The Lexus RX, a midsize luxury SUV, was first introduced in 1997—but that’s enough of the history lesson. Five generations later, it has evolved significantly. No longer powered by V6 engines, the RX has embraced hybrid technology to meet the demands of an era focused on sustainability and efficiency.

The Lexus brand has always been synonymous with quality, combining engineering excellence with renowned reliability.

In the USA, the Lexus RX consistently outsells its European competitors by a significant margin.But can the fifth-generation Lexus RX finally break the European luxury SUV stranglehold, or will it remain overshadowed by entrenched perceptions of what premium luxury motoring is supposed to be?

The Exterior

First impressions? Very nice. The proportions work in its favour. In any design, get the proportions right and you can make almost any car look good. As an example, the Ferrari Luce has unusual proportions and, as a result, looks somewhat awkward to the eye.

The takeaway? You don’t have to be a celebrated designer to create good design.

Anyway, I’m going off track here. Back to the Lexus RX.

For an SUV, the lines are sleek and sharp, with angular cut-ins that make it look sophisticated, expensive, yet understated. You could say it has a Japandi vibe about it.

The Lexus RX is available in ten trim levels, with prices currently starting from £63,445 for the entry-level hybrid and rising to £85,995 for the flagship RX 500h F Sport Takumi.

Plug-in hybrid powertrains are also offered depending on model specification, and all-wheel drive is standard across the range. There are four standard metallic colours to choose from, while five pearlescent paint finishes are available at an additional cost of £450.

The Interior

Quality. Straight away, quality—in terms of build, fit, and finish.

However, unusually for Lexus, there are some areas that lack attention to detail. Material choice is excellent throughout, The RX 450H+ Premium Plus PHEV on test is trimmed in leather with soft-touch surfaces and materials.

Lower down, however, the door bins are moulded from hard plastics, which has become a cost-cutting trend among most premium manufacturers. The centre console side tunnel is also faced in plastic cladding. At this price point [£70,595] it should either be carpeted or lined in a soft-touch material.

Then there is an exposed panel on the door trim next to the armrest—again, a finishing detail that shouldn’t be acceptable at this price point. After all, this is a Lexus, not a Volkswagen Touareg.

That said, if you want the full premium treatment, you’ll need to opt for the Takumi trim, but naturally, you’ll pay more. Nevertheless, you do get acoustic windscreen and side glass, along with water-repellent glass, as part of an extensive standard equipment list.

Rear passengers sit slightly higher than those in the front. It feels a little odd at first, but this is due to packaging requirements. The PHEV battery pack is mounted directly underneath, yet headroom remains unaffected, even with the standard panoramic glass roof.

Nevertheless, the interior is spacious and roomy for both front and rear passengers. The seats are comfortable, and the boot is more than large enough, despite some reviews claiming it isn’t class-leading in terms of litre capacity—a statistic that makes little difference in the real world.

Infotainment System

The 14-inch infotainment display is complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The two screens are integrated into a single unit, creating the impression of one large, seamless display.

The native user interface is well presented. Both screens are sharp, bright, and fairly straightforward to navigate. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also supported.

It’s largely a buttonless environment, aside from the physical climate-control dials integrated into the infotainment screen.

As for standard equipment, it includes more than most owners will ever need. USB ports are provided for both front and rear passengers, while driver comfort features include electrically adjustable steering and a heated steering wheel.

But as I always say, as long as a car has heated seats and heated side mirrors as standard, everything else is a bonus.

The amount of equipment packed into the Lexus RX 450+ is extensive and subject to change, so it’s worth checking the latest specification details.

The Drive

The RX 450+ plug-in hybrid is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors, producing a combined output of 304bhp. Supplementing the powertrain is an 18.1kWh battery pack—roughly comparable in capacity to a Tesla Powerwall—which provides an electric-only range of around 40 miles.

Overall, the driving experience is very pleasant. The suspension absorbs bumps and poor road surfaces without much fuss. It isn’t the plushest ride available because air suspension is absent, but the RX relies instead on a multi-link suspension setup with adaptive variable dampers, and it works remarkably well.

For the most part, the ride is predictable and composed. As a motorway cruiser, it devours long-distance journeys with ease. The chassis feels stable, this particular model trim rides on 21-inch alloy wheels and grip levels are reassuring. The overall ride and handling balance and steering feels refined and on par with European rivals.

Also included is an exhaustive list driver and safety aids It isn’t a sports SUV, and it doesn’t need to be. If you do decide to push it, you’ll be gently reminded of the laws of physics through a touch of understeer.

As for performance, I actually preferred driving in EV mode and therefore kept the battery charged as often as possible. Real-world electric range sits between 38 and 42 miles on a full charge, depending on driving style and conditions.

You get three driving modes that sharpen steering response and encourage the engine to rev slightly more freely, but I generally left it in Eco mode because it feels the most relaxed and best suited to the car’s character.

On electric power alone, the RX PHEV is good for around 40 miles. The Lexus RX 450h+ features an onboard AC charger with a maximum charging rate of 6.6kW. It uses a Type 2 connector and does not support DC rapid charging.

Using a dedicated home wallbox or public charger rated at 7.4kW, a full charge takes approximately 2.5 hours. Using a standard UK three-pin household socket, charging takes around 7.5 to 8.5 hours.

When the battery is depleted, the RX seamlessly reverts to hybrid operation. There is always a small amount of battery reserve maintained through regenerative braking and coasting. This stored energy continues to assist the petrol engine even when the battery appears fully depleted.

In day-to-day driving, you rarely notice whether the RX is operating in EV mode or running on the petrol engine. Only when you fully depress the throttle do you hear the engine making its presence known albeit quietly in the background.

If you choose not to charge the battery and instead rely primarily on the petrol engine, you’ll still average around 57mpg. Performance at full throttle is deceptively strong, but you’ll never really feel the quoted 0-60mph time of 6.6 seconds because the CVT transmission dulls the sensation of acceleration.

In other words, the RX PHEV is quick, but due to the way the CVT automatic transmission deploys its power, the sensation of acceleration feels subjectively a little flat.

That’s why I preferred to keep the battery charged and use electric power whenever possible. The electric motors are significantly more responsive and offer superior drivability compared with the petrol engine alone.

Indeed, the EV power delivery feels more akin to a refined V6—only smoother, significantly better.

Epilogue

The Lexus RX 450+ PHEV is a genuinely high-quality luxury SUV. It comfortably matches Europe’s best offerings, and you can buy one with confidence because Lexus vehicles rarely go wrong.

This generation represents Lexus at its finest. However, if you want the very best expression of RX luxury, you’ll need to climb the trim ladder towards the Takumi models.

I’ve never been a huge fan of plug-in hybrids. Early examples felt clunky and somewhat contradictory. However, the latest generation of PHEVs is changing my opinion.

In my view, the electric side of the RX 450H+ Premium Plus actually outperforms the petrol engine in terms of responsiveness and overall drivability.

Battery technology is advancing rapidly, and we’re approaching a point where EV range will match—and eventually exceed—the practical range of petrol-powered vehicles.

But the market speaks, and today the market wants hybrids and plug-in hybrids. In that respect, the Lexus RX remains one of the benchmarks for combining both powertrains into a single, highly accomplished package.