2023 Lexus RX 350 Sports Luxury review (video)

Nowadays, it’s become a rite of passage for Aussie families to have an SUV parked in their driveways. The Lexus RX sets out to be a large luxury alternative for those who want that with a little more class and sophistication than the average. Now in its fifth generation, does it still meet its objective?

According to VFACTS figures, from January to September 2023, sales have increased by 78.8 per cent compared with the same period in 2022, which accounts for 10.2 per cent share of its segment. This makes it the fourth best-seller behind the BMW X5, Land Rover Defender, and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

2023 Lexus RX 350 Sports Luxury: Specifications

Engine: 2.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder
Output: 205kW@6000rpm / 430Nm@1700-3600rpm
Gearbox: Eight-speed auto
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 21×8.0, 235/50
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1960kg
Power-to-weight: 9.56:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 8.7L/100km
Our consumption: 9.0L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 68L/95 RON

Power efficiency: 23.56kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 3.66 seconds*
0-100km/h: 7.59 seconds*
60-110km/h: 5.04 seconds*
1/4 mile: 15.51 seconds at 151.0km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.776g*
100-0km/h braking: 42.15m*
Max deceleration: -1.194g*
Decibel at idle (/sport mode): 39*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 83*
Starting price: $104,370

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2023 Lexus RX 350 Sports Luxury: How much does it cost?

You can get the RX in a choice of six combinations of trims and powertrains. A hybrid engine that combines a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine and electric power for the front wheels only is available in the entry level Luxury variant, called the RX 350h. It starts the price range off from $86,904. The same power source powering all four wheels as the ‘eFour’ can be chosen in Luxury and Sports Luxury trims.

Next in line, a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine driving all fours is available in F Sport and Sports Luxury trim. And at the top of the foodchain is the RX500h F Sport Performance. It moves with a plug-in hybrid combination of electric power and the 2.4-litre turbo, producing an impressive 273kW. It tops the price range from $124,675 (all excluding on-roads).

The 2.5-litre hybrids are paired with a constantly variable transmission, and the RX500h gets a six-speed conventional auto gearbox. But the non-hybrid 2.4-litre turbo is fitted with an eight-speed auto.

We’re testing out the Sports Luxury spec with the non-hybrid 2.4-litre turbo engine. It retails from $104,370.

Amongst its peers, the RX’s starting price sits well below the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, and Volvo XC90. But it is on par with the Land Rover Defender and Volkswagen Touareg’s entry price.

2023 Lexus RX 350 Sports Luxury: Interior & packaging

As Lexus does best, the RX advances the design of SUVs with a futuristic, new look. It also progresses the brand’s design language with more fluid contours and seductive shapes. The famous front spindle grille now seamlessly integrates into the body without a chrome surround. Also dominating the front end are sleek headlights and Lexus’s trademark L-shaped daytime running lights.

Along the side, the sweeping contours that flow downward from the roof remain, as well as the contrasting finish on the C- and D-pillars. Then there are new curves that flow up from the door sills towards the puffed-out wheel arches, giving off a fast and sporty appeal.

At the rear, one long taillight unit is adopted – seen already in other Lexus models such as the NX. Attention to design detail is exposed with carefully crafted L-shaped light patterns in the lens units. We also notice the replacement of the Lexus badge with ‘Lexus’ text across the rear.

Overall length remains the same as the predecessor, at 4890mm – which is actually the same length as the larger LX sibling. Width has increased by 25mm to 1920mm, and height has reduced by 10mm, contributing to a 15mm reduction in the centre of gravity. To give you an idea on copious amounts of room inside, wheelbase has grown by 60mm to 2850mm to also match the LX. Interior space is very generous no matter where you’re sitting.

Using VDA measuring standards, boot capacity is larger than the previous model at 612 litres, or 1678 litres with the second row folded down. In comparison, the BMW X5’s 650 litres, the Mercedes-Benz GLE’s 630 litres, the Audi Q7’s 740 litres, and the Volkswagen Touareg’s 810 litres make the RX the smallest among its most popular competitors. But we still found it to be more than suitable for squeezing in the luggage of a family weekend away.

You can count on a mammoth suite of safety tech in the RX, no matter which model you choose. All variants receive low- and high-speed crash and pedestrian avoidance control with braking, reverse collision mitigation, rear cross-traffic alert, emergency steering assist, post-collision steering and braking, auto emergency response call telematics, forward collision warning, blind-spot and lane-departure warning with lane-departure intervention, driver alert detection, adaptive cruise with curve speed reduction and overtaking prevention, road-sign recognition, side door exit warning, and trailer sway control. All variants above the base Luxury spec add surround-view cameras with cleaning, and adaptive high beam.

Other standard appointment highlights across the fleet include three-zone climate-control, heated driver and front passenger seats, eight-way power adjustable front seats with two-way power lumbar support, 40:20:40 folding second-row seats with auto-folding switch, 19-inch alloys (at minimum), an electronic tailgate, an E-latch door system, electrically adjustable steering wheel column, a 14-inch touch-screen display with sat-nav, digital radio, wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, a 12-speaker Panasonic sound system, five USB-C ports, two 12-volt sockets and a USB-A port.

