2024 Lexus RX 500h F Sport

While other compact luxury crossovers take a sporty approach, the 2024 Lexus RX goes for a soft-riding, relaxed demeanor. Even the RX500h F Sport Performance is neither sporty nor performant. Don’t get us wrong, it gets up and goes pretty well, running to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds at our test track, but it fails to inspire spirited driving in the same way rivals such as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and the Porsche Macan do. If you’re okay with that, the RX delivers a creamy ride, an upscale cabin, and a luxury presence—which are all traits it has been offering for several generations. The cabin is spacious for both people and cargo, but if you’re looking for a third row of seats, you’ll need to look to the new TX SUV, which replaces the stretched RX-L in the Lexus lineup. The 2024 RX is offered with no fewer than four different powertrains, starting with the base RX350 model, which is powered by a 275-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. That model comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive as standard, but all-wheel drive is an option. The hybrid RX350h pairs electric motors with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine to make 246 horsepower and comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. On our first test drive, neither of these powertrains delivered notable performance, and we estimate both will deliver slightly slower acceleration than their 2022 analogues. Stepping up to the RX500h F Sport Performance unlocks a punchier powertrain. It combines the turbocharged 2.4-liter and electric power to make 367 horsepower and utilizes Lexus’s Direct4 system to route that power to all four wheels. With the RX500h model, Lexus had an opportunity to recast the new RX as a performer, but its chassis engineers regrettably chose not to dial in any additional cornering confidence. At our test track, the RX500h F Sport Performance hit 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. A plug-in-hybrid model, the RX450h+, features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, three electric motors, and standard all-wheel drive. This is the same powertrain that’s offered in the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Lexus NX450h+ SUVs, but it makes two extra horsepower in this application, bringing the total to 304 ponies. All models we’ve driven so far are just as softly sprung and focused on luxury as the outgoing generation of RX, which will please faithful buyers but is unlikely to attract any driving enthusiasts.