Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance Deliveries Begin in India, Priced at Rs 1.18 Crore

The Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance was launched in our market in April 2023. Although it had begun bookings for the fifth-generation RX on the day the SUV debuted in January 2023, the Japanese carmaker has now commenced customer deliveries of the higher-performance variant of the RX across India.

Positioned between the NX and the LX in the lineup, the 2023 Lexus RX is offered in two variants in the country: RX 350h Luxury and RX 500h F Sport Performance, priced at Rs 95.80 lakh and Rs 1.18 crore, respectively. The prices are ex-showroom. Under the hood, the RX gets two engine options. The RX 350h Luxury is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a hybrid transaxle and a rear E-Four electric motor. The engine is capable of churning out 247bhp and 242Nm of peak torque. Power is transmitted to all wheels through a CVT. 0 to 100km/h comes up in a claimed time of 7.9 seconds, while the top speed is marked at 200km/h.  

Meanwhile, the top-spec RX 500h F Sport Performance gets a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with the brand's Direct4 hybrid electric system and e-axle rear unit. This engine is tuned to develop 361bhp and 460Nm of torque, and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The RX500h has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 210km/h, with all-wheel drive as standard. Lexus offers a bipolar nickel-metal hydride battery, with the RX 350h using a 259.2V battery and the RX 500h a 288V unit.

Lexus RX: Features

The interior of the five-seater RX is based on the company's Tazuna concept, defined as being "human-centric" to connect the driver to the road for improved concentration. Features-wise, the RX comes equipped with a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, a 14.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless phone charging, an E-Latch feature, and 21-inch aluminium wheels. The three interior colour options are black, Dark Sepia, and Solis White. On top of it, Sumi Woodgrain and Medium Bamboo Brown are the two trim options for the buyers to choose from.

Safety-wise, the car comes with dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing assist, lane departure assist, pre-collision system, 8 sensor-controlled SRS airbags, safe exit assist, a 360-degree camera, and more.  

Lexus RX: Rivals

Showcased at Auto Expo 2023, the new Lexus RX follows Lexus' Alluring x Verve design language and mimics the 'spindle body' appearance of the new RZ electric SUV – which gets a more affordable FWD 300e variant globally. In India, the SUV competes with the Mercedes-Benz GLE, BMW X5, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Range Rover Velar, Jaguar F-Pace, and Audi Q7. 

Lexus' Comment

Mr Tanmay Bhattacharya, Executive Vice-President, Lexus India, said, "We are thrilled to begin deliveries of the highly anticipated Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance, which is a statement vehicle embraced by a new generation of discerning, young & responsible buyers with a specific preference for luxury SUVs. These young buyers are environmentally conscious and understand the intrinsic advantage of hybrid electric technology along with sporty performance capabilities. We believe the RX 500h F Sport Performance perfectly matches such expectations of our young guests and we’re confident that the RX series will continue to remain a pioneer for years to come."