The Lexus RX pioneered the luxury-crossover segment when it debuted in the late 1990s as the RX300, and the model has been a pillar of the Lexus brand ever since. It remains the bestselling Lexus model today. The company shifted 107,000 units last year, putting the RX well ahead of the runner-up ES sedan, of which it sold 72K. So while Lexus would like the RX to shake its somnambulant image, it is loathe to move it too far off the beam.
The just-unveiled 2016 redesign shows that inherent conflict. Chief engineer Takayuki Katsuda expressed it thusly: “Our ambition has been to make a bold and completely new statement . . . [while] staying true to the pioneering values of previous RX generations.”
Bold and New, or Staying True?
The new RX adopts the brand’s aggressive—which is not to say “beautiful”—new design language, with L-shaped lighting elements and a giant, spindle grille. The “floating” roof created by the blacked-out C-pillar is a new twist—unfortunately for Lexus, it’s one that is also seen on the new Nissan Murano.
Dimensionally, the vehicle has grown nearly five inches in length, while the wheelbase has been stretched by some two inches; width and height are within a fraction of their previous figures. The extra length results in enhanced rear-seat room, but Lexus has opted not to wedge in a third row of seats.
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