Lap up the miles in Lexus levels of luxury
Au contraire, a salesman assured me. That garage alone had sold well over 20 of them already this year and were very hopeful of exceeding sales targets for the car. So much for my theories on the matter then.
Was I surprised? Mildly. Was I shocked? No.
I was mildly surprised on the basis that this thing is going to cost the bones of €70k in standard trim and just north of €86k if you want the top-of-the-range Premium version and I was not certain that the national financial recovery was yet at the point where it was cool once more for so many people to lash out that sort of gelt willy-nilly.
But I was far from shocked by this, simply on the basis of the massive sophistication of the RS450h and how good it was to drive. I am not, as readers will know, a big hybrid fan, but this beast was just so nice a thing in which to be carted around in, you could well understand why sales levels were so buoyant.
On top of that, I was driving the F-Sport version of the car — one which is supposed to take on various BMW’s M Sport X5 or Audi’s S-Line Q7, or even the AMG version of Mercedes’ GLE. And, of course, you now also have the Jaguar F-Pace lining up to take a share of the segment sales.
The RX has been with us since 1997 and Lexus has shipped some 2.2 million of them worldwide with a large proportion of those being in America. It has always been marketed as a ‘premium SUV’ and thus reflected core Lexus values — luxury, comfort, build quality, and exclusivity. Anyone coming to the RX in any of its’ early guises could not but have been impressed with what was on offer.
The latest car has a lot to live up to then and it will have to do so in a market which has seen a huge increase in the numbers competing in the segment with all the ‘biggies’ — Land Rover, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, BMW, etc — fielding entrants in the segment, along with a few others which would not normally be considered to be in that league. But, for the image conscious clientele of this segment, the Lexus is only really competing against the Germans and the Indians, as Jaguar/Land Rover is no longer British, per se.
On this basis then it was no surprise to learn that Lexus has not simply given the RX a bit of a make-over, but has completely revamped the car from top to bottom. Thankfully the company resisted the temptation merely to rehash what they already had, but a comprehensive top-to-tail make-over.
This has resulted in a car built on a new, stiffened and extended all-steel platform and which has also seen major revisions to the suspensions. A new modern and very chiselled look has also been adopted and while some might find the design to be a little OTT, you cannot but conclude that it stands the new RS out from the pack.
An extended wheelbase was introduced to try and address a long-standing bug-bear of the RX and that was interior space. While the car was always luxurious, it did suffer from having a cabin tighter than most rivals. That said, even having addressed this issue the RS still does not — as so many rivals do — offer a third row of seats.
For those passengers it does accommodate, however, the experience is a very rewarding one as all the basic luxurious tenets of Lexus motoring are on offer. The list of standard kit would take up most of this page, but the F-Sport adds stuff like 20” alloys, adaptable variable suspension, paddle shift, a 10” heads-up display, integrated sport driving (there are four different modes) and a fifteen speaker Mark Levinson stereo system.
Throw in a bespoke F-Sport interior layout and exterior look and you have something which certainly stands you out from the crowd and therefore fulfils one of the main expectations of the buying demographic. Although I was not personally sure about the ‘coffee and cream’ colour layout of the interior on the tester.
I have to admit I was not expecting as much from this car as a driving experience. Sure you expect - and get - the massive levels of comfort and refinement that will certainly appeal to a rump of buyers for who such matters are a priority. What I didn’t necessarily expect was that Lexus had ramped up the pleasure levels associated with driving it.
But I got that too and aside from the refinement of the 3.5 litre V6 which, of course is allied to two electric motors and the combination of which is a total output of over 310 bhp and 335 Nm of torque. This in turn translates into a top speed of 200 kph and a 0-100 kph time of 7.7 seconds, but the bottom line for this car is its’ abilities as a high speed cruiser.
Certainly the changes made to the suspensions and the adoption of advanced electronics have given the RX a more sporty demeanour than ever before and it will hold its’ own on cross-country excursions, but the real purpose in life of this car is its’ ability to carry you and your passengers long, long distances in the sort of comfort that leaves you feeling you’ve just been to the shops and back.
It achieves this with contemptuous ease and I suspect it is this characteristic — along with the hybrid’s tax-saving wheeze - that will attract all those buyers Lexus is so confident are out there.
I could not possibly say this RS was the best large, sporty SUV I’ve ever driven — because it is not — but is has enough about it in terms of those core Lexus values I mentioned earlier to make it appeal to enough people to make it the winner Lexus want it to be.
COLLEY'S VERDICT
The Cost: From €69,650 — €83,950 as tested.
The Engine: A combination of 3.5 litre V6 petrol and electric motors give the RS its’ hybrid heart.
The Specification: Endless.
The Overall Verdict: Not the ultimate drive in the segment, but one which will appeal to many for its’ refinement and comfort — with a slight nod to sportiness.
