Luxury car brand, Lexus has updated its RX SUV which now features enhanced styling and new equipment. Take a look at what’s changed…

The RX is one of Lexus’ strongest performing products in terms of global sales and the sharp and edgy-looking fourth-generation RX was introduced in South Africa in 2016. The luxury SUV has now received a mid-life makeover to ensure that it remains competitive against rivals such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q7 and Volvo’s XC90, to name but a few.

Sharper design

Exterior changes are subtle but the RX retains its sharp, aggressive styling.

From the outside, you will notice that the fog lights have now been positioned at the base of the front bumper and the triple-beam LED headlights are much slimmer than before. The familiar spindle grille incorporates angled blocks which give it a unique look while matching the overall angular design of the RX. The rear taillights have also been revised and now look sharper too.

Lexus has also added 2 new exterior colours, Moonbeam Beige Metallic or Nori Green Pearl, as well as offering a new standard 18-inch wheel design and a new 20-inch design for Luxury grade derivatives.

Enhanced connectivity

The introduction of a new infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is great news for future Lexus and Toyota models.

While the exterior changes are best described as subtle, the interior benefits from more significant improvements. The most notable change is the standard fitment of an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system or a larger 12.3-inch, a split-screen unit which will be offered as an option. A total of 6 USB ports are also fitted and the familiar remote touch pad is still part of the package.

The big news here, however, is that the infotainment system is equipped with Android Auto and Apple Car Play capability. This is the first Lexus to feature this technology and it should filter down to other models in Lexus’ range. More importantly, though, Toyota’s product range is also in desperate need of an infotainment upgrade and this system would be most welcome in Toyota’s portfolio and we are hoping that this is the start of ongoing infotainment upgrades.

Also, steering mounted paddle shifters are now also standard across the RX range and buyers will have more choice in terms of interior trim.

Technical upgrades

The RX's ride and handling has been enhanced with a number of tweaks and adjustments.

Lexus has also spent some time improving driving dynamics. Both the front and rear stabiliser bars are now hollow to save weight but they are also thicker and reinforced bushings aid in reducing body roll and improving steering response. The shock absorbers have been re-tuned and the dampers now feature a new friction control device to provide a smoother ride. A stiffer suspension design has also improved responsiveness while reducing noise and vibration, according to Lexus.

In terms of safety, Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 is now standard on all RX derivatives which includes bicyclist detection, low-light pedestrian detection, Road Sign Assist (RSA) and Lane Tracing Assist (LTA).

Engine choice

The same 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine will carry over with a hybrid version topping the RX range.

The Lexus RX is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine offering 221 kW and 370 Nm of torque and makes use of an 8-speed automatic transmission. The long wheelbase version employs the same engine but outputs are 216 kW and 358 Nm of torque.

The local range is topped off with the hybrid RX 350h SE which marries the V6 engine with 2 high-torque electric drive motor-generators with a combined output of 230 kW and 335 Nm.

Production of the facelifted RX is due to start in Q3 of 2019 and can be expected in South Africa in the first half of 2020. We will keep you updated as soon as local specification and pricing becomes available.

Buy a new or used Lexus RX on Cars.co.za

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