Page 49 - Car South Africa (February 2020)

Wearing the latest iteration of
The presence of a crisp
touchscreen display is
While the sharper and more
the brand’s spindle grille intro- driver-focused RX350 F Sport
duced with the UX, other notable derivative enters the fray com-
changes to its styling include plete with bespoke bodywork and
restyled bumpers as well as an 20-inch alloy wheels, it remains
altogether narrower headlamp the softer, more leisurely RX450h
cluster, arranged to house Lexus’ package that best complements
newest Bladescan adaptive LED the sleek and classy lines of the
headlamp technology, standard on modern RX package.
the RX450h. Together with a renewed focus
As comfortable and well on torsional rigidity and ride com-
appointed as ever, the biggest fort (including the incorporation
news in terms of the RX’s interior of a new “friction control device”
treatment is the incorporation of within the shock absorbers),
a new 12,3-inch touchscreen in- there’s something impressive
fotainment system. Replacing the about the way the 450h is able to
frustratingly intricate and com- glide from standstill in stealth,
01
plex trackpad arrangement in the all-electric mode before the
outgoing model, the presence of 3,5-litre V6 petrol engine takes
a crisp touchscreen display (sup- over further up the road. The
plemented with a new, although RX’s well-insulated cabin does
still a bit too sensitive, touchpad)
an admirable job of cocooning
a game-changer mounted within easy reach of its occupants against outside
the driver is a game-changer for road and drivetrain noises. Even
a vehicle that accounts for 15% of the much-maligned presence of
the brand’s local sales. an e-CVT seems somehow more
Arguably of less significance acceptable in an RX package that,
to the average RX owner is the let’s be honest, is only likely to
addition of Apple CarPlay and An- be driven hard by an enthusiastic
droid Auto smartphone-mirroring teenager borrowing the keys for
technology within an infotain- the night.
ment bundle that already includes As before, the RX’s petrol
in-car Wi-Fi since September 2019 engine drives the front wheels
(although, I’d recommend asking only, while interventions from
your dealership to set it up for you a rear-mounted electric motor
02 03
before exiting the showroom). complete an all-wheel-drive
setup should conditions dictate
and there’s adequate remaining
charge in the battery to do so.
If there is a downside to the
450h’s packaging in comparison
with other derivatives, it’s that
this model’s luggage and fuel tank
capacity suffers for the cause.
With more young-at-heart
models like the quirky UX,
modern NX and svelte RC coupé
nestled within the modern Lexus
portfolio, the impressively sophis-
ticated RX has been freed up to
embrace its role as a pinnacle of
what this luxury-oriented brand
does best.
01 Terrane Khaki one of two new colours.
02 Touchpad replaces clumsy mouse-like
trackpad of the previous car. 03 Not much
need for sport modes in the leisurely 450h.
04 04 12,3-inch touchscreen adds convenience.
CARmag.co.za CAR FEBRUARY 2020 47