Hitting the road in a luxury Lexus SUV

Kyle Kock of CAR magazine gives his driving impressions of the Lexus RX 500h F Sport, with its impressive price tag that starts at R1,6 million.

What makes the Lexus RX significant? The brand was established in the SUV space in th US 25 years ago, and apart from a comprehensive standard features list and safety specification, it set a standard for constant updates – averaging between two and four years between facelifts. Two and a half decades later, we’re already at the fifth model.

The new Lexus RX presents itself as an evolution from the fourth generation, with the same sharp edges and hard lines, as well as the floating roof design that debuted in 2015. Even though the RX has the same overall length as its predecessor, thanks to its elongated headlamps, wider front and rear track and longer wheelbase, it has a presence that’s a little more dynamic. Up front the spindle nose is familiar, but around the back, there’s a light bar that spans the width of the tailgate, and Lexus lettering instead of the brand’s oval logo.