Lexus RX L 2018 review
The headline is the addition of a third row of seats, squeezed into a car just 110mm longer than the standard RX. The redesign is a subtle one, with the only real design change made at the rear end of the car. The wheelbase remains the same as on the standard RX so all the extra length is found in the bodywork at the back. There’s a slightly longer overhang and a more upright rear windscreen, creating a taller roof for the new occupants in the third row.
Back there, Lexus says that children should be pretty comfortable on long journeys, but for two adults it’s a squeeze, and it’ll feel claustrophobic even on shorter trips. It’s not a true seven-seat experience then, with a rearmost seats being more a +2 setup than a proper row. To make foot-room for the sixth and seventh passengers, Lexus has slightly raised the middle bench. To make any adequate legroom, however, you’ll have to slide the middle seats forward and eat into the space available to those sat there.
Room in the very back of an Audi Q7 is probably a smidgen more generous, but those in the back of the Lexus do get their own air conditioning controls, thanks to the RX L’s new tri-zone climate control. Getting back there isn’t too difficult either – the opening is a bit narrow, but folding the second row seat backs down and sliding the bench forward is done with just one lever. Similarly, the two seats in the boot fold flat at the touch of a button. Despite over 300bhp under the bonnet, the RX L won’t set the pulses racing from behind the wheel. The drive selector features a Sport mode but there’s very little sporty about the way the RX L drives, reflected in its sluggish performance figures. Instead, this is a car you’ll get the best out of when it’s driven smoothly. Ride quality is good at all speeds when the adaptive dampers are primed in their most docile setting, while the smooth hybrid assistance and level of refinement makes the RX L a pretty relaxing car to drive, provided you don’t allow the CVT transmission to hold higher revs for too long.
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