Seeing that I’ve reviewed this car’s smaller sibling before (read my RX350h impressions here) I’ll use this review to answer a few questions we were asked while in possession of this car…
What does it cost?
This is, pretty much exclusively, the very first question I get asked about any car I’ve ever tested. No exceptions. And it doesn’t matter if I’m driving a Polo Vivo or the Starship Galactica with gunmetal 20’s, every observer will briefly glance in my direction and utter: “Nice. What’s it cost?”
In the case of this Lexus RX 500h F-Sport, the answer is currently ZAR 1,740,300 without options. Typing of which, Lexus has become rather famous for including a gigantic amount of luxury and convenience features as standard. This is a stark contrast to its three main German rivals, who charge you thousands for better carpets. Which force you into the mandatory Sport Pack.
Why’s it so expensive?
The weak Rand, heavy import taxes, rampant inflation, weak salaries and regional socio-economic issues influenced by prevailing economic inequalities and/or political ineptitude. Take your pick. It’s also a medium-to-large luxury hybrid SUV with all the bells and whistles, and the going rate for any of those is at least 1.7 bar.
Lexus also has a bewildering array of other SUV’s on offer, plus the remaining RX range includes 450h and 350h hybrid derivatives; plus a non-hybrid 350 base version. Prices for those range from 1,452,600 to 1,645,600 Rands.
What does RX stand for?
According to most Lexus websites, “Radiant Crossover”.
Luxury hybrid SUV?
Indeed. With every conceivable media, climate and display option inside its leather-and-chrome lined cockpit, this RX thoroughly deserves the “luxury” bit of its description. The ride is pleasingly smooth, noise and vibration are kept to a lavish minimum, plus there is plenty of LED, automatic or powered goodness to appease lovers of all things luxury.
As for “hybrid”, this RX 500h uses a 2.4L in-line 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with a small electric helper motor to produce a total of 273kW or 460Nm. This highly sufficient amount of shove is transferred to all four wheels via a traditional 6-speed automatic gearbox; a welcome alternative to the slippery CVT which is often favoured in other hybrids.
So that must mean it’s very fuel efficient?
Umm, that depends on how you use it. Although that’s true for almost every other car ever made, I guess. The 500h model alleges an average of just 6.5L/100km from the 65L tank. The maths freaks among you may have already worked out that this translates to a theoretical range of exactly 1,000km.
Is it really fast?
Actually, it is. Looking at the performance figures in the context of our modern market offerings, a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 6.2 seconds is nothing to be snuffed at for a complicated beast weighing the better part of 2.1 tons. We even ventured out to test this claim ourselves, and our best result was a blistering 6.05 seconds.
But what about the battery?
What about it? If you meant the car’s hybrid battery, that’s probably hidden somewhere beneath the car’s boot floor and is only accessible by a certified Lexus technician. If you still insist on meeting it, I guess you could ask them nicely to show it to you at the car’s next service? The intervals are set at 15,000km.
Should you be worried about the lifespan or maintenance of this high-voltage device, you best chat with your nearest Lexus dealer (or perhaps an independent workshop) about the longevity of the system. For the record, each RX is sold with a 7-year/105,000km warranty and maintenance plan. The battery’s warranty is a year and 90,000km longer.
Do you think it’s pretty?
The car has a few interesting design details and swoopy lines I quite like (especially around the back and rear three-quarters) but the protruding cliff-face nose puts me off somewhat. I’ve gotten used to Lexus’ asymmetrical cabin layouts over the years, and now appreciate the individuality or driver-focussed controls.
Would you buy one?
No. The interior door handles give me the heebie-jeebies.
So who’s gonna buy this?
Oh, let me think here. Any Toyota and/or Lexus fan whose finances are on a steep upwards trajectory. Or perhaps fashionable dinks wanting to make a statement? And, let’s hope this one is the most probably for Lexus’ sake, any of the eleventy million trillion SUV and crossover lovers in our region’s market.
What do you think of it?
This is the only other question I get asked, but always after the price inquiry. I think the Lexus RX 500h is a superb luxury vehicle but – due to its high cost and expensive trimmings – an average SUV for South(ern) African conditions. It’s very much “of its time” and I’m delighted to see a beautifully integrated hybrid system (with low-speed EV mode) instead of the hair-brained EV agenda.
And on top of that, it has one of thee best colour palettes I’ve seen in a long time: White Nova metallic, Sonic Iridium (silver), Graphite Black metallic, Sonic Chrome (a pearlescent kind of grey), this Poseidon Blue metallic or the imposing Sonic Copper metallic we enjoyed on the RX 350h press vehicle.