Lexus RX 450h F Sport Hybrid | First Drive

Exterior Design and Features of Lexus RX 450h F Sport Hybrid

Unlike the ES 300h, its calmer looking hybrid cousin, the RX 450h is a lot more aggressive and sporty looking. The signature honeycomb spindle grille mesh and the metallic coated lower bumper give the car a sporty look from the front. Adding to the smart looks are the LED 3 eye projector lamps with integrated LED DRL creating the signature Lexus arrowhead-shaped illumination. Just below these are the LED front fog lamps which are integrated into the front bumper. The car comes with sequential LED turn signals. It is interesting to watch these lights move sequentially from the inner side to the outside of the headlamps when the turn signal or the hazard lamp is switch on. Then there are the LED sequential turn signal lamps at the rear with L-shaped wrap around lamps.

The aerodynamic shape of this 4^th generation RX vehicle is enhanced by the large 18” aluminum wheels and the sharp character lines running from the front to the rear. Lexus is offering its spare tyre in the same size as that of the other four tyres. The rear of the vehicle gets truly seductive with its iconic floating roof design that has at one end the large rear spoiler integrated into the top of the back door. The roof has a panoramic glass roof which can be operated at the touch of a button on the overhead console. This car features a power back door which automatically opens when a hand is held above the sensor in the Lexus emblem. There is no need for any physical contact. Lexus says it is better than frantically moving your foot under the boot area (like in competition cars) and dancing silly on one foot! The Lexus F Sport emblem is placed on the sides of the car. The door handles are illuminated at night for easy grab and opening.

Interior Design and Features of Lexus RX 450h F Sport Hybrid

Seduction with the RX 450h F Sport does not stop with the exterior. The moment you step in, it is a world that charms you. The luxurious cabin is all about elegant, high quality trim along with perfect craftsmanship. The front dash area is a combination of high quality leather, shimamoku (luxury wood from Japan) and metal. The F Sport interiors come in a unique dark rose colour for the seats and the side trims. So as to have a sporty drive feel, the front seats provide a lot of firm support as well as comfort. The perforated leather steering wheel has an F Sport logo at its base while the shift lever knob comes with leather dimpled wrapping. The LED analogue clock sits pretty in the middle of the top centre console area.

The car’s dash is clearly divided into two parts, the display area on the top half and the operational area at the bottom half.

The F Sport meters are a bit different from the ones in the Luxury variant. There is a full length illuminated needle and precision digital speedometer here. The analog tachometer features a large silver ring with an illuminated needle and a digital speedometer and shift position/drive mode select indicators in the centre. The F Sport has an 8-inch colour TFT multi information display which displays a G sensor with steering angle and an accelerator opening and brake hydraulic pressure bars. The F Sport has drilled aluminum pedals. You get to feel that you are actually driving a sports car on a race track.

Reading LED lamps can be switch on in front with the help of overhead console switches. Controls on the steering wheel and also the remote touch interface help in a executing a host of functions.  There is also a button on the right side of the dash which engages the Heads Up Display (HUD).

The vehicle is fitted with a Mark Levinson 15 speaker audio system and 10 air bags for safety. While the Luxury variant boasts of 180 different customisation levels, the F Sport has only 27.

Performance of Lexus RX 450h F Sport Hybrid

Before you think that this hybrid SUV purrs like a tamed cat, you are mistaken. Once you step on the accelerator, the sound generator boosts the sound pressure level in the engine air intake at different resonate frequencies. The engine really gets to scream to your liking. The RX 450h is powered by a 3,456cc, V6 petrol engine which produces 259 hp at 6000rpm and churns out a maximum torque of 335Nm at 4600rpm. With a ground clearance of 195mm and a wheelbase of 2790mm, this hybrid SUV can achieve a top speed of 200kmph and gets a 0-100kmph time of 7.7seconds. Being a hybrid, this SUV can drive short distances in the Electric Vehicle mode emitting zero emissions. It also recharges on the move. Since it is equipped with adaptive variable suspension system (AVS), you can choose your drive mode from Normal, Eco, Sport S and Sport S+. There is also a Customise Mode wherein one can set one’s preferred settings for the powertrain, AVS, electric power steering and air conditioning.

This car comes with an electric four-wheel drive which means that there is a rear motor which is independent from the front motor to power the wheels. With limited time and distance with this car, I was not able to experience its abilities under different drive conditions. But the first impression that I got from the car was that it is handles well on straight roads as well as corners. The uphill and downhill drives we managed, in both winding roads and steep roads, the car was stable and its engine generated more than adequate power.

Verdict

The RX 450h is no ordinary hybrid car. It’s like a gentleman with impeccable manners. You try messing with him; he can roll up his sleeves and knock a few punches. On the hybrid mode this SUV’s got its best foot forward, but the moment you step on the accelerator, off it goes like a car on steroids. There is no holding back when it comes to its sporty characteristics.