Entering its fifth generation, the 2023 Lexus RX has been revealed ahead of a 2023 Australian on-sale date. Now sitting on a new platform with new drivetrain options – including both a turbo hybrid and a plug-in hybrid – the new generation RX is the fourth all-new product from Lexus in just 12 months and is an important product having amassed up over 3.5 million sales since it was released in 1997. Rivalling cars such as the BMW X5, Volvo XC90 and Genesis GV80, the new RX will be offered solely with five seats this time around.
“The RX is a foundation of the Lexus brand both globally but also here in Australia ever since its local introduction in 2003,” said Lexus Australia Chief Executive John Pappas.
“The all-new RX is the next step in the evolution of the Lexus brand as we move towards greater electrification of our range while adding to the Lexus Driving Signature of dynamic, enjoyable and faithful performance.”
The 2023 Lexus RX’s styling is clearly evolutionary with a new look that closely follows the smaller NX, while also drawing inspiration from the last-generation car. Sharp ‘triple-beam’ LED headlights with a new style grille adorn the front, with familiar flame surfacing along the side and a newly-single piece LED lighting bar across the rear with angular tailights and the brand’s new ‘LEXUS’ letter badging.
The interior of the 2023 Lexus RX is a bigger step forward compared with the exterior, with a new look, new technology and a clearly more luxurious experience than before thanks to the brand’s new ‘Tazuna cockpit’ interior theme. There is a new digital instrument cluster, while centre of the interior is a new infotainment system available in a screen up to 14-inches, which features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a new “Hey Lexus” voice control system.
While it may not look all-new, the 2023 Lexus RX sits on a new platform, specifically the Toyota Group’s TNGA-K platform, which also underpins the new Lexus NX and the Toyota Kluger. It’s no longer than the previous car at 4,890mm long, but it’s 25mm wider at 1,920mm, 10mm lower at 1,695mm and it has a 60mm longer wheelbase at 2,850mm. The new platform has made it up to 90kg lighter than before.
Like the platform, the global engine choice in the 2023 Lexus RX is new as well. The entry-level engine is the RX350, which uses the same 205kW/430Nm 2.4-litre turbo petrol engine in the new NX. There are also three hybrid choices: the 183kW 2.5-litre RX350h, the 270kW 2.4-litre RX500h and the 227kW plug-in hybrid RX450h+. The Australian range is yet to be confirmed, but we’d be surprised if all four variants didn’t go on sale locally at some stage.
The RX500h will be offered solely in F Performance trim, which sits below the F branding in the Lexus lineup. Aside from the drivetrain, the RX500h F Performance adds adaptive suspension, six-piston front brake calipers, rear-wheel steering with up to 4.0 degrees of movement, larger 21-inch wheels, a sound generator and Lexus’ ‘Direct4’ all-wheel drive system, which can vary the front to rear torque split between 100:0 and 20:80.
Available features on the 2023 Lexus RX include a smartphone app that can be used to remotely lock and unlock the car, remote start, over-the-air updates to the car’s system, a panoramic sunroof, tri-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seats, multi-colour ambient lighting, auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, lane trace assist, remote parking, safe exit assist, proactive driving assist and driver monitoring.
The 2023 Lexus RX will go on sale in Australia in 2023 with local pricing and specifications to be announced later this year. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
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