[Auto/Moto] The 2025 Lexus RX Is Subtle Luxury Done Right: Review

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Lexus occupies an interesting space in the luxury car market. It doesn’t have the same prestige as the German brands, thanks mostly to its Toyota origins. But those same origins make Lexus uniquely appealing to a certain type of buyer, one that prioritizes straightforward functionality and reliability over outright performance or cutting-edge tech. The Lexus RX perfectly encapsulates those ideals. The Lexus RX is essentially an elevated RAV4, for better or worse. It rides on the same platform, and in our plug-in hybrid tester, it uses the same drivetrain found in the RAV4 plug-in, albeit with 304 horsepower instead of 302. That means you get all the dependability of America’s most po[CENSORED]r crossover, wrapped up in a prettier silhouette.Those improvements come at a price. The cheapest RX plug-in hybrid is nearly $20,000 more expensive than the cheapest RAV4 plug-in. But the money goes to the right places. So long as you avoid the F Sport trims, the RX rides beautifully, gliding over most surfaces without ever disrupting the cabin space.The interior itself is well-dressed, geared toward practicality over pure design. It’s not as aesthetically pleasing as a new BMW or Mercedes-Benz, simply because there are more buttons and less screen space. But I prefer it this way. Having real buttons for important functions is far better than having to take your eyes off the road and dig through a touchscreen.Sadly, most of the climate controls have moved to the bottom of the 14.0-inch infotainment screen, but there are still real knobs for temperature and volume. The steering wheel controls are also real buttons, thankfully, though the two D-pads on either side are unlabeled. Resting your finger on either awakens a function on the head-up display, which gives you a little map for each button. Why Lexus couldn’t just label the buttons, we’re not sure. But at least they exist.

https://www.motor1.com/reviews/750030/2025-lexus-rx-plug-in-hybrid-review/