2023 Lexus hybrids

The 2023 RXh

  • RX 350h AWD
  • RX 350h PREMIUM AWD
  • RX 350h PREMIUM+ AWD
  • RX 350h LUXURY AWD

2023 Lexus hybrids

Key Features

DIGITAL LATCH WITH SAFE EXIT ASSIST1

STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

36 MPG COMBINED2

2023 Lexus hybrids

Key Features

POWER TILT-AND-SLIDE MOONROOF

HEATED AND VENTILATED FRONT SEATS

WIRELESS CHARGER3

2023 Lexus hybrids

Key Features

14-INCH TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY

LEATHER-TRIMMED INTERIOR

THEMATIC AMBIENT ILLUMINATION

2023 Lexus hybrids

Key Features

SEMI-ANILINE LEATHER–TRIMMED INTERIOR

21-INCH 20-SPOKE ALLOY WHEELS

HEAD-UP DISPLAY

Additional Information

2023 Lexus hybrids

View Inventory

1. Do not rely exclusively on Safe Exit Assist. Always look for approaching traffic before exiting the vehicle. See Owner's Manual for limitations.

2. Projected EPA-estimated MPG rating 37city/34hwy/36comb for 2023 Lexus RX 350h as determined by manufacturer. EPA estimates not available at time of publishing. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle’s condition and how/where you drive. See www.fueleconomy.gov.

3. Qi wireless charging may not be compatible with all mobile phones, MP3/WMA players and like models. When using the wireless charging system, avoid placing metal objects between the wireless charger and the mobile device when charging is active. Doing so may cause metal objects to become hot and could cause burns.

2023 Lexus hybrids
The top-tier 2023 Lexus RX 500h offers more speed than any previous RX and all versions are redesigned this year, but the rest of the lineup remains a little slower than average. Lexus

The Lexus RX was the first one in and the last one out. It was the first hybrid luxury SUV in 2005 and 17 years later it’s the last vehicle in its class to offer a hybrid option. Competitors have come and gone over the years, with many evolving into plug-in hybrids or fully electric vehicles. During that time, the RX has remained true to its mission of delivering efficient luxury and largely avoided other manufacturers’ performance wars. 

For 2023, the Lexus RX lineup gets a full redesign and this new fifth-generation model sees big changes while maintaining its core personality. 

There’s something admirable about being self-aware enough to know where your strengths lie and capitalizing on them, but at the same time, it tends to narrow overall appeal. Nowadays, good enough isn’t good enough. We’ve been conditioned to expect that luxury vehicles can’t just be comfortable, they have to wow you with Nürburgring-tuned handling and hit 60 mph faster than DotCom-era supercars.

That’s not the 2023 Lexus RX. Lexus recognizes that not all drivers want or need gobs of power and acceleration that pins you to the seat. Some people just want to cruise in quiet contentment. While that kind of honest assessment is appreciated, I contend that perhaps performance has been pushed too far back on the priorities list.

2023 Lexus hybrids
The 2023 RX’s design is clearly evolutionary relative to previous versions, but it’s cleaner and more muscular looking than the angular outgoing version. Lexus

A Bronze Medal is Still Good, Right?

The new 2023 RX lineup is made up of the base RX 350, the RX 350h hybrid and the more powerful RX 500h hybrid. Lexus also plans to sell the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid in the U.S., but exactly when that will happen isn’t clear yet.

The RX 350 is now powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine instead of last year’s V6. It makes 275 horsepower, 20 hp less than its predecessor, but its 317 pound-feet of torque is a 50 lb-ft gain. That’s not enough to noticeably improve acceleration, though, as Lexus estimates it will take 7.2 seconds to reach 60 mph with the all-wheel drive model (the front-drive version needs 7.5 seconds). These times are adequate, but far from impressive.

The RX 350h hybrid loses the turbocharger and adds a hybrid powertrain and a supplemental electric motor to power the rear axle for all-wheel drive. Combined, they produce 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque and Lexus claims it’ll accelerate to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. 

You’d think that would also be as adequate as the non-hybrid RX 350, but it’s not. On most highway onramps, you’ll have to pin the pedal to the floor to confidently merge into the flow of traffic. Meanwhile, the engine moos like a recalcitrant cow as the continuously variable transmission (CVT) keeps the revs annoyingly high.

New to the lineup is the RX 500h, a more powerful variant that puts the turbo back on to increase output to 366 hp and 406 lb-ft, enough to propel it to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. That’s much more closer to the rest of the class and marginally faster than the Genesis GV80 2.5T or Mercedes-Benz GLE350, but those are the base models of those vehicles. Each offers options with much more power, as does the Acura MDX Type S.

The RX 500h’s rear electric motor is also different to the one in the RX 350h and allows up to 80 percent of power to be biased back there where the 350h can only administer up to a 50/50 split between front and rear axles.

Again, the RX isn’t about performance and not every vehicle has to be “fast,” but when everyone else is, you feel slow.

2023 Lexus hybrids
Lexus calls this color “Copper Crest,” and it makes the 2023 RX look drop-dead gorgeous, particularly coupled with the F Sport’s blackout trim. Lexus

Smooth Operator

When it comes to handling, I typically refer to an imaginary sliding scale with comfort on one end and performance on the other. The RX’s soft suspension tuning has it solidly on the comfort side of the spectrum. Potholes and bumps in the road are mostly shrugged off with barely any recognition. You’ll hear a muted thud but generally won’t feel much of an impact, and that’s one of the RX’s greatest strengths. 

