Lexus RX 450h 2020: the Japanese SUV gets a facelift

The Lexus RX 450h 2020 will go on sale at dealerships in the autumn and will feature slight styling changes and improvements in safety and connectivity.

Lexus has unveiled a facelift of its largest SUV, the Lexus RX450h 2020. This model has been a key milestone in the brand’s evolution, as it brought the company directly into the luxury SUV market back in 1998.

The Toyota subsidiary believes the moment is perfect to refresh its crossover, since this generation was launched three years ago and, although its styling is still very current, a facelift does no harm.

What will not change is its propulsion system, which keeps the same conventional full hybrid engine as the version launched in 2016. It consists of a six-cylinder petrol engine producing 262 hp, coupled with two electric motors: one with 167 hp on the front axle and another with 68 hp on the rear axle.

Maximum power when all three motors work together is 313 hp. The official combined consumption of the Lexus RX 450h is 6 litres, although we can give you 5 tips for saving fuel in a hybrid car.

It also enjoys all the advantages of carrying the ECO label from the DGT, which has earned it a place among the members of our list of the best premium SUVs with an ECO label.

Slight changes to its styling and improved modularity

This update affects both the Lexus RX 450h and its seven-seat version (with the L suffix). Both versions have undergone slight styling touch-ups, focused on the front and rear bumpers and the headlights (which, although they share the same design, have a different distribution of functions). In addition, Lexus has added new wheel designs and new colour options to the range.

As for the interior, the changes mainly affect the Lexus RX 450h L, since its third row of seats can now be configured in two different ways. This version can now be ordered with six seats arranged in three rows, so this option is added to the seven-seat layout offered on the pre-facelift model.

Another novelty is that the third row of seats can now be adjusted longitudinally, so occupants can enjoy more legroom. This tweak is more important than it may seem, since one of the main problems with the previous version was that the space available for legs was really small.

The handling of the new Lexus RX 450h has been improved

The brand has worked to improve the vehicle’s dynamics in order to deliver a better driving experience. To this end, one of the areas addressed has been improving body rigidity. The brand’s engineers have used laser screw welding and spot welding techniques and made greater use of high-strength adhesives. In addition, the anti-roll bars are now hollow and 1 mm thicker, and the bushings are stiffer.

Another system integrated into the new model is active cornering assistance. Its function is to reduce understeer if the throttle is applied in the middle of a bend. The operation of the electric power steering has also been revised.

Finally, the dampers have been redesigned to feature a new friction control device, which reduces vibrations caused by road surface imperfections. In addition, they help keep the large body of the Japanese SUV leaning less when taking a corner.

BladeScan, a highly advanced lighting system

Another novelty in the new Lexus RX 450h is its new lighting system called BladeScan. It features two blade-shaped mirrors capable of rotating rapidly, so the light is transferred to a lens that projects it onto the road.

This is noticeable when the high beams are switched on, as it can illuminate areas that conventional LED technology cannot reach, such as road shoulders. In addition, the night vision system for detecting pedestrians has extended its range, from the 32 metres it previously offered to 56 metres.

The Lexus RX 450h 2020 is now safer and more technological

The brand wants to turn its crossover into a showcase of safety and accident prevention, so the Lexus Safety System+ will take care of preventing any incident. Three elements stand out:

• The pre-collision safety system uses a camera inside the car and a millimetre-wave radar mounted in the front grille. It is responsible for detecting both pedestrians and cyclists when visibility is low.
• Thanks to the adaptive cruise control together with the lane departure prevention system, the car acts as a guardian that keeps watch so it does not leave its set path. If it does, the car sounds audible warnings and can even apply force to the steering wheel to bring the vehicle back to the correct position.
• The road sign recognition system displays the signs it encounters on the road in the cockpit, so the driver can keep their eyes on the lane without having to look to the sides to see the signs.

In addition, the technology section of the latest Lexus RX 450h has also been updated. Inside, the brand has fitted a new touchscreen that is now compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As a result, both Apple’s and Google’s voice assistants now work in the car.

The new Lexus RX 450h will go on sale in the autumn of this same year, although the brand has yet to reveal the prices of the facelift of its largest SUV.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverLexus RX5 versions · from 83,900 €