The Lexus RXL is Luxurious and Large.


Lexus lengthened the RX, gave it an L and produced the best people carrier I have driven. 


Technically the RXL is labelled an SUV and it does cover the sports and utility categories very well. It is so much more than that with the addition of two seats which easily reveal from their perfectly flat position at the rear of the vehicle. The RXL is both large and luxurious, with plenty of room for all occupants even with the seven seats filled. They will also find themselves enveloped in comfort with all their needs taken care of.

Although the SUV is longer and larger than the standard RX, it handles beautifully and has the power from the 3.5 litre, V6 self-charging Hybrid engine, to push you along.
It has a petrol V6 hybrid powertrain with two AC electric motors. One on each axle and the E-Four part-time All Wheel Drive transfers this to the road surface.

The powertrain produces 308bhp, fed to the wheel by the E-CVT transmission. 0-62mph time of 8.0 seconds and a top speed of 112mph.  Not bad from a car weighing 2,200kg.

I loved the RX and I love the L, it has that extra versatility you need in a vehicle. Practicality too. The ability to press a button and the third row of seats appears, allowing two more passengers is great. The operation of the self-moving seats is very impressive, totally smooth and quiet. When the extra seats are not required press the button and they retract, either individually or you can do both. This gives options of loading people and luggage or cargo. I found the RXL a great load carrier when all rear seats are folded flat.
 
Passengers, as well as cargo, are taken care of with luxury seats, their own climate controls, cup holders and nice touches likes USB outlets to charge equipment.

The L has an extra 110mm  length over the standard RX, and with 966-litres of boot space when the rear seats are folded, 495-litres with the seats up.

The RXL comes in three models, all of which are packed with technology and equipment to make journeys enjoyable. The base option is the SE starting at £50k, and it includes all the Lexus Safety System +. The Luxury is next and this is the model Lexus believes will be its best seller of the three options. It starts at £54k. The Premier heads the line-up and starts at £62k

A brief list of Differences:  

SE Sat-nav with European mapping, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, reversing cameras, electric seat adjustment, keyless entry and ignition and electric tailgate standard on every model.

The Luxury has the above plus larger 12.2-inch central digital display, 20-inch alloy wheels, wireless smartphone charging, and LED headlamps.

Premier has all of the two models above, then a great colour heads-up display, Mark Levinson stereo, rear-door sunblinds, adaptive dampers for greater suspension range for different road conditions, sunroof, and heated middle-row seats.

All models feature Road Sign Assist, allowing the driver to know the speed of the road they are on and other information gathered from road signs ahead of the car. Pre-collision warning uses radar to detect any pedestrians that may stray into the path of your car. These features are part of the Lexus Safety System +, which are all designed to protect occupants of the car and also people outside and other cars encountered on journies.
 
 
 
 
The RXL is up against the likes of the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Range Rover Sport, and Volvo XC90  and I believe it will hold its own in that market if not out perform both. Lexus has loyal followers in their thousands and they tend to stick to a brand they trust. This is why Lexus always features in high positions on customer surveys. They provide excellent aftersales care and satisfy their customers. This is a big issue when looking to buy a new car.
 
Lexus offers https://www.lexus.co.uk/centres/offers/personal/rx-l#

It is a gloriously luxury car, which just makes you feel good as soon as you get in the driver's seat. As a driver, you have everything to hand and easy to use. You have fantastic safety aids, superb specifications and above all, it is great to drive. This has to be one of the overriding factors when choosing a car.  Well worth the money.
 
Thanks to the staff at Lexus Guildford for helping me out.
 
Prices for the RXL range:
RX 450h L   SE £ 50,995
RX450h L    Luxury   £ 54,095
RX450h L    Premier £ 61,995
 
Find out more about the Luxury RXL here: https://www.lexus.co.uk/car-models/rx-l/#hero