On the inside, the RX goes big on tech and simplifies the driver-focused design. Dominating up front is the 14-inch infotainment screen which will ship on all RXs, comes with a revitalised user interface to bring it in line with rivals. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard fit, joining a generous range of equipment you won’t need to pay out extra for, including heated and ventilated seats. Third-generation Lexus Safety System+, featuring a number of risk detection and prevention facilities, is standard too, while the Extended Safety Package with Lane Change Assistance among other advanced systems, is optional. Safe Exit Assist, which won’t let the door open in the path of cyclists or motorists, is expected by Lexus to prevent more than 95 per cent of associated incidents.
Three versions of the new RX are available, all featuring hybrid power. For the first time, a V6 will not feature in the range. The RX350h is the ‘entry-level’ model and is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder self-charging hybrid. That same petrol engine powers the RX450h+, which Lexus expects to be the most popular model. This is because it also has a plug-in hybrid system which adds a rear-mounted electric motor, an 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery and consequently, a 40-mile electric-only driving range. In addition to being the ‘most’ hybridised RX you can buy, it’s also in the middle in terms of performance.