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Where Have All the Buttons Gone?
The Lexus RX is a value leader in a segment known for extravagance and performance. But is there more value to be had buying one new or used?
The Sneaky Smart Choice
The Lexus RX stands apart in a segment populated by German luxury crossovers due to its relative affordability and its reputation for reliability. Whatever it gives up in terms of performance (the RX is no BMW X5, to be sure), the RX more than makes up for with its value proposition. And that’s probably why it out-sells its German competitors by a wide margin.
The Lexus RX delivers a quiet and calming drive along with a comfortable and well-wrought interior. For most buyers looking to take a step up from the RAV4s of the world, the RX is a great option. Again, unlike its German counterparts, this Lexus, being a Lexus after all, has low depreciation. And this has significant impacts on whether to consider buying an RX new or used. But first, we’ll walk you through both the 2018 and current 2022 model year Lexus RXs to track its recent evolutions.
Specs
The 2018 Lexus RX comes with the option two powertrains, one gas (the RX 350) and one hybrid (RX 450h). Either can be had in standard or long versions (designated with an L) which adds four inches to total length along with a foldaway third row. The gas option is a 3.5L V6 making 295 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy comes in at 20 city and 27 highway mpg in front-wheel drive and 19/26 mpg. The RX 350 L dips marginally to 290 horsepower and in fuel economy by a mile per gallon. Power is transferred through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid option combines the above 3.5L V6 with a 123-kW electric motor for 308 horsepower and 247 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s good for 31 city and 28 highway mpg in standard all-wheel drive.
Toyota/Lexus is known for their ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it approach to vehicle evolutions and the 2022 Lexus RX doesn’t change a whole lot from its prior incarnation. The same 3.5L V6 is here making the same 295 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy is basically unchanged. The hybrid, however, does get new assistance. The 3.5L V6 is now paired with three electric motors, two up front and one powering the rear wheels. Output remains the same however at 308 horsepower and 247 lb.-ft. of torque.
The F Sport version doesn’t get a sport-tuned engine, let alone a different powertrain option. Instead the F Sport adds exterior flourishes as well as an optional Handling Package that gets you an adaptive suspension and sport-tuned steering.
Driving & Performance
The 2018 Lexus RX eschews sporty performance in favor of a comfort-oriented experience. Throttle response is decent for a crossover, but substantially behind that of segment rivals like the BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne. The trade off is a sublime and becalming drive. Potholes, bumps, and even cobblestones are mere rumors for RX occupants. While no track athlete, the RX is well composed in cornering with limited body lean. Steering is light, if a bit numb. If you’re looking for a luxury crossover for cross-country road trips, the zero-fatigue RX needs to be on your short list.
The 2022 RX hasn’t substantially changed its on-road character. It is worth noting that Lexus’ hybrid transmission is not a traditional CVT you’ll find on most hybrid powertrains. Instead, Lexus employs a planetary gear system that eliminates the common “rubber band-y” complaint associated with most CVTs while also providing better torque response (something akin to an electric vehicle in feel).
Comfort & Interior
The 2018 Lexus RX may be conservative in its design, but that simplicity blends well with the RX’s solid build quality and high-end materials. The cabin has some of the best sound proofing you’ll find in any vehicle outside a Rolls-Royce. The seats pair well with the quiet cabin and smooth ride as they are supremely comfortable both front and back (the rear seats even recline).
There’s ample storage in the door bins and center console. And that’s good because one of the RX’s prime deficits is its comparatively small cargo area. The standard RX gets 18.4 cu. ft. in back, which is low for the segment, but 56.3 cu. ft. with the rear seats folded down. The RX 350L and 450L get 7.5 cu.ft. behind the power-folding third row, 23 with that third row down, and 58.5 cu. ft. in total.
The 2018 RX’s cabin does have one major weakness. The infotainment interface. Rather than a touchscreen, Lexus implemented a laptop-like track pad that takes time to get used to. Thankfully, Lexus listened to customers and reviewers and remedied this in the 2020 model year.
Also thanks to that 2020 refresh, the current 2022 Lexus RX has access to both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the latter of which gets the full-screen treatment and offers a good alternative to the Lexus software. In the 2022 model, the infotainment system now has redundant controls with options for either using the track pad or the touchscreen. And unlike a lot of this year’s luxury infotainment systems, Lexus has allowed the RX to retain physical controls for the climate control and stereo.
Aside from these infotainment system updates, the 2022 RX has retained the same design and quality as the 2018 model.
Trims & Features
Rather than offering tiered trims, the Lexus RX offers a lengthy list of standard features that can be supplemented with additional options and packages.
The base 2018 Lexus RX comes standard with the following: an eight-inch infotainment screen, satellite and HD radio, a nine-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, two USB ports, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, power tailgate, faux-leather upholstery, and 18-inch wheels. Standard safety features include lane departure warnings, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, rear-view camera, automatic high beams, and pre-collision warnings with pedestrian detection.
Options on the 2018 RX include leather upholstery, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, a 15-speaker Mark Levison premium stereo system, a hands-free lift gate, heated and ventilated front seats, a sunroof, heated steering wheel, rear-seat DVD entertainment, a heads-up display, and a surround-view camera.
The 2022 Lexus RX similarly offers a wide assortment of standard features that includes 10-way power front seats, an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, HD and satellite radio, six USB ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a nine-speaker stereo, dual-zone automatic climate control, power liftgate, synthetic leather upholstery, heated side mirrors, rains-sensing wipers, and 18-inch wheels. Standard safety includes all the 2018’s features but also adds blind spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alerts, and automatic emergency braking.
The RX 350 L and 450H L add the power-folding third row, optional second-row captain’s chairs, and tri-zone climate control.
Options on the 2022 Lexus RX offer leather upholstery, wood and aluminum interior trimmings, the 15-speaker Mark Levison audio system, panoramic moonroof, heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, parking assist, and front and rear parking sensors.
Additional Considerations
The aforementioned 2020 refresh is really what separates the 2018 Lexus RX from the current 2022 model. The new infotainment interface, the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a few feature upgrades (like more USB ports) all make the 2022 more attractive. Speaking of which, equally significant to those interior changes where the exterior updates that saw new, more aggressively styled front and rear facia and the new, even larger Lexus spindle grille up front. The 2022 certainly looks the sharper of the two models.
But even more significant in weighing whether to buy new or used is the Lexus RX’s depreciation, or lack thereof. Unlike the rest of the segment, which typically drop some 30-50 percent of their value in the first five years on the road, the Lexus RX’s depreciation curve is much shallower. Even in a market where used car prices are at all-time highs, a used RX just doesn’t offer a lot of daylight between it and a new example. Currently, used 2018 Lexus RXs are running around $45,000, give or take a few thousand either way. A new 2022 Lexus RX can be found for between $52,000 and $60,000, with a median close to $55,000. For a five-year old luxury vehicle, a 20-percent depreciation rate is exceptional.
This works in the favor of those considering buying a new RX in two ways. One, you can be confident that your new luxury crossover will retain more value than segment alternatives. And two, in the absence of a big price gap inducement to buy used, you can confidently get yourself in a new car without feeling like you’re taking a financial hit in doing so.
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