Lexus RX L (2018 – 2022) Review

Lexus RX L (2018 – 2022) At A Glance

3/5

+High level of standard kit. Very comfortable with excellent ride quality. Big boot.

-Extra seats are tricky to access. Infotainment system is not the easiest to use.

As the name would suggest, the RX L is a stretched version of the RX and also the first seven-seater that Lexus has sold in Europe. It means Lexus has a family car that can rival the likes of the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90.

It's hybrid only in the shape of the 450h - there's no 200t as there was previously with the standard RX - and as hybrids go, this is one of the best. It's powerful, smooth and pulls strongly. In terms of economy you're looking at around 33mpg in the real world, not bad for a car this size with more than 300PS.

So is it just more than a slightly stretched RX? Well Lexus says that the L is 'effectively a bespoke new body style' although it does appear the word 'effectively' is being made to work very hard there. It does however have a whole new rear end, although it's actually only around 10cm longer.

Lexus has also made the angle of the tailgate window slightly steeper, to improve rear headroom. The problem however, is actually getting to those seats. The sloping design of the rear doors makes it tricky and once there there's precious little space, particularly to put your feet. Older teenagers who are having a growth spurt are unlikely to find it especially comfortable.

What the L does give you is a bigger boot. Fold those extra seats down (which happens electrically at the touch of a button) and there's a cavernous boot of 495 litres - around 50 litres more than the RX. It's a usefully large - and deep - space.

Where the RX L excels is in terms of comfort. The ride is supremely comfortable and while it is hardly the most dynamic of things to drive, its smooth nature makes up for it. There are a few gripes like the odd infotainment system with its touchpad controller, something that despite lots of use, we still don't think works very well, but overall the interior is finished to a very high standard.

Despite all Lexus's talk of a bespoke body, the RX L does feel like a compromise. The new rear end can't disguise the fact that this is a car that was designed as a five-seater but has been repurposed into something else.

If the extra seats are for very occasional use, you'll find the RX L does a very good as a comfortable and spacious family SUV, but if they're going to be used often, you may be better off looking elsewhere. 

Satisfaction Index

Satisfaction Index What is your car like to live with?

We need your help with our latest Satisfaction Index, so that we can help others make a smarter car buying decision. What's it like to live with your car? Love it? Loath it? We want to know. Let us know about your car - it will only take a few minutes and you could be helping thousands of others.

Help us with the Honest John Satisfaction Index now

Ask Honest John

Will a hybrid car that's been sat around for months have battery issues in the future?

"I'm on the lookout for a car and saw a good 2-year old (April 2019) Lexus RX L with 2500 miles on it. Surprisingly, it had done 2300 miles in the first 6 months and almost nothing since then in the last 18 months. I'm wondering whether it could affect the battery - both hybrid and (rather less worryingly) the other battery in the engine compartment. I could buy the car outright, but thinking of taking it out on PCP and keeping it serviced with Toyota to gain the warranty. I usually do around 10,000 miles a year at least. Any advice will be really appreciated as this is a very expensive purchase and I don't want to end up with a huge bill."
I wouldn't be too concerned. Lexus is perhaps the most reliable car manufacturer, frequently coming top in the Honest John Satisfaction Index (https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/honest-john-satisfaction-index-2020/honest-john-satisfaction-index-2020-the-results/). Its new Lexus Relax warranty should provide some extra reassurance, too – provided you have it serviced at a Lexus dealer, you'll be covered for up to 10 years (including the hybrid batteries). My biggest concern would be whether things like the tyres have perished while it's been stood still – but, assuming you're buying from a Lexus dealer, its 150-point quality and safety check should pick up on that.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Lexus RX L (2018 – 2022) cost?