Launched with great fanfare at the 2015 New York Auto Show, the new Lexus RX has now arrived on Australian roads. The RX a premium SUV that packs some thoughtful differences to the competition. The value proposition isn’t bad either, with well-equipped Luxury base models heading out the door from $73,000.
We drove the base car, or, to give it its full name, the 2016 Lexus RX 200t Luxury. The sole option ticked was the lustrous indigo blue paintwork for $1,500 paintwork. What we found was a well-priced, comfortable crossover. The turbocharged two-litre that Lexus developed with the RX in mind is a great little engine, negating the need to splash another $7,000 on the V6 or $15,000 on the hybrid.
The RX’s angular appearance outside won’t be to everybody’s tastes, but it is refreshingly different to the rest of the pack. Compared to the conservative German options, the Lexus RX really stands out, though the darker colours are the most tasteful. In terms of size, the RX is medium—it slots between the Mercedes GLC / BMW X3 and the GLE / X5. That’s a compromise that will work well for many families: the RX is a very usable size for five people.