The Lexus RX may be directly responsible for putting Toyota’s luxury brand on the map in North America. This luxury crossover has been one of the best-sellers in its category since its inception about 25 years ago. Now, Lexus has announced a new version, aka the 5^th gen RX. The 2023 RX will be available for sale later this year. So, what do we know about it so far?

Well, it has received a complete redesign and it looks a lot more modern. You will be getting a plethora of powertrain offerings. These include a new full-spec version known as the RX 500h F Sport Performance variant. Lexus has also changed the car’s seating arrangement, which indicates a new model coming up.

Whether that happens or not, let’s take a closer look at what the 2023 RX is all about.

Engine and Numbers

We begin with the heart of the vehicle – its powertrain. We’re living in a time where efficiency is the biggest priority for carmakers. Lexus has done this vehicle justice with a number of engine options. According to Car and Driver, there are at least 4 of them offered. We’re well aware of 3 of them at the moment.

The first one is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbo which produces about 275 hp. Then there are two hybrid engine setups available. One of them is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder, which works in unison with a pair of electric motors. The power output for this one is 246 hp. The other hybrid setup uses the motors with a 2.5-liter turbo. It makes for an insane 367 hp.

The transmission options are 3 at the moment. The first one is an 8-speed automatic, the second an e-CVT, and the third is a 6-speed auto combined with Toyota’s eAxle. These are the gearboxes for the RX 350, the RX 350/450h+, and RX 500h models respectively. An AWD drivetrain is available on all of the models.

So, what type of hybrids are available then? Well, you get the traditional hybrid setup for the 350 and 500 models, in which the gasoline and electric systems work together. The promised 450+ model will be a PHEV though, so you can expect an all-electric range from it as well. We’re still awaiting the fuel economy figures though.

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Interior and Tech

As mentioned above, the 2023 Lexus RX looks a lot more modern than the outgoing model. This applies to its interior and cabin as well. As expected from a Lexus, there is a sense of pageantry as well. The materials, including the wood trim used, are of high quality and the cabin is also adorned by textured fabric. They’ve reduced the number of rows to two though.

Not a lot of info is available about the gadgetry though. It is evident that there’s a huge 14-inch infotainment touchscreen with connectivity options for Android and Apple users. There’s ambient mood lighting as well. You may be able to add a Mark Levinson sound system. Now, how safe is the 2023 Lexus RX?

The answer is very safe. You get several standard safety features on this vehicle. It gives you the latest adaptive cruise control system, combined with a quirk for lane-centering. There’s an automated emergency braking system that’ll detect pedestrians and cyclists as well. You also get departure warnings for lanes along with a system that’ll keep you in them.

Exterior and Price

As mentioned above, the new RX has received a complete redesign. It looks a lot sharper now with its striking features that give it a sleeker gaze and taillights that run through the back. But despite all of the changes, any automotive enthusiast will be able to tell that it is an RX from afar. So, how much does it cost then?

Well, we can only estimate this at the moment. Accord to C & D, the vehicle should start at about $50k and this number can cross $70k once you go up the trims. Either way, you can never go wrong with spending more on a Lexus vehicle due to its reliability and ease of ownership. 

Verdict

So, what do we think of the upcoming RX? It looks pretty great, its quite safe, and its high-performance versions should be bullet fast. We’re still waiting for the EPA’s data about its fuel consumption figures and we’re excited to know about how good it drives. Right now, it looks like a great upgrade to the RX lineup.