Lexus RX vs BMW X5 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: which is the best value for money?

The Lexus RX range has always been a minor player in SUV sales here, despite being generally acknowledged as an excellent vehicle. The latest Lexus RX range was comprehensively re-styled in 2016 but even so, sales remain moderate. In October, for instance, the RX range sold only one-tenth of the amount of BMW X5s that found their way into new owners’ hands.

And yet the Lexus has a lot going for it. Many may feel the origami-inspired latest styling is even quirkier than the almost Cadillac-esque looks of the previous generation. Others, however, find it dramatic and bold, and exciting compared to the predictability of the German-inspired soft-roaders.

Related: Shop new and used Lexus RX models here

The Lexus RX range

The current Lexus RX range consists of just three models. These are the RX 350 EX at R971 600, the RX 350L EX at R1 026 200, and the RX 450h SE at R1 286 300.

This is quite a rational model range. The basic RX 350 uses a 3,5-litre V6 petrol engine that is a carry-over from the previous generation RX 350. But it has been uprated and refined for better economy and produces 221 kW and 370 Nm of torque. Fuel economy is officially rated at 9,6 litres/100 km, so you could expect a real-world  consumption in the 11,0 litres/100 range, worse if you drive it very hard. The 0-100 km/h time is 8,0 seconds and top speed is a rather modest 200 km/h.

The RX 350 L EX uses the same powertrain, but it has a longer body to accommodate an extra row of seats, making it a nominal 7-seater.

Related: 2020 Lexus RX model update: Comfort... now with added F-Sportiness (Launch report)

 

The RX hybrid

The  hybrid RX 450h, on the other hand, uses a 193 kW detuned version of the 3,5-litre V6 in conjunction with two electric motors – a 123 kW electric motor mounted up front in conjunction with the petrol  V6,  and a  50 kW electric motor to drive the rear wheels. The total power output is 230 kW.

The  450h’ s 0-100 km/h sprint time is rated marginally quicker  than the non-hybrid  V6’s, at 7,7 seconds, and fuel consumption improves to a rated average of 5,7 litres/100 km. The cool thing about the RX 450h is that fuel consumption actually improves when you get stuck in traffic because the electric motors take over all the motivation duty. When you start up, the car pulls off in silent electric mode, and you can travel up to a few kilometres at slow speeds purely on battery power.

Transferring  the power from these three different sources is the job of a CVT transmission. We are not the greatest fans of CVT gearboxes, but this is one of the better ones and the drone factor is virtually non-existent.

In fact noise of any variety is kept to a bare minimum in any of the varieties of the Lexus RX, and the ride is appropriately plush. If it’s a magic carpet ride you are after, you would do well to take a long hard look at the Lexus RX series.

Related: Luxury SUV shootout! VW Touareg vs. Volvo XC90 vs. Lexus RX

High level of standard specification

One of the characteristics we really like about all Lexus products is that there are virtually no option boxes to tick when you order one. What it says on the brochure is pretty much what you get, and the standard spec is high.

Items worth highlighting here are standard leather upholstery in all models, standard LED headlights, standard fog lamps with cornering assist, standard electric seat adjustment for both driver and front passenger seats, and a standard sun-roof. In many competitors, these are items that you pay extra for, not being included in the bare-bones list price.

The RX also enjoys a standard rear parking camera and park distance controls front and rear, and from a safety perspective, 10 airbags are standard in all models.

The RX450h in SE trim has even more standard kit

Apart from its hybrid power train, the RX 450h SE comes with a lot of extra kit as standard. This includes lane departure monitoring and lane-change blind-spot warning, a head up display, adaptive cruise control, rear seat electric adjustment, heated and ventilated front seats and adaptive LED headlights. A rear and surround-view camera is standard. Happily, all RX models come with a full-size spare wheel.

But space isn’t the RX’s strong suit

However, many commentators have pointed out that rear passenger space as well as luggage space is not the latest Lexus RX’s strong suit. Rear legroom is fine in five-seater from, but that sloping roof line compromises  both head room and luggage space. The RX in 5-seater form  only enjoys about  300 litres of luggage room. Obviously a lot more is available if you fold the rear seats flat, but this is, after all, a family vehicle!

