ON THE ROAD: THE RX450 is more than just a car – it’s a work of art.
Modern art, the kind that divides opinion, but art nonetheless.
It’s not what you would call beautiful – being more Picasso than Van Gogh – but few cars offer as much visual content.
It’s like something out of a Manga comic, all sharp angles and exaggerated lines. Safe it is not, a first draft given form – something that is to be applauded in this otherwise anodyne world.
Now in its fourth incarnation, it is slightly longer than before due to an extended wheelbase, it’s wider and has greater ground clearance.
The RX450h is powered by a full hybrid system with a 3.5 litre petrol engine, putting out 259bhp.
Lexus has worked to improve the car’s straight line stability and the E-Four all-wheel drive system has been tweaked to give a better response when accelerating through the bends.
A big car, its agility belies its girth. Quiet from the off, as you might expect, you can pootle around town for a few miles on electric alone. Increase speed and the petrol unit kicks in, again though sound is muted, unless you floor the throttle, that is, when a pleasing burble can be heard.
The steering is nice and direct and while this car is better suited to straight, uncomplicated roads, I had no issues taking it out in the sticks.
ON THE INSIDE: LEXUS’ aim for the RX450 was to engineer a car possessing a crossover’s characteristics and an executive saloon’s luxuriance.
As far as I am concerned their goal has been achieved.
Sit inside and you can’t avoid the quality. There’s plenty of leather and where that ends it’s complimented by highly crafted aluminium.
It’s a place you could get pleasure from just sitting in without ever pushing the start-up button.
WHAT DO YOU GET: OUR car featured the Lexus Safety System, Adaptive high beam system, airbags aplenty including front passenger seat cushion airbag, Drive Mode Select, Lexus Premium Navigation and 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. There was also a colour head-up display, smart entry and push button start, wireless smartphone charger, dual zone climate control, heated leather and wood steering wheel, 60:40 split-folding rear seats, Bluetooth, Aux in and two USB ports, rain-sensing wipers and front and rear parking sensors.
On the outside there was LED everywhere, illuminated door handles, electric, folding and heated door mirrors, rear privacy glass, power tailgate and 20ins alloys.
HOW PRACTICAL IS IT: THERE’S 453 litres of space in the boot with the seats up, but drop them – they go almost flat - and that increases to 924 litres. Leg room is generous in the rear, as well as up front and the floor is flat, meaning even the person in the middle feels comfortable. Headroom is also plentiful.
RUNNING COSTS: THIS is not a cheap car by any calculation and some rivals will prove less of a hit in the pocket, but despite you do feel like you are getting value for your money. Around town you will benefit from the electric motor, but on long journeys, conducted at speed, you will get less of a return. Lexus say you should be able to get up as high as 51.4mpg. CO2 emissions are 127g/km.
VERDICT: STRIKING to look at and good to drive. All depends whether you buy into the hybrid ideal or not.
ALTERNATIVES: AUDI Q7, BMW X5
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