There is a vehicle segment out there for ‘mature ladies with money’. And the Lexus RX 450h absolutely hits the nail on the head lol. Notice: They even named it after a pharmacy. I kid, I kid.
But for real, the RX 450h is dialed-in to perfection in that realm. It’s so good in fact, that even I really like it. And I am about the farthest thing from a mature lady with money lol. I’m also about the farthest thing from a hybrid driver you’ll ever see. Ahhh alas… I could never own one; it was never meant to be. Owning a Lexus RX 450h would un-stress my life in so many ways. Unfortunately, I guess I’m just not ready for that yet.
The Lexus RX 450h seems to glide through the world.
I would say ‘effortlessly’, but that’s the thing… there is the perfect amount of effort & feedback in the RX’s DNA. See – I’ve driven new vehicles where the manufacturers go too far pursuing ‘effortless’. But that’s honestly not the way, because the car ends up feeling a little fake & funky & unpredictable… almost like a video game. In the real world, you want/need some feeling & some feedback. And the Lexus RX 450h makes the drive effortless WITHOUT making it numb. That’s a small target to hit, but the RX 450h hits it.
The Lexus RX’s visibility is great.
I like the wide wrap-around view out of the windshield & front corner windows. The seats are near perfection, as they almost always seem to be in a Lexus. For years, it’s impressed me how Lexus can make a seat that fits all body types so well, even over long trips. The dash is a soothing mix of tech, buttons, and knobs.
Look – the idea of using screens for absolutely everything in a vehicle seems nice, but manufacturers are taking it too far these days. When screens become a distraction to driving, you have a responsibility to reign it in. And when it comes to cockpit atmosphere & driver controls, the Lexus RX 450h once again finds that point of balance.
The Lexus RX 450h is smart, efficient, & sensible luxury.
Unlike a lot of crossovers in the luxury space, the RX isn’t costly to operate. At ~30mpg, the RX 450h gets impressive gas mileage for its size & presence. You’re not forced to fill it with premium. The tires aren’t too wide, aggressive, & expensive. Overall costs of operations are low… and that’s on the opposite-end of the spectrum from a lot of the Euro luxury SUVs out there. Is the RX gonna make your heart skip a beat? No, not really. But that’s not what it’s about.
Other Notes…
Light output is good. The RX incorporates peripheral lighting at the bottom of the front bumper that illuminates curbs/etc in low-speed turning/merging situations. It’s a nice touch. I like the blacked-out faux window c-pillar design, and the shape of the wheel wheels in interesting in a good way. Both of those design cues really help to make the RX striking in comparison to other crossovers. Oh & the pockets on the bottom of the door panels pull-out for easy access… that’s cool, just sayin’.
