As the most popular Lexus model in America, the previous-generation RX midsize crossover SUV apparently satisfied the luxury cravings of many people despite a handful of sometimes glaring flaws. Now, a redesigned fifth-generation 2023 Lexus RX attempts to sustain and build upon that success, so it is comfortingly similar to yet substantially different from the old RX.
Styling is a subjective matter, so as is often the case with Lexus models, if you like the way it looks, then chances are you'll like most everything else about the new 2023 RX. That assessment extends to the RX 350h, which is one of two models to replace the previous RX 450h. (The other is the RX 450h+, a new plug-in hybrid model arriving midyear, according to Lexus.)
The RX 350h is a conventional — rather than a plug-in — hybrid. Unlike the V6-based RX 450h from last year, the 2023 RX 350h employs a four-cylinder engine, improving fuel economy while retaining the off-the-line responsiveness supplied by the electric assist motors. Better yet, based on the automaker's claims, acceleration remains on par with the old RX 450h.
As part of the redesign, the previous-generation RX 450h L with its cramped third-row seat is gone, leaving two rows of seats for up to five people in the new RX 350h. If you believe the rumor mill, a proper three-row Lexus crossover SUV is coming soon, likely based on the upcoming Toyota Grand Highlander. Hybrid power is a good bet, though the new, larger Lexus three-row crossover will probably use the more powerful drivetrain offered in the new RX 500h F Sport Performance model (reviewed separately).
As for the 2023 RX 350h, next-generation infotainment, convenience and driver assist technologies debut, including a cloud-based navigation and natural voice recognition system and a hands-free traffic jam assistant for when you're crawling along at low speeds in commuter traffic. With its comfortable front and roomy rear seats, and more cargo space than before, the new RX should appeal to the luxury SUV buyers that have made it successful in the past.
And while the new RX 350 faces several rivals, the RX 350h is in a class of one. The only hybrid-powered alternative in the luxury two-row SUV segment is the BMW X5 xDrive45e, and it's a plug-in model. You might also cross-shop the RX 350h with the smaller Audi Q5 TFSI 55 e, Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring and Volvo XC60 Recharge, three additional plug-in hybrid alternatives all in the compact luxury SUV segment.
Every 2023 Lexus RX 350h has a hybrid powertrain based on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (246 horsepower, 233 lb-ft torque). It uses a continuously variable automatic transmission and employs a small electric motor at the rear wheels to create an electronic all-wheel-drive system.
Within the midsize luxury SUV class, rivals to the RX 350h are plug-in hybrids, and the BMW X5 xDrive45e is the only one that comes with two rows of seats. But it is significantly more expensive than the RX 350h and is far less fuel-efficient when driven as a traditional hybrid. So unless you really want the BMW's 31 miles of EPA-estimated electric-only driving range, you can get more for your money with the RX 350h.
The compact Lexus NX slots into the lineup beneath the midsize Lexus RX, so it is smaller inside, offers less cargo space, and isn't quite as refined and opulent. But in exchange for these qualities, you can save quite a bit of money by choosing the NX 350h over the RX 350h. The two SUVs share a powertrain, but the lighter NX is a little quicker to accelerate and a little more fuel-efficient.
The Volvo XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid is one of our favorite luxury SUVs. However, it is smaller inside and out than the new RX 350h, offering less passenger and cargo space. It is also more expensive than the RX 350h and falls far short in fuel economy when used as a hybrid. But the Volvo supplies 36 miles of range running on nothing but electricity, a feat the RX 350h cannot match.
Recent years of the Lexus RX have had three primary attributes to potentially win over midsize-SUV shoppers: distinctive styling, a lower-than-average price tag among its peers, and the perceived reliability of its parent company. But it's also been not all that exciting to drive, and it's let down by a non-touchscreen infotainment system with a frustrating and distracting user interface.
The 2023 RX 350h serves as a replacement for last year's RX 450h as the 2023 450h+ is now a plug-in hybrid. The RX 350h uses a more traditional hybrid powertrain, although unlike last year's model, it now employs a 2.5-liter inline-four engine rather than a V6. So we can expect slightly improved fuel efficiency over last year's model. Final EPA estimates haven't been announced, but Lexus expects 33 mpg combined compared to the last model's 30 mpg combined.
The RX 350h brings not only a change in powertrain but a change to the whole RX experience. In our time behind the wheel of the 350h, we felt this model best represents the new RX by combining efficiency with the comfortable qualities we've come to expect from Lexus. Ride control is excellent. Even with the additional weight of the hybrid powertrain, the 350h never felt too soft, nor did it lack composure down a twisty back road. The steering is well tuned, accurate and not overly light or heavy, no matter which drive mode was selected.
The outside might not look radically different from the outgoing RX but the inside certainly does. Dominating the experience is a fully digital dashboard combined with a choice of a 9.8-inch or a 14-inch horizontally oriented touchscreen display. Everywhere you look it's a step forward from the previous model and the interior of the RX looks both more youthful and luxurious. Even in its most opulent trim level, the new RX doesn't ever look or feel like your elderly aunt's old Lexus. Build quality, as you'd expect, is exceptional.
Lexus has finally done away with the much-maligned touchpad controller that made the user interface so clunky and difficult to interact with in the old RX. It instead uses a simple touchscreen, albeit punctuated with a pair of physical dials that allow you to quickly input the desired temperature for the front-seat climate system. We've tested this interface in several newer Toyota and Lexus products — including the new Toyota Tundra and Lexus NX — and while it's not as user-friendly as we'd like, it is significantly easier to navigate around the menus.
Edmunds saysAlong with the welcome changes a redesign of Lexus' popular midsize SUV brings, the 2023 RX 350h hybrid also blends sprightly performance with fuel-sipping efficiency.
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2023 Lexus RX 350h:
The least-expensive 2023 Lexus RX 350h is the 2023 Lexus RX 350h 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $49,000.
Other versions include:
