The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Calm styling
- Cohesive interior
- Three hybrid options
- Fresh in-car tech
Dislikes
- Confusing trim lineup
- Awkward CVT in 350h
- Handles like a large vehicle
- 450h+ PHEV tops $70,000
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2024 Lexus RX crossover SUV has potent powertrains and efficient hybrids, but skip the graunchy base hybrid powertrain.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Lexus RX? What does it compare to?
The 2024 Lexus RX is a five-passenger crossover SUV straddling the premium and luxury price points, similar to the Infiniti QX60, Acura MDX, and Volvo XC60.
Is the 2024 Lexus RX a good SUV?
This midsize SUV tries to attract youthful buyers without alienating its core, with an offering of four powertrains on the menu, which includes three hybrids, and a choice of six trims. It’s a good value with great standard features, attractive design, and a spacious cabin, and earns a TCC Rating of 7.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Lexus RX?
The RX largely carries into 2024 unchanged after a revamp last year, except for the addition of the RX 450h plug-in hybrid.
The RX features fresh styling inside and out and a modern powertrain lineup. The fifth generation of the SUV marked a move to the brand’s new global platform, both lighter and stronger. The old V-6s were phased out in favor of new hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.
The RX sports an athletic profile with a long, dramatic nose that dips into the spindle grille. The F Sport gets distinctive air intakes at both ends, fresh lighting signatures, and sporty wheel designs. The cabin is streamlined with integrated digital instrumentation and a driver-focused touchscreen.
Every powertrain option has a distinctive feel, lending plenty of character to the RX lineup, though all betray their size and ride height in the handling.
The entry-level RX 350 gets a 2.4-liter turbo-4 paired with an 8-speed auto transmission that sends 275 hp to the front or all four wheels. It has spirited acceleration and strong passing power. In F Sport grades, adaptive dampers enhance the RX’s front-strut and multi-link rear suspension.
The RX 350h features a 2.5-liter inline-4 hybrid system, good for 246 hp, that targets ratings of 36 mpg combined. Heavy throttle results in complaints from the CVT, which could be alleviated with steps simulating real shifts. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model, however, gets the 2.4-liter turbo-4 and a motor on each axle. That results in standard all-wheel drive and total output of 366 horses and 406 lb-ft of twist, good for a sub-six-second sprint to 60 mph.
The RX 450+ plug-in hybrid shares mechanicals with the Toyota RAV4 Prime, so look there if you want similar specs but don’t need the luxury badge.
Lexus increased cargo room by extending the wheelbase but trimming the rear overhang, which results in only a five-passenger configuration. Cabin design is thoughtful and cohesive with physical climate controls, and is best fitted with the optional 14.0-inch touchscreen. An electronic shifter adds a modern touch along with options like ambient lighting, keyless entry, a head-up display, and various upscale trims.
Lexus includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and active lane control. The IIHS awarded the Top Safety Pick+ rating.
How much does the 2024 Lexus RX cost?
The 2024 Lexus RX comes in Standard, Premium, Premium+, Luxury, F Sport Handling, and F Sport Performance versions. Pricing starts at around $50,000, including the $1,150 destination charge, and climbs over $70,000 for the 450h+ plug in hybrid.
Where is the 2024 Lexus RX made?
Most are built in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, while RX 350 front-wheel-drive Premium models are made in Japan.
2024 Lexus RX Styling
The latest incarnation of the Lexus RX blends crisp angles lines with curvy touches.
Is the Lexus RX a good-looking car?
It’s striking, that’s for sure. We call the 2024 Lexus RX a 7 on the TCC scale thanks to its unusual exterior cues and its soothing interior.
Up front, the blunt nose wears the latest version of Lexus’ signature spindle-style grille, which cascades downward and outward, where it’s flanked by big faux intakes. Busy headlights carve into the front fenders, where they nearly meet huge wheel openings. From the side, the roof has a coupe-like look thanks to complex treatment of the rearmost pillars. It’s more conventional at the rear, with spread-out Lexus lettering standing in place of the company’s traditional L logo. Skip silver and gray for gorgeous copper and green hues and you’ll really appreciate the RX.
