Reliability is one aspect many people put on top of their list when considering the purchase of a new set of wheels. Buyers seek to ensure they are buying a dependable car, that will cost them as little as possible in repair expenses. Luxury cars, with their complicated and costly features, can quickly become a money pit, should things start to go wrong. Fortunately, there are some options out there within the luxury segment which buck the trend, the 2022 Lexus RX is one such vehicle.
Rated number one in the J.D. Power ratings for the Midsize Premium SUV segment, the car scores 83/100 with all aspects considered. When it comes to reliability, the RX is a top performer here too, receiving a "Great" rating of 85/100. This score indicates the car is a great proposition and is far less likely to land you with an expensive repair bill than the competition. Now we know reliability is covered, let's explore what else the 2022 Lexus RX has to offer.
8 Bold Styling
The 2022 Lexus RX is a facelifted version of the 4th generation car. The facelift was introduced in 2020, while the 4th generation car it is based on was released back in 2016. Despite essentially being seven years old now, it remains one of the sharpest-looking SUVs on the market.
The front end is extremely angular and strikes a great balance between sportiness and elegance. The vast grille is probably the first thing you notice, and it follows the form of other Lexus vehicles with a signature spindle design. Sharp triple beam headlights are accented by eye-catching LED daytime running lights, which evoke a very modern appearance. The rear is fairly minimalist, with unobtrusive LED taillights. Get the spec right, and the RX is a seriously imposing vehicle.
7 Advanced Infotainment System Featuring Alexa
Unlike some Lexus infotainment systems of old, the units fitted in the RX are thoroughly modern and easy to navigate. Entry-level cars come fitted with an 8-inch screen, while a larger 12.3-inch unit is available as part of the Navigation Package.
The system is well-equipped as standard, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. One particularly cool feature is the integration of the family favorite voice assistant from Amazon, Alexa. Drivers can ask her a number of helpful queries, from the weather forecast to the traffic report. Similarly, features such as the audio and navigation systems can be voice-controlled, adding convenience and preventing you from having to take your eyes off the road.
6 A Special Edition Black Line
New for the 2022 model year, the Lexus RX is now available in a limited edition "Black Line" trim, which can be selected on all powertrain options. The changes are purely aesthetic, but make the car look far more aggressive than the regular version.
As the name suggests, black is used heavily across the vehicle, with many features receiving a visual modification. Changes include black wing mirrors, large 20-inch black alloy wheels combined with color-coded nuts, and a black portion of the front bumper among other exterior changes. Inside, black wood trim is utilized alongside black NuLuxe synthetic leather seating, upgrading the look and feel.
5 Class-Leading Safety Technology
One of the car's biggest strengths is its performance when it comes to safety. The car is seriously well-equipped, with almost every system you could wish for included as standard.
Making this a very safe vehicle is the inclusion of lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking pedestrian detection, and blind-spot monitoring among other features.
4 Conventional Combustion Engine Options Alongside Hybrids
Lexus these days is well known for producing some seriously great hybrid-powered cars. This remains true in the RX, as buyers are able to specify the car in RX 450h guise. In this configuration, the car is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to three electric motors, to produce a combined 308 hp and enable a reasonable 0-60 mph time of 7.9 seconds.
The car is also available with a conventional combustion engine, in the form of the RX 350. This powertrain utilizes a 3.5 liter V6 to generate 290 hp, so slightly less than the hybrid. However, given the additional weight burden of the electric motors in the hybrid, the 0-60 mph time is matched, and even exceeded when the front-wheel-drive only model is selected, bringing the 0-60 mph time down to 7.7 seconds.
3 Generous Cabin Space
Despite being a relatively compact midsize SUV, the Lexus RX performs well when it comes to cabin space. Those in the rear will especially appreciate this, as they benefit from reclining seat backs, a flat floor, and an ample 38 inches of legroom
Boot space is also reasonably decent, offering 539 liters of hauling capacity with the rear seats upright. Flatten them down, and this is expanded to a whopping 1,579 liters.
2 Performs Well In Crash Testing
Nobody likes to think they could be involved in a crash, but unfortunately, the risk is ever-present. Should the worst happen, having a safe vehicle is essential. Given Lexus is a producer of luxury vehicles, it is only correct that great safety is built-in, a luxury feature in its own right.
Reassuringly, the 2022 RX has won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) "Top Safety Pick" award. This shows the car has scored well against their stringent safety criteria. From the front end, rear end, and side on smashes, the IIHS has evaluated them all, so buyers could do a lot worse than opt for the RX.
1 Clever “BladeScan” Headlights
A particularly nifty feature of the Lexus RX is the inclusion of "BladeScan" headlights. These offer an arguably unrivaled view of the road ahead, by carefully controlling the illumination provided by the LED headlights.
The feature provides vastly enhanced peripheral visibility, by directing light onto rotating blade-shaped mirrors within the headlamps. 10 LED bulbs can be found in each unit, and the light beam from these can be adjusted down to a precise 0.7 degrees.