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Buy this Ford vs Ferrari GT40 Movie Car2023 Lexus RX: Comfort, Safety, and Style
The 2023 Lexus RX comes with a host of new powertrains, new interior technology, and a stunning new exterior design. Read our full review here.
What’s new for the 2023 Lexus RX?
The 2023 Lexus RX comes in six trim levels with four available powertrains and front or all-wheel drive. Each one comes with an extensive warranty, a deep driver safety aid package, and a striking exterior design.
This year marks the beginning of the fifth generation of the RX. With that comes a host of new powertrains, new interior technology, and a stunning new exterior design
While the 2023 Lexus RX might look like a big departure from its predecessors it’s still a comfortable everyday driver that older fans will still love.
2023 Lexus RX – pressroom.lexus.com | Shop 2023 Lexus RX on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Dashing new design
Smooth infotainment system
Best RX interior yet
Testy driver aids
Not very athletic
No third-row option
A great addition to the RX family
2023 RX Specs
- 275 horsepower from base engine
- 317 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 6 available trims
- 29.6 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 46.2 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Available 14-inch infotainment screen
- Standardadaptive cruise control
- Four-year limited warranty
2023 Lexus RX Powertrain
The base powertrain in the RX consists of a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. It comes with an eight-speed automatic and front-wheel drive but all-wheel drive is also available. It’s actually one of the most impressive thanks to its responsive performance and smooth gear changes.
Above the base powertrain is a hybridized 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 246 hp and a continuously variable transmission. In our experience, it’s the least enjoyable RX to drive. It’s a bit too weak to offer any sort of driving pleasure and the CVT causes a drone during acceleration too.
At the top of the food chain is the RX500h with its hybrid 2.4-liter engine which develops no less than 367 hp. It comes standard with a “performance-oriented” all-wheel drive system that is objectively the most fun version of this car to drive.
The suspension is a touch firmer and the acceleration is sincerely good. Lexus promises to at some point bring over a plug-in hybrid dubbed the RX450h+. We’ve piloted one and enjoyed it. It’s probably the most balanced in the bunch.
2023 Lexus RX Fuel Economy & MPG
The base RX gets up to 22 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway according to the EPA. That’s not very good but thankfully both hybrid versions sip fuel a little more carefully. The RX500h with all of its extra power manages 27 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway.
The RX350h jumps up to 37 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. We still don’t have any word on how the RX450h+ will perform. For now, those who want a plug-in hybrid Lexus should look at the smaller NX.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Just as past RX models have, this new car sets another high bar for interior design and quality in the segment. The panel gaps, switchgear, materials, and layout all feel equal to the price point.
There are small touches that we really love too. For instance, passengers open the door to exit the vehicle via poppers on the door panel. Those same poppers double as the mechanical handle too when pulled out instead of being pushed in.
The seats get a really sleek stitching pattern and excellent bolstering, and Lexus doesn’t leave any space unused. The design is cohesive, elegant, and attractive. Rear-seat passenger space is good too and there’s room behind them for cargo too.
Lexus says that the cargo area holds up to 29.6 cubic feet worth of gear. Drop those rear seats and it’ll expand to over 46 cubic feet. Overall, the RX offers a really lovely place to spend time.
Entertainment & Technology
The old trackpad situation from previous Lexus models is long gone here in the RX and we couldn’t be happier about it. A standard 9.8-inch infotainment system offers bright graphics, quick responses, and a logically laid-out menu too.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both standard features as well. Those who want it can get a beautiful 14-inch infotainment system along with a 10-inch heads-up display.
As one slides their finger over the steering wheel buttons the heads-up display will show helpful hints about what the driver is hovering over. It’s an intuitive system and it actually makes us question how Lexus got its driver attention feature so wrong.
A small camera sits just above the steering wheel to watch the driver but it has two problems. First, those who drive with a hand positioned at the 12-o-clock position on the wheel will block it and set it off. Secondly, those who turn their head to read a passing road sign or observe something in traffic can set it off quite easily too.
Safety Features
Every RX comes with a full suite of safety equipment. That includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, lane-departure mitigation, and automatic high beams. Buyers can also add blind-spot monitoring and a rear-passenger seat safety exit system.
2023 Lexus RX Trims & Pricing
As we’ve discussed above, Lexus sells the RX with four distinct powertrain options. Below are the seven trim levels currently available across the lineup. Keep in mind that most trims come with access to only the 2.5-liter non-hybrid engine from the RX350 or the 2.4-liter hybrid engine from the 350h for now. Later this year we expect Lexus to introduce the 450h but it hasn’t released info on what trims it’ll be available with.
Standard – $48,550
The base RX gets 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, LED tail lights, LED fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, heated exterior mirrors, a power liftgate, keyless entry, tri-zone climate control, faux-leather upholstery, a 9.8-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and 12 speakers.
Premium – $50,550
The Premium comes with roof rails, driver’s seat memory settings, ventilated front seats, a sunroof, real wood trim, a wireless smartphone charger, and parking sensors.
Premium+ – $53,150
Step up to the Premium+ and you’ll get a heated steering wheel with real wood and leather trim, genuine leather perforated leather upholstery, a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a smog-sensing climate control system, and upgraded interior ambient lighting.
Luxury – $56,550
This trim gets 21-inch wheels, faux suede door trim, a 10-inch heads-up display, and a set of 10-way adjustable front seats.
F Sport – $57,750
The F Sport is only available in RX350 guise. It comes with a sport-tuned adaptive suspension, upgraded brakes, front sports seats, a sport-design steering wheel, faux leather, aluminum interior trim, and unique exterior trim.
F Sport Performance – $63,745
The top-level RX is the 500h F Sport Performance which is the only one with the 367 hp version of the hybrid powertrain mated to a performance-oriented four-wheel drive system. It also gets a color-keyed F Sport body kit, dark chrome exterior trim, and black mirror caps.
Warranties
Lexus provides a four-year or 50,000-mile limited warranty on every RX. It’ll also back up the powertrain for no less than six years or 70,000 miles. Hybrid components are covered for a total of eight years or 100,000 miles and Lexus picks up the tab on all maintenance over the first year or 10,000 miles.
What we think
2023 Lexus RX – pressroom.lexus.com | Shop 2023 Lexus RX on Carsforsale.com
The Lexus RX kicked off its own segment and has more competitors today than the automaker may have ever dreamt possible. It’s not what we’d consider at the top of the pack anymore but it’s worthy of consideration for anyone who values comfort, safety, and style above qualities like performance or a low price. As of this writing, Lexus is offering some attractive incentives on the RX too. Those who want an even cheaper deal could look at our list of the top ten used luxury SUVs on sale right now.
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