The cabin features a wall of curved screens, including either a 9.8-inch touchscreen or a 14.0-inch setup as you work your way up the lineup. The overall look isn’t as dramatic as Lexus has done before, but convenient controls and pretty materials easily win our hearts.
2024 Lexus RX Performance
Lexus offers a wide performance envelope in its RX.
Lexus doesn’t just build one RX configuration. With four powertrains—three of which are hybrids—and two suspension setups, there are plenty of choices to be made. Overall, the range earns a 7 due to brisk acceleration and a terrific ride.
Is the Lexus RX 4WD?
The RX 350 is the only front-wheel-drive model. All others are all-wheel drive. How the RX distributes power to the rear wheels varies, though.
The RX 500h’s system is the most high-tech, and it’s also capable of sending up to 80 percent of the engine’s output rearward in hard cornering. This gives it a sporty composure we’ve never before seen in a Lexus RX. It relishes being tossed into a corner, especially thanks to its rear-wheel steering.
While the RX lineup has a surprising 8.1 or 8.2 inches of ground clearance, its big wheels and road-oriented tires mean any off-pavement adventures shouldn’t stray far from civilization.
How fast is the Lexus RX?
Look for a run to 60 mph in the mid-seven-second range in the base RX 350, which uses a 2.4-liter turbo-4 to send 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. There’s a hint of lag, but the 8-speed automatic otherwise does an admirable job flicking off gear changes to keep the RX in its power band. It feels quicker than its output suggests. Note that the all-wheel-drive version is a bit peppier.
Less rapid is the RX 350h, which uses a non-turbo 2.5-liter inline-4 teamed with electric motors and a nickel metal hydride battery for a system output of 246 hp. It’s heavier than the RX 350 and also saddled with a CVT that wants to keep engine revs too high. This powertrain is simply too audible at all times to fit the RX’s luxury billing.
Take the RX 350h and add an upsized battery and you wind up with the RX 450h+. This plug-in hybrid is closely related to the Toyota RAV4, at least in terms of its powertrain, and it offers 37 miles of electric-powered commuting ability. It’s much smoother and quieter than the 350h, and altogether more refined, but the $9,150 upcharge is steep. Making 302 hp, it’s much quicker to 60 mph, with a 6.2-second time that’s a shade off the performance-adjacent RX 500h.
The RX 500h takes the RX 350’s turbo-4 and adds two electric motors to help boost output to 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. It’s downright rapid, with a 60 mph run of just 5.9 seconds. The 6-speed automatic isn’t eager to shift out of first gear, but it’s well-behaved otherwise.
Opt for F Sport trim and the RX comes with adaptive dampers that help quell tire patter from their upsized wheels and sportier rubber. No model has especially sharp steering, though they’re all well-balanced with little of the flop we’ve heretofore come to expect from the RX.
2024 Lexus RX Comfort & Quality
The lavish 2024 Lexus RX is a treat inside.
The 2024 Lexus RX boasts a lovely cabin with excellent front and rear seats, good cargo space, and luxurious appointments that border on lavish as you work your way up the lineup. All those attributes add up to a 9 on the TCC scale.
Front-seat riders will find standard power adjustment and heating, with cooling on the options list. The second row offers good space for two adults, while three could squeeze in for shorter trips. Rear-seat riders can even move the front passenger seat forward to open up more legroom—but they should warn its occupant first. The panoramic sunroof trims 1.4 inches of headroom up front, so try before you sky.
If you’re after a seven-seater, look to Lexus’ bigger TX model.
Fold the 60:40 split rear seats and you’ll find a reasonable 46.2 cubic feet of maximum utility. Hybrid versions tuck their battery pack under the rear seat, meaning cargo space doesn’t suffer, even on the plug-in hybrid.
