The push for more fuel-efficient modes of transportation is at its highest with Europe leading the charge for alternative sources of mobile propulsion. Lexus, the luxury arm of the Japanese automotive giant Toyota, seems to have a noteworthy option for those wanting a greener alternative. I spent time with the Lexus RX450h.
The fact that this particular car was the first test car to arrive at the Autodealer office in this new decade is rather significant. You see, the RX450h is a hybrid and since the start of this year, we have been hearing how governments the world over are pushing for cleaner, more eco-friendly cars. Even a few manufacturers have come out saying that they will be focusing more of their time and effort into creating electric modes of transportation. As exciting as it sounds, there are concerns when you think about our current situation here in South Africa. Sure, electric cars are nice but our country is large and getting from point A to point B can become an issue. Yes, there are charging stations but I don’t think that we are quite ready for a mass rollout of electric cars just yet. Hybrids, on the other hand, might just work.
Lexus styling
The Lexus RX is the brands luxury SUV offering which has recently been updated and they have always stuck to eye-catching design elements. The RX features sharp angles, prominent design lines and that now-iconic spindle grille up front which has been updated to feature a mesh pattern of radiating three-dimensional “L” shapes. The car also features new, slimmer headlights; with rounded edges on the flanks of the bumper. At the rear I noticed a more cohesive design which has been created with a redesigned lower bumper, the rear lights have also been enhanced to feature L-motif design that contributes to greater brand recognition.
Inside the RX450h
The RX450h is the flagship within the range and is most definitely apparent when you get inside. The Lexus RX450h features an exquisitely sculptured interior design, made even more appealing thanks to the caramel-like colour of the leather trim on my test unit. The wood inserts on the centre console and doors is also a feature which I quite like. Atop the facia is a 12.3-inch central display featuring touchscreen functionality. The system also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The MyLexus, which includes identical features to MyToyota, gives access to connected services via a dedicated app. In addition, the RX is equipped as standard with an on-board WiFi hotspot with an initial complimentary 15GB data plan (with the option to purchase additional data at any time).
The drive
On the road, the Lexus impresses even more by offering an extremely comfortable ride quality. Add in the ventilated seats and the 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system and the car becomes the ideal road-trip car.
The RX450h is a hybrid but have no need for cables, you see the car offers a self-charging system. The engine which is a 3.5-litre V6 helps charge the battery, as does coasting and braking. Once the battery is fully charged the car can run exclusively on electricity but only for a few kilometres and at low speeds, ideal when sitting in traffic, navigating office or mall parking areas or driving through the suburbs. The electric motor can also help the engine when more power is needed, for a combined 230 kW and 335 N.m + e, total system output. The change between electric and petrol power is seamless and despite not being a fan of CVT gearboxes, the one in the RS450h goes about its business rather well. The car by no means encourages you to exploit all of its performance credentials, its relaxing character is quickly adopted in the driving style and I managed an impressive 7.2l/100km.
Verdict
I’ll be honest, I didn’t notice the RX450h before but as time moves on, cars like this are not just getting better; our views on them are as well. Driving it around and experiencing the technology benefited me, it made more sense to me now. I will admit that you need to be aware of how it all works; you need to adjust the way you drive if you want to fully benefit from it all. It’s not for everyone and at a price of around R1 342 100, it finds itself amidst the likes of the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, both leaders in their segment and both available with powerful diesel engines. As I said, as nice as what the Lexus is, I don’t think we are there just yet, it would be the BMW for me.