That softness does little for cornering confidence, though. Body roll is noticeable but not alarming. It certainly doesn’t encourage sporty driving in the way a BMW X5 does, and feels heavy and ponderous by comparison. On offset undulations, you’ll also feel some residual bouncing, but not enough to feel queasy. Softness also carries over to the brakes, which have a spongy pedal with lots of travel.

As the only traditional hybrid in the class, fuel economy is an important factor. 

2023 Lexus hybrids
The famous (or infamous, depending on your perspective) “Spindle” grille offers a more harmonious shape than before, but it’s still likely to be controversial. Lexus

The front-wheel-drive RX 350 is estimated to return 25 mpg in combined city and highway driving and 24 mpg with all-wheel drive. That’s an improvement of 1 mpg over last year’s V6. The RX 350h hybrid sees more significant gains and is estimated at 36 mpg combined, an improvement of 6 mpg from its predecessor and likely the most fuel-efficient midsize SUV on the market for 2023. (Not all the data is in yet). The RX 500h is rated at a very respectable 27 mpg combined.

By comparison, the entry-level BMW X5 40i is estimated at 23 mpg. Stepping up to the X5 M50i reduces fuel economy to 18 mpg. BMW does offer a plug-in hybrid, however, and it should deliver 31 miles of EV range and 20 mpg under hybrid propulsion. The Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 and 450 are estimated at 22 mpg combined. The Acura MDX comes close at 22 mpg and 21 mpg for front- and all-wheel drive, respectively.

2023 Lexus hybrids
The dark finishes inside the RX are more convincingly high-end than light wood, but the interior is improved by leaps and bounds thanks to the new infotainment system and its vast screens and more logical layout. Lexus

It’s Better Inside

The new RX’s interior also gets a full makeover with some notable improvements. The dash now features a large 9.8-inch standard touchscreen or a 14-inch upgrade. Thankfully, Lexus finally abandoned the previous generation’s trackpad controller which I consider the worst infotainment interface in the industry. 

Most of the display is within reach of the driver and the large on-screen buttons are easy to tap when driving. Lexus also points out that voice controls are improved, but these early pre-production vehicles had a tough time understanding my voice commands and responses were very slow.

Materials and build quality meet luxury SUV expectations, with a few exceptions. The dashboard is attractive and feels sturdy, but the center console can be a source of disappointment. The light-colored simulated woodgrain isn’t very convincing and reminds me of the plastic “wood” used on early-80s era TVs and VCRs. The darker trim choices are much more believable. Further back is a double-hinged armrest lid which can be accessed by the driver or front passenger with equal ease. The problem is that the hinge mechanism isn’t made to tight tolerances and wobbles around. 

On the plus side, the RX’s front seats are well-shaped for comfort. That’s good because there don’t seem to be any available massage functions. The rear seats are notable for the amount of thigh support they provide. The seat cushions are taller to more evenly distribute passenger weight and there is also plenty of foot and legroom. That elevated cushion limits headroom a bit, but occupants under 6-feet tall should have plenty of space.

Behind those 60/40 split-folding seats is 29.6 cubic-feet of cargo space, a huge improvement over last generation’s 16 cubes and only a little less than the BMW X5 or Mercedes GLE, but off the pace compared to most others. 

The Acura MDX only has 18.1 cubic-feet with all the seats in place, but it has three rows. With third row down it offers 39.1 cubic-feet and opens up to 95 overall, more than double the RX’s 46.2 cubic-foot maximum. The RX’s liftover height is rather tall too, requiring more effort to load heavier and bulkier objects. 

2023 Lexus hybrids
The new RX gets 29.6 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, which is a big increase over the old model and plenty for a family of four, but it’s still short of many midsize rivals, particularly three-row machines. Lexus

You Could Do Better

I expected more from the redesigned 2023 Lexus RX and so should you. It earns points for fuel economy figures and overall comfort, but it falls well short of the mark set by other luxury SUVs in terms of performance and interior quality. The RX 350h is dreadfully underpowered while the RX 350 and RX 500h are merely average. 

I also experienced frequent false alarms from the driver attention warning system and had to hunt through the touchscreen menus to disable that function, which is perhaps the worst indictment for safety-related features. The lane-keep assist was also poor at keeping the RX centered. With any luck, these problems could be addressed before the RX goes on sale at the end of 2022.

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but if it’s similar to the previous generation, the RX would be a relative bargain compared to the pricey BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. As an alternative, consider upgrading to plug-in hybrids such as the Volvo XC60 and XC90 or step up to the growing list of luxury and non-luxury electric SUVs.

Lexus provided lodging, meals and travel to enable us to bring you this first-person report. Although Forbes Wheels sometimes participates in manufacturer-hosted events, our coverage is independent, unbiased and aimed at offering consumers an objective view of every vehicle we test.

Is it worth getting a Lexus hybrid?

Lexus cars also hold their resale value much more efficiently, and have a lower depreciation rate compared to other models. That makes a Lexus Hybrid a smart choice if you want performance, efficiency, and the driver experience but with absolutely no compromise on quality or comfort.

Does the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid require premium gas?

Do I Need to Put Premium Gas in the RX? You must only use unleaded gasoline in the RX, with an octane rating of 87 or higher. This means the Lexus RX does not require premium gasoline, as the premium octane rating is 91 or higher.

Will Lexus redesign the IS in 2023?

After a full redesign for 2021 and a V-8-powered 500 F Sport Performance introduced for 2022, the Lexus IS compact sports sedan rolls into 2023 with familiar powertrains, performance specs and tech features.

Is Lexus coming out with a hybrid?

The new 2023 Lexus RX 350, shown here in base Premium trim, will be available this coming fall.