what’s the story?
Lexus RX is the second leisure vehicle in the world among the luxury brands (Mercedes was first with ML). Since the marketing of the first generation (1999) until today, 3.5 million units of the model have been sold. This is the best-selling Lexus model in the world throughout the years, and is now coming to Israel in a new, fifth generation.
What’s new?
The basis, Toyota’s contemporary GA-K platform that serves a wide line of models including Rav 4 and Camry. In the new generation, the wheelbase has increased by 6 cm, the other dimensions are almost not. The weight has decreased by 90 kg and the center of gravity is lower than before. The idea of Lexus is to also appeal to driving enthusiasts.
For the first time, RX gives up the V6 engine (available in the US), and is offered in Israel only with 4-cylinder engines, and only in a hybrid configuration, as the vision of Lexus (and Toyota) in Europe. All together 250 hp. Acceleration to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.
The middle version is 450h+ where the ‘plus’, as usual in Lexus, indicates that it is a plug-in hybrid. Here too, the basis is the same 2.5 liter gasoline engine, this time with a slightly reduced power of 185 hp, combined with 2 more powerful electric motors. The final result is 309 hp and acceleration to 100 km/h is shortened to 6.5 seconds. Thanks to a larger 18 kW battery, the claimed electric range is 66 km.
The top version is the 500h, and this one has a new 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 272 hp combined with a 6-speed planetary automatic transmission instead of a continuous transmission in the other two versions. Here, too, there are 2 electric motors and the combined power of all 3 engines is 371 hp, which arranges Acceleration to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds.
In all of them the drive is double, while in the 500h version it is more advanced (moderates the weight transfers during acceleration and braking), and it also has sophisticated rear steering and adaptive dampers.
what is on the menu?
The passenger cabin is completely different from the previous generation, and is designed in the spirit of the current Lexus NX that combines a large 14-inch multimedia screen with physical buttons to operate the central systems. There are 4 trim levels with the base level ‘Kyushu’ already having an electric sunroof, audio system with 12 speakers, 19″ rims, electric and heated front seats, leather upholstery, electric steering wheel adjustment, peripheral parking sensors, tinted rear windows , reversing camera, electric trunk opening, etc. The range of safety systems in all trim levels includes autonomous braking, correcting and maintaining the center of the lane, intersection assistance, emergency steering assistance, and more.
What is the price?
350h version with ‘Kyushu’ finish level: NIS 400,000.
350h version in the ‘generational’ trim level: NIS 440,000.
450h+ version in the ‘generational’ trim level: NIS 465,000.
450h+ version with a ‘Takomi’ finish level: NIS 500,000.
500h version with ‘F Sport’ trim level: NIS 550,000.
In the base version it is a similar price to that of the retiring generation, but then the model offered the option of 7 seats. Now there are only 5 seats, and these are still significantly lower prices than those of prominent competitors such as the Mercedes GLE, BMW X5, etc. The allocation to Israel is between 300-400 units and the importer’s people estimate that the sales division will be 50% hybrid, 40% plug-in and 10% of the turbo version.
To the model page >> Lexus RX