Have you always wanted a Lexus RX but bemoaned the lack of a third-row option? Well, Toyota’s luxury division has finally listened to your pleas and gave its popular premium midsize SUV room for seven, with the RX L unveiled at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show.
To fit the rearmost seats with enough headroom for actual humans, yet still leave enough boot space to fit more than a piece of paper, Lexus has had to hack up its rakish crossover – the RX L gets an additional 110 mm in rear overhang and a more upright rear windscreen. The resulting changes put its length at an even five metres long, besting all of its main rivals apart from the massive 5,052 mm Audi Q7.
Buyers get the option of either seven seats with a 60:40 split-folding second-row bench, or a six-seat configuration with individual captain’s chairs in the middle and walk-through third-row access. Unlike the stadium seating offered by the likes of the Land Rover Discovery, Lexus opted to place the second row higher than the third row, sacrificing forward visibility for those in the latter pews in favour of extra foot room.
Those passengers also get triple-zone climate control with separate third-row air-conditioning and dedicated vents. Lexus claims that the RX L offers more luggage space behind the third row than its competitors, and power-folding third-row seats and a powered tailgate with handsfree operation – activated by hovering a hand over the Lexus emblem at the rear – are fitted as standard.
Otherwise, it’s the same RX as before, with a stylish, well-made cabin featuring form-fitting seats, gently-curving wood trim on the centre console, an optional full-colour head-up display, eight- or 12.3-inch infotainment screens (controlled by the mouse-like Remote Touch controller) and an available 835-watt, 15-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system.
Safety-wise, the RX L gets full-length curtain airbags covering all three rows, joining Lexus Safety System + that is standard in most markets. This includes Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist, Intelligent High Beam (IHB) and All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. A Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Intuitive Parking Assist and Cross-Traffic Braking is optional.
Engine options start with a 294 hp/357 Nm 3.5 litre naturally-aspirated V6 with D-4S direct injection on the RX 350L, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front-wheel drive or Dynamic Torque Control all-wheel drive. There’s also the hybrid RX 450hL that pairs this engine with twin electric motors and an independent rear motor (providing all-wheel drive), producing a total system output of 308 hp.
There’s no mention of the 235 hp/350Nm 2.0 litre turbo four-pot from the RX 200t as yet. Meanwhile, the suspension is identical to the one in the standard RX, with front MacPherson struts and rear double wishbones, plus electric power steering and optional Adaptive Variable Suspension damping.
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Wow 7 seater premium Lexus rm388k. Besting all its rivals!
Good for Malaysia where majority of families got 6 kids. With Abah and Ibu, already got 8 people passengers
(Like) Lexus RX.
(Dislike) Volvo XC90
Honda will find it hard to break the dominance of Toyota. Whether in Japan, in USA, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Africa and Middle East. In fact, Toyota is just too strong for any company to beat in terms of sales. Except in the last several years – Volkswagen. And perhaps in a year or two… Hyundai
The latest Honda Civic sales in the US already surpassed the nation’s best selling vehicle for 17 years, the Toyota Camry(which the sale volume include rentals and business vehicles).
Agreed. Even last year they sold less then VW (now world biggest car manufacturer by number).. they made more money than any other car..
Even Lexus with limited number of model offering (compared to Germany’s big 3) had successfully sold nearly 700k worldwide in 2016 and going stronger..
“If it dun fit 7, its a fail” says basher
Biasa lah tu bang… Myvi so laku.
According to basher, macam mana nak fit 6 budak dlm Mivi tu?
He he he. Pandainya john. Kalau ‘budak’ 6 tahun sja, boleh fit 8. Kalau nak guna boot, boleh tambah 1/2 budak jugak.
My advice, don’t be stupid like honda..
Q7 is nice but even in Australia, it has very poor RV, which is synonamous with high maintenance cost and low reliability