Lexus RX Finalist For MotorTrend SUV Of The Year Award
The MotorTrend Best SUV of the Year award is prestigious and this year brought worthy competition from many brands. In fact, Motortrend’s staff evaluated 40 vehicles from 31 different automakers. One of those 31 automakers was Lexus with the first-ever crossover, the RX.
To make the competition fair, MotorTrend has a certain criteria that they review each vehicle: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function, and every vehicle either has to be an all-new model, or significantly changed from the previous model year. The very first MotorTrend SUV of the Year competition saw the Lexus RX awarded with the Best SUV of the Year in 1999.
The Lexus RX comes equipped with a standard gas engine in the RX 350, and three hybrid models, the RX 350h, 450h+, and 500h F-Sport. MotorTrend loved the amount of engine choices customers get to choose from saying, “The updated RX lineup smartly mixes traits we’ve come to expect from a Lexus with new ones you wouldn’t normally think to ask about. Including the new-for-2024 RX450h+ plug-in hybrid, the RX now has four powertrains to choose from. Below the RX450h+ tech flagship model is the standard, gas-powered RX 350, a similarly priced RX 350h hybrid, and an RX500h hybrid model that trades some efficiency for power and a half serving of sportiness.”
The RX 350 has a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 that produces 265 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. The 350h has the same 2.5-liter inline-4 only with an electric motor instead of a turbocharger. The combined power and torque of the gas and electric motors together is 246 horsepower and 233 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in hybrid 450h+ also has the same 2.5-liter inline-4 combined with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor that puts out a combined 304 horsepower. The EPA estimates that you can drive up to 37 miles on the electric motor alone before needing to recharge it. Last but not least, the sportiest of the RX lineup is the 500h F-Sport with a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-4 that also has an electric motor. The combined output is 366 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque.
The RX has an incredibly luxurious interior, including an optional 14-inch multimedia touchscreen and Mark Levinson Surround Sound system, plus standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Behind the rear seats the RX has 29.59 cu.ft of space in the hatch area, and with the seats folded, that increases to 46.19 cu.ft.
All RX models come equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 which includes: Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection, Proactive Driving Assist (PDA), Road Sign Assist, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Intelligent High Beam, and All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Curve Speed Management (DRCC).
Overall MotorTrend found the RX to be a fun and sporty experience saying, “A couple judges reported having some fun throwing the RX around in the corners, though most models are tuned for cruising more than athleticism. The RX is better off for this focus. Compliments flowed in praising (most of) the RX’s interior, from the high-quality materials to a dual-height cupholder.”
The 2024 Lexus RX starts from $49,950.
At Lexus of Las Vegas, we take pride in offering the best experience for our customers. With hundreds of new and pre-owned vehicles for sale, our dedicated sales team and finance department will work to find you the perfect vehicle at the right price. Our fantastic service department will work tirelessly to ensure your car stays in the best shape possible. We look forward to serving you soon.