I was lucky enough to be given a demo RX450h Premier as a courtesy car for two days last week, whilst my trusted RX was in for its MOT.
I loved....
- the looks... although I wish the front end was a little more different from the NX. Unfortunately, it seems a common trend that all models within the same brand look very (too?) similar: Jag XE and XF are a prime example of this
- the build quality, internal design and colour scheme (this car had cream leather with cream/chocolate brown dash and doors)
- the noise insulation: I thought my 2009 RX450h was quiet, but the new model takes "quiet" to another level
- the performance... not dissimilar from the previous model, but with the car being so quiet you seem to reach high speeds with very little drama and you keep having to check the speedo (HUD very handy!)
- the supreme comfort... although I found the seat base a bit flat and lacking in support. This may change over time
- the (adjustable) Head Up Display - just brilliant
- the huge screen and its clarity
- the fuel economy: I achieved 35mpg, whilst my own car barely manages 30mpg on the same journey
- the clarity and power of the sound system
- the all-round camera
- the adaptive cruise control
- the excellent LED headlights
Not sure about...
- the seats were very comfortable, but I felt I was sitting "on" them, rather than "in" them. I suspect that they would give over time. I also suspect that the ventilation and heating system may contribute to the firmness
- the large screen emphasizes the old fashioned satnav graphics
- voice control has not evolved and is still useless
- the rear door (hatch / boot) is slow... sooo slow to go up and down... and noisy
- sound system is very clear but sounds... flat and soul-less. Some tweaking of the settings is required
- good parking camera... but no self-parking? you get this on a Focus or a Golf these days for not a lot of money
Would I buy one?
- Yes because of the design in and out, the image, the quality, the running costs, the gadgets and the proven reliability and after care of the Lexus brand
- No because of the missed opportunities, the - still - outdated satnav, the - still - cumbersome rear door, some lack in equipment (climate controls in the back for instance...)
Overall, yes I would definitely buy one. Even if the car is not perfect (is there such a thing), the overall Lexus ownership experience does it for me.