2020 Lexus RX model update: Comfort... now with added F-Sportiness
There’s a lot of very appealing contenders in the premium SUV market, but Lexus believes that their RX offers customers a unique proposition: all the luxury they could want, wrapped in a package that steers clear of the ostentation associated with some other brands. It might be middle-aged in car terms, but the current Lexus RX nonetheless remains competitive, thanks to a recent series of updates. Read on to find out more.
It’s interesting how, when tough economic times come around, many consumers actively shy away from conspicuous consumption. Sure, they want all of the latest comfort- and technology features, but they also don’t want to draw too much attention to themselves. Lexus has these buyers firmly in their sights, and reckons that the newly-updated Lexus RX may just be exactly the right car for buyers who prefer to conceal their success from the rest of society.
What’s new?
Cosmetically, this is a normal mid-life facelift, with new bumpers, grille, and light clusters. In reality, it would probably take an expert on the outgoing car to spot the differences between old and new – the changes aren’t dramatic, but they should be enough to keep the RX competitive for another few years.
Up front, there’s a redesigned spindle grille: its shape outline remains as it was, but the surface treatment of the grille itself is different, with 3-dimensional treatment of the L-shaped mesh pattern contained within. Different variants also feature distinctive treatments of that grille. As before, the grille is flanked by a pair of squinting headlights, which are now slimmer in design and feature cool new technology – more about that in a little while. The bumper is also redesigned to feature edges that are rounder and flow more coherently into the profile view.
When seen from the side, the latest RX still tries to hide its SUV-ness with a floating roof and prominent strips of brightwork, and a new character line which visually slims down the rear haunches. At the back, the tail lights now feature L-shaped design elements, and complements the redesigned bumper and revised trim strips to form a more cohesive appearance than the outgoing car could manage.
The cabin remains largely as it was (meaning lots of textured materials and top-notch finishes), with only minor changes to the colour schemes and detail trim. More notable is the enlarged infotainment screen fronting an updated multimedia system. Full smartphone integration and a host of USB ports around the cabin have been added, but unfortunately, Lexus's annoying touchpad interface also appears. Ah well, at least the newly-added touchscreen largely alleviates the need to use the touchpad...
Any mechanical changes?
There’s no change in the engine room, so buyers can still choose between a naturally-aspirated V6 mated to an 8-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox (with 221 kW/370 Nm in the EX and new F-Sport trims, or 216 kW/358 Nm in the RX 350 L), or a hybrid powertrain based upon an efficiency-tuned V6 (good for a system total of 230 kW). The latter is only paired to an e-CVT transmission, and they all send their power to all four wheels.
The suspension and body have both come in for a myriad of revisions, all aimed at further improving the RX’s ride quality while increasing its stability and handling prowess. The body now features 36 additional spot welds and increased use of high-strength adhesive, to give the updated suspension a more-stable base from which to work. Additionally, the dampers have been improved to smooth out high-frequency vibrations, and the rear anti-roll bar is beefed-up to reduce body lean and understeer in corners. Finally, the stability control now features Active Cornering Assist, and has been recalibrated to further contain understeer if the driver applies full power in corners.
Related: The Lexus RX 350 EX L - When you have Range Rover money and Japanese sensibility.
RX goes F-Sport.
This is mostly a cosmetic package rather than a high-performance addition, but it also introduces adaptive damper control. The drive mode selector also features two new settings, namely Sport S+ and Custom – the former tightens up the suspension and steering, and switches the engine and transmission into their most-aggressive modes.
Exterior cosmetic changes compared to the “basic” RX 350 EX include an exclusive front bumper, mesh grille insert, a deeper rear valance panel, gloss-black side mirrors, and model-specific 20-inch wheels for a sportier look. This carries through into the interior, where a “race-inspired” instrument cluster, different upholstery, aluminium trim accents and pedals, sports seats, a black roof lining, and a sports steering wheel lends the cabin a rather more youthful ambience.
Related: Ané Theron attended the launch of the Lexus RX 350 EX L, and came away deeply impressed.
Safety spec improvements.
It’s not like the outgoing RX exactly lacked in the safety department, but the new one ups the ante even further. All models now feature 10 airbags, the enhanced stability control with Active Cornering Assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic emergency braking, and adaptive high-beam LED headlamps. In addition, the F-Sport and Hybrid variants also receive Lexus Safety System+ with night-time pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection with matching emergency braking, all-speed adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assistance.
Of particular interest is the “BladeScan” active high beams that now feature in the range-topping Hybrid derivative, which selectively blanks out sections of the high-beam light spread to avoid blinding other traffic, yet illuminates everywhere else in front of the car. This is an unconventional variation on the matrix LED headlamp theme used by other manufacturers, but uses completely different technology to achieve the same result.
It’s still quite pricey…
With the entry-level Lexus RX 350 EX already past the R1-million mark and rapidly escalating from there, nobody could ever accuse the RX of being inexpensive. You do get a lot of car and equipment for that money, though, and they all come with a warranty and a full maintenance plan for 7 years or 105 000 km.
Additionally, the Hybrid carries a warranty for 8 years or 195 000 km for its battery system, so peace of mind should be assured – for the first few owners, at least. Then again, Lexus has already proved the longevity of their products, so the RX may just be the best bet for owners who plan to keep their vehicles for many years.
2020 Lexus RX Range and Pricing:
RX 350 EX: R 1 012 000
RX 350 EX L: R 1 087 000
RX 350 F-Sport: R 1 132 200
RX 450 SE Hybrid: R 1 315 800
*Pricing and model range was accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.
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