Standard synthetic leather can give way to real hides of varying quality as you work your way up the lineup. Go all-in and Lexus fits beautiful bamboo wood trim.
2024 Lexus RX Safety
Lexus layers on plenty of driver-assistance tech in the 2024 RX.
How safe is the Lexus RX?
Crash-test results are muddled. The IIHS gives the RX its highest safety recognition with a Top Safety Pick+. The NHTSA mostly follows suit with a five-star crash rating, except in the base RX 350 front-wheel-drive model. That is the only iteration with a four-star overall rating. But, because the AWD variants are more popular and receive a five-star rating, it earns a point here. Add it to a point for the TSP+, the good standard tech, and array of ADAS options, and it’s a 9.
Every RX leaves the factory with an impressive array of features, many of which are optional on rivals. You’ll find automatic emergency braking that can detect and stop for pedestrians and cyclists, blind-spot monitors, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. A limited hands-free driving system allows for sub-25-mph cruising in traffic, while Lexus also offers a surround-view camera system.
Outward vision is great forward but less impressive rearward due to big roof pillars and tiny rear quarter windows.
2024 Lexus RX Features
The 2024 Lexus RX lives up to its luxury billing.
This five-seat SUV costs a bit more than some rivals to start, but it comes remarkably well-equipped. It’s an 8 here thanks to good standard fare, plentiful options, and quality infotainment viewed through either a standard 9.8-inch display or an optional 14.0-incher.
This year, the RX starts at $49,950 in RX 350 guise. All-wheel drive runs $2,000 more on the RX 350, while the AWD-only RX 350h is $51,800. The 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ tops the lineup at $70,080.
Standard equipment includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 19-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, and a power tailgate.
The standard 4-year/50,000-mile warranty includes the first two services, though it’s worth noting that only one of those (the second) includes an oil change.
Which Lexus RX should I buy?
First, it’s worth figuring out which powertrain works for you, though most shoppers will pick between the refined RX 350 or the frugal RX 350h. They’re also available in the widest range of trim levels.
Building on the base model, the $52,100 Premium ($53,950 for the RX 350h) adds a sunroof, cooled front seats, a wireless charging pad, and memory for the driver’s seat. It’s also the gateway to a surround-view camera system, a 14.0-inch touchscreen, and Lexus’ Traffic Jam Assist feature that allows for limited hands-off driving at lower speeds.
We might also be tempted to upgrade to the Premium+ trim for its leather upholstery, 14.0-inch screen, and available Mark Levinson audio system. It’s $53,950 (or $55,800 as an RX 350h).
For more sport, try the $58,550 RX 350 F Sport Handling with adaptive dampers and special exterior styling. It largely builds on the Premium, albeit with special seats inside and 21-inch alloy wheels. The RX 500h F Sport Performance is $63,800.
The top Luxury version runs $59,080 ($60,930 for the RX 350h) with its softer leather, 21-inch wheels, head-up display, heated/cooled rear seats, and panoramic sunroof. It’s a relative value for its equipment.
How much is a fully loaded Lexus RX?
The RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid only comes in the Luxury grade, but it jumps $9,150 over the RX 350h Luxury to $70,080. That price is tough to justify.
2024 Lexus RX Fuel Economy
The 2024 Lexus RX can be a fuel-sipper.
Is the Lexus RX good on gas?
That depends on the version. We land at a 2 out of 10 overall since the RX 350 is estimated at a so-so 21 mpg city, 28 highway, 24 combined with all-wheel drive. The front-wheel-drive version ekes out 22/29/25 mpg, per EPA test estimates.
The RX 350h is a winner, though. It would score 5 on the TCC scale if rated independently thanks to its 37/34/36-mpg estimates. Even the RX 500h isn’t bad given how quick it is. It’s estimated at 27/28/27 mpg.
Lexus estimates a 37-mile range for the RX 450h+, or an equivalent of 83 mpg with gas and electric power. On gas alone, it hits 35 mpg combined. Its large 14.5-gallon gas tank means you can go a long time without refilling.