Competitor 1. BMW X5 xDrive 30d xLine

BMW’s new X5 was launched just over a year ago, and it’s an excellent SUV, the best X5 to date. It comes in a range of 6 models and these range in price from R1 194 296 for the xDrive 30d xLine, to R1 511 690 for the most expensive X5, the M50i.

We chose the base model X5 as the most likely competitor for the Lexus RX range, as anyone considering an SUV in this size and price range would definitely be looking at this dynamic, German-built mainstay of the SUV category. And the base-model X5 comes closest to matching the Lexus RX in the pricing stakes.

It should be said at the outset that most BMW customers value performance highly, as well as crisp handling and conventionally-stylish good looks. The latest X5 ticks these boxes.  The engine on this model is a 3,0-litre straight-six turbodiesel, producing 195 kW and 620 Nm of torque. It comes with a 0-100 km/h time rated at 6,5 seconds and a top speed of 230 km/h. This is substantially quicker than either the 3.5 V6 or hybrid versions of the RX.

Fuel consumption is also superior, at least in comparison to the RX 350.  The BMW X5 in 30d form rates a claimed average of 7,0 litres/100 km, well below the RX 350’s 9,6 litre/100 km. This is not too surprising, considering that diesels are generally about 25 per cent more frugal on fuel usage than petrol engines.

Space-wise, the BMW   enjoys good passenger headroom and a claimed boot space of 650 litres.

Related: BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport Review: When an apparent evolution really signals a revolution.

 

Competitor 2. Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d 4MATIC

The Mercedes-Benz GLE in base 300d form uses a 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine producing 180 kW and 500 N of torque. Those are impressive figures from a mere 2,0-litre diesel!

Refreshed in February 2019, the GLE is a classy package, but priced accordingly. There are six models in the range. The entry-level GLE 300d costs R1 216 99, while the most expensive, the GLE 400d 4MATIC witb AMG-line trim, sells for R1 434 194.

Like the X5, the Merc GLE has been an excellent seller, and is far more prolific on our roads than the quirky Lexus RX 350.

For the record, the GLE 300d weighs in with a 7,2-second 0-100 km/h time, a 225 km/h top speed and a claimed average consumption of 6,4 litres/100 km. This makes the Merc the consumption champ in this company.

As for safety and practicality, it has 7 airbags as standard, and a 630-litre boot.

Related: The new Mercedes-Benz GLE - more than just a pretty face (launch report)

 

So which is the best value for money?

It’s a complex question to answer. Price-wise, considering the list price and the features you get standard on a Lexus, then the RX 350 in any of its forms is the winner. Our choice amongst the RX range  would probably be the base model RX 350 EX, as its price of  R971 600 is more than R200 000 less than the cheapest BMW X5 and more than R220 000 less than the cheapest GLE.

But there are compromises here. Firstly, the Lexus has the least impressive acceleration here. Secondly, it has less usable space than either the GLE or the X5, in terms of rear passenger room and luggage space.

And thirdly, because it is such a low-volume seller,  re-sale values on the Lexus fall behind those of the more popular X5 and the GLE. Also, the RX 350 has by far the heaviest fuel consumption.

Probably for us the greatest compromise with the latest-gen Lexus RX is that its power trains are now outmoded compared to those used by the BMW and the Merc. On an engine efficiency basis, the prize here would have to go to the Merc. Dynamically the BMW X5 comes out way on top!

But there are those Lexus owners who are well prepared to forgo a bit of rear space for the incredibly smooth ride and low noise levels, as well as overall refinement, that the RX offers. If it’s a chilled luxury motoring experience you are after, then the Lexus makes lots of sense.

And the winner is…

And finally we will give you straight answer. Rand-for-rand, in terms of  asking price versus features, we rate the Lexus RX series first, the Mercedes-Benz GLE second and the BMW X5 third. But  once again we emphasise, it all depends what your priorities are, when choosing a car.

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