The RX 350 Sports Luxury here builds on that list by adding 21-inch alloy wheels, three-projector bi-LED headlamps with ‘BladeScan’ technology (awesome lighting), dynamic auto-levelling headlamps, headlamp cleaners, cornering lamps, semi-aniline leather-accented upholstery with a choice of Solis White, black or Dark Sepia colours, a choice of Sumi Black or Bamboo door and front centre console trims, and a heated steering wheel with woodgrain-look ornamentation.

There’s also multi-coloured ambient interior lighting, rear window sunshades, a higher grade multi-information display, touch sensor-type steering wheel switches, heated and ventilated front seats and rear outboard seats, 10-way power adjustable front seats with memory, four-way power lumbar front seats, power-folding rear seats, a smart key card, a head-up display, active noise control, a 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system, and a wireless phone charger.

2023 Lexus RX 350 Sports Luxury: Powertrain & handling

It’s great that Lexus still offers an engine that is not hybrid. For those who prefer the old-fashioned, raw oomph entirely from a combustion engine, the 2.4-litre turbo outputs some impressive stats. It produces 205kW of power and a strong 430Nm of torque right down from as low as 1700rpm to 3600rpm. This translates to an official 0-100km/h sprint in 7.6 seconds, and our testing revealed 7.59 seconds from our Racelogic Vbox.

Using that power comes swiftly. You find yourself rolling up to speed quickly and rather effortlessly. But when you start to enter excitement territory above 4000rpm, the engine sounds a bit harsh and strained. So, you get up to speed wonderfully quick but in a non-sexy fashion.

We’re also excited to see a Lexus/Toyota not using a CVT auto gearbox for a change. But once behind the wheel, some disappointment sets in. The eight-speed feels unrefined with jolty gear shifts and a repugnant jerkiness when acceleration is suddenly removed. The gearbox also tends to do a lot of torque converter slipping, almost sounding like a CVT. There are many eight-speed autos that have proven to be smooth and fast. We’re not sure what happened here in the RX 350 – perhaps subject to this test vehicle only.

During our time, the average fuel consumption was 9.0L/100km, which is not bad in the real-world for a powerful petrol engine. The official average is marked as 8.7L/100km. This is in stark contrast to the 2.5L hybrid’s average consumption of 5.0L/100km. Like with the hybrid though, it needs to drink a minimum of 95 RON fuel.

In the way of ride feel, the RX 350 is soft in the suspension, resulting in some saginess over bumps and around corners. But thanks to the latest, more rigid TNGA platform underneath, the dynamics have improved significantly over the previous month. This does’t mind tackling some spirited roads, whereas before, it felt uncomfortable at times.

The somewhat sensitive steering makes for a very easy SUV to park for its size. Light steering and suspension that easily articulates, you get the impression this RX is oriented more for practicality and ease of use, over performance and thrills. And in that regard, it is going to suit a wider market audience than some rivals.

Off road, the RX 350 will serve you well on light dirt roads with its 190mm ground clearance, and 4×4 on-demand system. But, like with many of the rivals, you shouldn’t expect much more. There is no off-road drive mode, nor a spare wheel – only a tyre repair kit. F Sport and F Sport Performance models get a space-saver spare wheel.

2023 Lexus RX 350 Sports Luxury: Key attractions/reasons to buy

You certainly get a sense of luxury from the inside with the huge 14-inch centre touch-screen, vivid colour schemes, blue and pink temperature dials that integrate into the corner of the screen, soft pink glow door trim illumination, and plush suede door skin areas.

The luxury pampering is not forgotten for rear passengers either. They enjoy rear climate control with seat warmers and ventilation, and window blinds.

Standout features include electric steering wheel adjustment and new e-latch door handles that can restrict the passenger from opening the door into approaching objects from the side rear.

Even though the boot measurements are a bit lower than most of the competition we still found the boot to be huge and wide. There is additional under-floor storage thanks to the lack of a spare wheel, as well as a 12-volt power outlet and electronic rear seat folding.

Lexus offers best-in-class after-sale customer service through its ‘Encore’ program. You get access to exclusive offers and events, service loan cars with Lexus drop-off and pick-up, and capped-price servicing for $695 each service for five services or five years. All RXs are covered by a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km.

2023 Lexus RX 350 Sports Luxury: Key considerations before you buy

For those who like some X-factor with their luxurious SUV, the RX 350’s on-road comfort-focused dynamics let it down; the suspension is quite soft. But this is great if you’re after pure luxury and relaxation. The engine sound from this new 2.4 turbo is also a bit bland.

In terms of displays, the technology is there and the graphics are sharp, but there seems to be quite a lot of blank space, especially on the touch-screen. Also, Wireless Apple CarPlay is available but there is no wireless Android Auto.

Lastly, we found the touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons to be a bit counterintuitive. You need to double-touch so it wakes up to your touch first. And since the buttons change function depending on which menu you’re in, they don’t have symbols. Their current function is only indicated on the heads-up display.

2023 Lexus RX 350 Sports Luxury: Video