2016 Lexus RX: First Drive Review

The 2016 Lexus RX is the first of a new generation, the fourth of this virtually iconic — certainly the best-selling — premium midsize crossover SUV. It seems like the RX invented this class of vehicle. Instead of old-school body-on-frame construction, this was one of the earliest to use the unibody approach for a more refined ride. And refinement has been a defining trait ever since. Once some people have bought a Lexus, they tend to forget about other makes and just update their models, such is the loyalty this marque inspires. This could well be the case with the new RX, since Lexus hasn’t messed much with the formula, other than adding technology. A new F Sport trim is also on the order books, aimed primarily toward the enthusiast.

Models and Pricing

The range starts out with the RX 350. There aren’t any trim levels in the usual sense, just a few options packages. But the F Sport treatment goes a little further by adding sport seats (great lateral support, yet still comfortable), adaptive suspension, special gauges and different mats. Naturally there’s a hybrid version: the RX 450h. This might seem illogical, given that hybrids typically avoid performance chops, but there’s also an F Sport RX 450h with the same cosmetic and hardware additions. In its basic form, the RX uses front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available for the regular RX and the hybrid; it comes as standard in F Sport derivations. The 2016 RX goes on sale November 2015. At the time of writing this, no official pricing had been announced. All Lexus has said so far is that the range will start “well under $45,000.” The 2015 RX 350 starts at $41,910, including $940 destination charges.

Design

If there was one word to describe Lexus products over the years, chances are “conservative” would be a likely candidate. The new RX looks anything but. Overall, the styling is hardly subtle. Whether this will attract or deter the Lexus faithful remains to be seen. Sometimes it takes one particular feature to lure a beholder who hasn’t seen any beauty previously. With this vehicle, it could easily be those inner creases in the hood, which actually are subtle. The current big design idea with Lexus is the “spindle grille.” The RX definitely has one of those. The F Sport model gets a black mesh version while the regular RX has slats within the chromed outline. Note also the “floating roof” rear pillar — another new trend if Nissan’s Murano and Maxima are anything to go by. The fresh interior is a definite step up from the previous generation. Whereas that model’s dashboard seemed to consist of about eight square feet of plastic, this one raises the general classiness. It also houses an excellent (though optional) 12.3-inch touchscreen. There’s a choice of wood accents and a particularly fetching laser-etched aluminum/black wood trim in the Luxury package.

Comfort and Cargo

Five adults, or at least four adults and one tween, should be comfortable enough in the new RX. Headroom is fine throughout and legroom in the rear seating area is more than adequate. Those rear seats can fold down at the touch of a button to reveal total cargo space of 56.3 cubic feet. Even with the seats up, there’s still 18.4 cubes — more than enough for a few golf bags or a useful amount of luggage.

Features and Controls

Leather upholstery and wood trim come as standard. So does a power liftgate, but there’s a clever optional extra here: place a hand (or even a forehead) near the rear “L” badge and the liftgate opens automatically. Press the “close” button twice to lock the whole vehicle. All models have scratch-resistant paint and Lexus claims a “high level of gloss retention” so the paintwork retains its luster for a long time. The full list of standard equipment is generous, including 18-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, power-adjustable steering wheel,  Bluetooth and an eight-inch infotainment display. Panoramic moonroof, navigation with 3D graphics, roof rails, driver seat memory, and a rear seat entertainment system are all on the options list.

Safety

Every Lexus has the parent company’s Smart Stop system where the brakes override the throttle if both pedals are pressed simultaneously. This model comes with dual-stage front airbags (a dual-chamber version for the front passenger), driver knee airbag, side airbags front and rear, plus full-length side curtain airbags. Joining the mandatory anti-lock brakes and traction and stability controls are electronic brake force distribution/assistance, hill start assist, and a rearview camera. Among the options are radar-based adaptive cruise control (which might take some initial trusting, but actually works well), full-color heads-up display, lane departure alert with steering assist, panoramic view monitor, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, intelligent high beams, pre-collision warning and vehicle sway warning.

Engines and Fuel Economy

The 2016 Lexus RX 350 deploys a 3.5-liter V6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Output is rated at a sufficient 295 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. Fuel consumption runs to 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined. Go for all-wheel drive and those figures dip to 19/26/22. The 2016 Lexus RX 450h also uses a 3.5-liter V6, but not exactly the same engine. It’s tuned to produce 259 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while chasing superior mileage numbers. And it’s augmented by an electric motor in what is now familiar technology in Toyota/Lexus vehicles. City consumption is a remarkable 31 mpg, with 30 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg combined. Again, all-wheel drive impacts to the tune of 30/28/30.

Performance

Lexus says this generation of RX has been made to deliver a more engaging driving experience, but don’t worry if that’s not your thing. This is still no flat-cornering, hard-riding, lunch-regurgitating extreme machine. Even with the F Sport’s adaptive variable suspension set to Sport Plus mode, there’s still plenty of forgiveness in those springs. Indeed, full Comfort mode in the regular RX may be a bit too soft and detached for some. But at least Lexus has not turned its back on those traditional notions of luxury, of nullifying the feel of the road surface rather than conveying it. This is not the kind of ride that tempts its driver to take the next corner a little quicker than the last. Try to force the issue and safe, predictable understeer chimes in with a faint whoosh then a little chirp of the front tires. Choose the F Sport model by all means, but the regular RX still has an adjustable suspension whose Sport mode brings a welcome hint of tautness.

Final Thoughts

It might be surprising that Lexus/Toyota is still using nickel metal hydride batteries in its hybrids while most other companies are favoring lithium ion. But the company says it has managed to make the RX 450h’s battery pack smaller than before. It also has such a handle on Ni-MH technology — things like charging characteristics, power delivery and longevity — that we as consumers can trust the engineers to know exactly what they’re doing.

Pros and Cons

This wave looks like being just as much of a success as the generations before it. Build quality, comfort and equipment are at the usual high Lexus levels. The optional Mark Levinson audio system sounds ridiculously good. It’s also worth mentioning that Lexus dealerships are among the most popular in the business. The styling might send some people to check out the competition. An F Sport hybrid version seems somewhat redundant.