Recent versions of the Lexus RX midsize SUV have had three primary attributes to potentially win over shoppers: distinctive styling, a lower-than-average price tag among its peers, and the perceived reliability of its parent company. But the RX has also been rather blasé to drive. That changes with the redesigned 2023 Lexus RX, which is available in a new RX 500h F Sport Performance flavor.
The RX 500h F Sport Performance uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic transmission and a hybrid system to produce respectably quick acceleration. All-wheel drive is standard, and Lexus says it's optimized to enhance traction on dry roads as well as in snowy or icy conditions. More secure handling and upgraded brakes specific to the RX 500h F Sport Performance should also contribute to the RX 500h's increased athleticism.
The new fifth-generation 2023 RX is the same size as before, but Lexus says it offers more rear legroom and cargo space inside. Lexus also reworked the tech, and the new RX features 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.
Bold styling, updated infotainment and driver assist features, and modern interior design and materials help the new RX keep pace with its European luxury rivals. And if you're looking for both a sporty and luxurious SUV, the RX 500h F Sport Performance is the model to consider.
The 2023 Lexus RX 500h has a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (366 horsepower, 406 lb-ft torque), a six-speed automatic transmission, and a dual-motor hybrid system with a Lexus Direct4 all-wheel-drive system.
Like the new RX 500h F Sport Performance, the Acura MDX Type S is a performance-tuned version of a popular luxury SUV. Acura takes a more traditional approach with the Type S, using a twin-turbocharged V6 instead of a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid. Acura's pursuit of performance is arguably more aggressive, too, and the MDX offers a third-row seat in case you need it. You can learn what it's like to live with the standard MDX by reading Edmunds' long-term road test of the Acura MDX.
Equipped with an electrified and turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 is a performance-tuned midsize SUV, just like the Lexus RX 500h. As you might expect, it costs significantly more than the Lexus RX 500h, and that's before you add any options. But the extra cost pays for superior performance, added cargo space, and more than double the towing capacity.
The Volvo XC60 is one of our favorite luxury SUVs, and in Polestar Engineered form, it is unexpectedly rewarding to drive. The powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain, coupled with a complete package of mechanical upgrades, transforms this safety-oriented and sensible SUV into an impressively swift Swede. But it doesn't come cheap. And the Volvo is noticeably smaller inside than the Lexus.
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 redesigned RX will offer four different powertrain combinations, as designated by the numbers following the RX prefix. The RX 500h F Sport Performance uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic transmission and a hybrid system to produce a hearty 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Lexus says 0-60 mph will take a respectably quick 5.9 seconds. The last-generation RX 450h we tested, which had 308 hp, needed 7.3 seconds to get up to 60 mph.
The RX 500h F Sport Performance (that is indeed its full name) uses the main performance benefit of a hybrid system — namely instantaneous torque — to create the quickest RX on offer. Paired with the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine and a six-speed automatic in place of the RX 350's eight-speed unit (Lexus claims the six-speed works better for achieving its performance goals), the 500h uses an electric motor situated on the rear axle for more engaging performance.
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 saysAccording to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2023 Lexus RX 500h:
The least-expensive 2023 Lexus RX 500h is the 2023 Lexus RX 500h F SPORT Performance 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 6A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $61,600.
Other versions include:
