Lexus RX 350h TEST – My new best family

It’s not often that we get cars with standard equipment to try. Especially in the case of premium products. When something like this is “lucky”, strange situations occur when we receive car keys without the usual equipment features, but with a price tag of fuel.

So when I picked up the new generation Lexus RX with the base hybrid 350h and the second lowest trim level, I had no high expectations that there wouldn’t be another such disappointment. But the Japanese novel is in many ways a very pleasant surprise. And it does not matter at all that in terms of equipment it is not far from the “exit price”.

Light elegance

Surely you remember the last generation from our site. The fourth version of the RX could seat seven, and at the top of the range was a 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine in both petrol and hybrid versions. It was a Lexus with everything, including a big aggressive mask on the front. However, you would find it for free (along with the third row of seats) in a new piece. The shape of the old mask is only shown here, and the filling itself is done in body color.

However, this is not the only change that the RX has undergone between generations. The car is built on the TNGA-K architecture, which brings high rigidity and a low center of gravity of fifteen millimeters. Compared to its predecessor, the weight has also been reduced by a good ninety kilograms. By extending the wheelbase and shortening the rear overhang, the SUV gained more proportions, although the length of 4890 millimeters remained unchanged.

The entry-level equipment is called Comfort, ours is called Comfort Plus. Inside, the RX receives, for example, 19 light alloy wheels, Tri-LED headlights with automatic high beam function, anti-noise glass with UV filter, direct rain sensor, safety package and assistance systems, front and rear parking sensors, or rear parking camera. There’s a smart keyless entry system, interior lighting, three-zone air conditioning, a 14-inch infotainment display, a superb 12-speaker audio system… and we could go on.

A car equipped in this way with a 350h engine (we’ll get to that later) starts at 1,840,000 CZK. The Japanese have well-defined trim levels, so you will have to pay extra for metallic paint (+40,000 CZK) and a sunroof (+30,000 CZK). Nothing important is missing for you to live in balance every day. And in the context of today’s times, I really think the price of the car is very good.

The first impression after sitting inside is usually a Lexus. The car offers you space and first-class equipment inside. The steering wheel is covered in synthetic leather, and the seats, which are heated in front and can be adjusted in eight ways, get the same material. The seating is very comfortable, which applies to both rows. Even at the back, the crew has comfortable seats reminiscent of a sofa at home, and you can also make sitting more pleasant by folding the back of the back.

Lexus RX 350h

But multiple positions are only one of many pieces of the puzzle. The comfortable entry and seating positions inside also deserve praise. Novel is the replacement of interior door handles with electric opening and smart buttons. Inside, just press for a moment and the door opens instantly. According to the VDA method, the luggage compartment has up to 612 liters. Although the floor is smooth and the edge of the trunk, there is a lot of space. And some little things fit in the organizer below.

One of the most criticized elements of the Lexus RX – the multimedia system – also received a significant overhaul. The 14-inch infotainment screen is seamlessly integrated into the digital instrument panel to create a modern whole. Fortunately, Lexus has not abandoned the rotary control for setting the temperature, for example, you can activate the seat heating just by tapping on the display.

We said goodbye to the previous touch, which did not make driving the old Lexuses very easy. And if multimedia with a large screen with beautiful graphics and high-quality colors is not enough, you can get a modern color display at the highest levels of reduction. What can be explained about displaying data on the windshield? For example, the fact that through this feature you can also control assistance systems or driving modes.

Basic? A lot is enough

The drivetrain range of the new RX is so diverse, only a car enthusiast can be surprised that electric variants play a leading role. The six-cylinder peak was replaced by a new hybrid gasoline turbo 500h with a system output of 273 kW and a hundred in 6.2 seconds. Indeed, it is “only” four cylinders, but the parameters are more than good. For many interested parties, the 450h+, i.e. a plug-in hybrid with an electric range of up to 65 km, may make sense. With us, he can safely access EL registration numbers, so he can park for free in blue zones in Prague and doesn’t even need a highway stamp.

And then there is the basic and proven hybrid 350h. At its heart is a 2.5 liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine assisted by two electric motors. The internal combustion engine only has 140 kW and 239 meters of torque. The electric motors then add 134 kW at the front and 40 kW at the rear. The entire system reaches a system power of 184 kW and 270 meters of torque. The car accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 200 km/h. Meanwhile, electric motors form the wheel drive, and electronically controlled transmissions and e-CVT continuously variable transmissions are also standard.

The dynamics of the car are very good and the response to stepping on the gas pedal is quick. The unnecessary monotonous sound of the hybrid system is turned off to a minimum here, it will be heard only when you put the car in the body properly. But if you accelerate linearly, the whole process is unobtrusive and balanced. In addition, the car pays you with excellent noise reduction, as if it wants to cut you off from everything out there.

And if you’re jumping on the luxury hybrid wave, the car will also deliver good fuel consumption. Driving around the city usually took about five liters per hundred kilometers, on central and district roads the average was between six and seven liters, until the highway the electric assistance decreases to a minimum and the car then uses eight liters to nine. However, you have a 65 liter tank, so you don’t have to worry about frequent gas stations.

Lexus RX 350h

Addictive comfort

In the new generation, Lexus RX introduced a whole series of small modifications that you may not see at first glance, but they greatly facilitate your daily life. The first pair of pillars are further back, so you have a better overview of what’s going on in front of the car. And the rear pillar is narrow, which gives a better view diagonally back, for example when leaving a parking space in a supermarket.

Nineteen-inch wheels, as an addition to the large body, do not look as attractive as the twenty-one wheels of the top equipment, but they will pay you in exemplary driving comfort. The Lexus RX has McPherson struts at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear. And make the chassis? I leave practically without reservation. The car removes patches and small bumps with grace, does not allow to be thrown into several potholes, and holds its track reliably even on a broken corner.

Hand in hand with a pleasant ride is also the steering tuning, which is not too difficult, so that the car is easy to handle even in narrow spaces. With individual shifts, the car will listen to your steering wheel commands to the letter, until driving harder or sudden changes in direction bring down signals. Still we must not forget that we are talking about a car weighing almost two tons. However, the body bravely resists many trends.

Lexus RX 350h

Conclusion

The new Lexus RX 350h is a Japanese pretty boy that has once again embraced automotive luxury in its own way. And it’s just beautiful. The exterior design is no longer flashy, the car is more elegant, more balanced and, above all, already well equipped in the basic equipment levels. And in the context of today’s times, it offers the best of the premium segment at an affordable price.

The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine has good dynamics and quiet and smooth operation in most driving conditions. And besides, it pays for good fuel consumption, so with a little effort you can easily get more than a thousand kilometers on one tank. All this is emphasized by the supple chassis, which was certainly helped by the 19s. Although not very good, the overall driving comfort is satisfactory enough. All this, including automatic and four-wheel drive, under the threshold of 1.9 million crowns? Although I will have to save a few more premiums, in my eyes, the new generation of RX fits the role of the best family – with space, comfort and rich equipment. That’s how it should be!

Pluses

• Internal processing
• Rich materials
• Use of compassion
• Driving comfort
• Stable price

Loss

• The sound of the beaten hybrid remains at a low level
• 19 shoes don’t look very good