371hp, four-wheel drive, and a turbocharged engine - mated to a proper six-speed transmission, not a CVT - it simply doesn’t feel different enough to the regular 350h. Save your money and get the cheaper car instead, and if you’re looking for an SUV that’s genuinely fun to drive go and buy an Alfa Romeo Stelvio instead.

Plenty of space in the cabin, but boot space is limited compared to alternatives

The RX has a good amount of space in the cabin, and you can get in a comfortable position really easily with lots of electrical adjustment in the seat and steering wheel. The seats are supremely comfortable once you’re settled in, while you get decent stowage throughout.

That includes a deep central console space under the armrest, which opens either side, while there’s two cup holders and a space to wirelessly charge your phone. The door bins are also pretty big, while the glovebox and small storage pocket to the right of the steering wheel are lined to stop things rattling around.

Space in the back seats

The good amount of space up front continues into the back. You get plenty of head and legroom without the optional panoramic sunroof, while adding that glazed area can limit room above you somewhat. Sitting three adults across the back can also be a squeeze, as the roofline does cut in quite sharply so the outer passengers will be leaning in towards the middle one.

In terms of storage, you get covered cupholders in the fold-down armrest, folder-style pockets on the seat backs and decent door bins. Child seat fitting is pretty straightforward, thanks to a large door opening, and ISOFIX points that are easy to access on the two outer seats.

Boot space

Compared to similarly priced alternatives, the RX is down quite a bit for luggage space. The 461-litre boot is well off the Volvo XC90 (680 litres), BMW X5 (650 litres) and Audi Q7 (770 litres). All three of those cars are able to seat seven people, which the RX can’t match either.

You do get electrically-folding rear seats that makes dropping them much easier. The space when they’ve finished moving isn’t quite flat, but it’s a smooth floor so sliding things to the front is easy.

Quality materials and an air of fantastic solidity - shame the infotainment is still a bit of a pain to use

Where Lexus excels is in the quality of its interiors. Being the high-end SUV, the RX gets synthetic leather on the entry model, but the other three trim options get proper leather upholstery for the ultimate comfort. The steering wheel follows the same theme, plus the top-spec Takumi gets wood inlays for additional premium feel. You mostly get piano black plastic on the other trims.

Even at the lower points of the cabin – where you’d expect scratchy plastics – you’ll find soft-touch materials that let you know you’re in a high-end product.

All versions of the RX get a 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, which has two dials either side for the climate control. The screen itself is bright and easy to use, but the user interface isn’t that great. The small menus when you’re navigating it are not located on the driver’s side, so when you’re driving, reaching that far can be a severe issue.

You also have to dive down into several layers of menu for functions as simple as turning off the speed limit warning.

It’s the same case here as it is with most other cars – it’s much easier to connect your phone with either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. With wireless for Apple’s system and wired for Android Auto, you can use the multiple USB-C ports or the wireless charging pad for charging. The wired Android Auto is a particular shame, relegating half the phone-carrying population to having cables trailing across their interior.

The steering wheel controls also frustrate. They have two layers of functionality, and are unmarked - you have to hover your finger over them and stare at the head-up display to figure out what you’re about to change. It’s needlessly complicated.

The best version of the RX for efficiency is the 450h+, which is the plug-in hybrid. That does come with a caveat though – you have to make sure you charge the battery pack when you can and use as much of the 40 miles of range after a charge. Otherwise, you’ll be looking at figures well below the 200+mpg quoted by Lexus. You get 25g/km CO2 for emissions, so that means lower initial tax costs and Benefit in Kind for company cars than the other RX models.

Going for the 350h self-charging hybrid means you do get lower claimed efficiency figures (44.8mpg) and higher emissions (143g/km), but you’re more likely to get close to those figures. Lexus self-charging hybrids often outperform their quoted economy in town, too.

The sportiest version of the RX is the 500h. That comes with emissions of 189g/km CO2 and efficiency of 34mpg - around 30mpg in the real world. Not the best for a hybrid, that’s for sure.

As with many Toyota-built models, the Lexus RX comes with an excellent suite of safety systems as standard. In this case you get pre-collision warning, sway warning (effectively stops you weaving in and out of your lane), road sign assist, adaptive cruise control with lane assist and adaptive high beam with each RX, while you also get blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert with automatic braking too. All but the entry level car get lane change assist and cross traffic alert as well.

Not only do you get good safety kit, but the RX comes with an excellent safety rating. Tested by Euro NCAP, the RX gets a five-star rating with high scores in every category. All areas of testing scored around the 90% mark, which is excellent.

Inside, you get ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats and airbags all round the cabin.

Cars from the Toyota family tree, as Lexus is, are known to be near bomb-proof, with high build quality and reliability. Over the history of the model, the RX has had very few recalls in the UK, and in the last decade, only some faulty airbags of the previous generation have been an issue.

Lexus came a reasonable 12th in the 2024 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, and though the RX didn’t feature in the top 50 models to own a glut of other Toyota and Lexus models did.

As with every Lexus, the RX gets the standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty. If you want further peace of mind, you can get up to a 10-year or 100,000 miles warranty by getting your car serviced with a Lexus garage. You get 12 months/10,000 miles for every visit, up to a decade after purchase.