2024 Lexus RX: What’s in store for buyers in the U.S. [Update]

Update: ‘2024 Lexus RX Release Date & Price’ section updated.

The fifth-generation Lexus RX marked its one-year milestone on May 31, 2022. Within a few months, it is anticipated to receive an update to move into the 2024 model year.

Here’s everything we expect from the 2024 Lexus RX. Do note that the pictures and information featured in this story are from the present model and will be changed to their latest versions when updates emerge.

Design

As stated in the introduction, 2024 will only be the second production year of the fifth-gen Lexus RX. Customers love the design, and it should be carried forward as is. At the most, there could be some changes to the color palette. The grades—Standard, Premium, RX-first Premium+, Luxury, F SPORT Handling, and RX-first F SPORT Performance—will likely be carried over, perhaps with a few revisions to the standard equipment.

Coined by Lexus with the model’s launch at the start of the millennium, the ‘RX’ stands for Radiant Crossover – with ‘Radiant’ representing the brand’s vision for its new future at the time. The fifth generation brought subtle design changes, noticeable mainly at the front. Lexus designers extended the hood of the RX forward to give it an aggressive, shark-like nose section. Gone was the thick chrome surround on the spindle grille, and in came a new design that’s quite different.

The headlamps became curvier, and a new L-shaped DRL cuts through them. While the fourth-gen model’s headlamp housing and DRL swooped downwards, pointing towards the grille, the new headlamp unit is more upright and sleeker overall.

The vertical hood extension has tiny diamond-shaped openings. Vertical side air intakes and chrome applique on the lower portion of the front bumper are also among the visual changes at the front. Overall, the fifth-gen Lexus RX has a more dominating and refined front fascia than its predecessor.

Elsewhere, a blacked-out D pillar can be observed on the SUV along with a full-width horizontal LED taillamp. Above the LED bar, a slim gloss black strip houses bold Lexus lettering positioned on the center of the tailgate. The backglass looks slightly more raked, and that gives the redesigned model a sportier stance than its predecessor.

Customers can select an F Sport Performance grade that builds on the familiar F Sport design package. This grade gives the RX an even sportier and performance-focused styling. It features a mesh grille, 21-inch wheels, opposed six-piston brake calipers, F Sport scuff plate, perforated leather-trimmed steering wheel with paddle shifters, suede-trimmed interior door trim, aluminum paddles, and more.

Interior

Inside, too, the 2024 Lexus RX may look the same as the outgoing model. While there could be some variations in the standard equipment offered in certain grades, all the features are expected to be retained. Customers will likely be able to choose six interior color options with four ornamentation styles as per the grade. Rioja Red, Macadamia, Pirch, Palomino, Black, and Peppercorn should be the colors and Dark Graphite Aluminum, Ash Bamboo, Black Open Pore, and Black Cascade the ornamentation styles.

On the inside, the Lexus RX became a little more contemporary moving to its fifth generation, with sleeker surfaces and a touch of minimalism in some elements. The most welcome change in the cabin was the introduction of a 14-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen infotainment system.

Toyota Motor North America has developed the fifth-gen RX’s new infotainment system. Packing five times the processing power of the previous generation, this system provides a snappy experience similar to a smartphone. Cloud-based navigation, OTA updates, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a newly developed virtual assistant, dual microphones, user profiles, digital key, etc., are some of the main features of the new Lexus Interface infotainment system.

Other highlights of the fifth-gen RX include a head-up display, multi-colored illumination accents, and a 1,800-watt Mark Levinson PurePlay Surround Sound audio system with 21 speakers

Safety

The 2024 Lexus RX would pack the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 as standard. One of the main features of LSS+ 3.0 is Curve Speed Management. When Dynamic Radar Cruise Control is active, the vehicle can maintain the set speed even on curves.

LSS+ 3.0 includes the following active safety features:

• Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection
• Intersection Support with Motorcycle Detection
• All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with new Curve Speed Management (DRCC)
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA)
• Emergency Driving Stop System (EDSS)

The fifth-gen RX features Advanced Park with back-up parking, and even forward-facing parking, enabling forward-facing/back-up exit. e-latch one-touch electronic door release is another safety highlight which prevents the occupant from opening the door into traffic or cyclists.

Platform

The fifth-gen Lexus RX rides on the GA-K platform that debuted in the Lexus ES. The new platform offers a low center of gravity and optimal weight distribution. Depending on the configuration, the redesigned SUV is as much as 198 pounds lighter than the outgoing generation, thanks to material optimization in the main framework components of the chassis and the GA-K platform.

Ride comfort and quietness are better in the all-new model. Plus, the wheelbase is 2.36-inch longer, but as the rear overhang is 2.36-inch shorter, the overall length is the same as that of the fourth-gen model (192.5 inches). Also new for the fifth generation is an all-new multi-link suspension at the rear.

We adopted a global platform to reduce the weight, lower the floor, decrease the overall height, and lower the center of gravity.

Jack Hollis, Senior Vice President – Automotive Operations Group, Toyota Motor North America

Lexus says the GA-K platform increases the front/rear couple distance, leading to improved legroom for rear passengers. Plus, the cargo space has also improved, but the company hasn’t disclosed the numbers yet.

Powertrain

Lexus should offer the 2024 RX in the U.S. in the RX 350h and RX 500h variants carried over from the outgoing model, as well as the RX 450+ variant. The RX 450h+ is a plug-in hybrid variant, which Lexus doesn’t include in the 2023 model year.

Lexus RX 350h

The RX 350h has a 2.5L naturally aspirated engine-based hybrid system, while the RX500h has a 2.4L turbocharged engine-based hybrid system. The 2.5L gasoline engine of the RX 350h produces 246 hp and 233 lb.-ft. of torque, and it comes with a CVT. A 0-60 mph sprint takes 7.4 seconds. The EPA-est. fuel economy of this variant in the outgoing model is 36 MPG.

Lexus RX 450h+

The RX 450h+ has the same plug-in hybrid system as the NX 450h+. It’s a combination of a 2.5-liter engine and two electric motors — one mounted at the front and one driving the rear wheels — that results in 227 kW (304 hp) of total power.

The engine produces 182 hp and 227 Nm (167 lb.-ft.) of torque. The front motor generates 134 kW (180 hp) and 270 Nm (199 lb.-ft.) of torque, while the rear motor that enables E-Four full-time AWD develops 40 kW (54 hp) and 121 Nm (89 lb.-ft.) of torque. The plug-in hybrid system offers 227 kW (304 hp) of total power. A 0-62 mph sprint takes 6.5 seconds and the top speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).

An 18.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack powers the electric motors. The RX 450h+ delivers an electric range of 68 km (42 miles) and achieves a top speed of 80 mph in EV mode. When the charging depletes, the RX 450h+’s powertrain defaults to hybrid mode. Lexus has fitted the RX 450h+ with a 6.6 kW on-board charger. Fully charging the 18.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. All the performance and efficiency figures of the RX 450h+ mentioned in the story apply to the European units.

Lexus will likely reveal the details of the US-spec RX 450h+ in a few months. We think the performance and charging specifications will be the same, but the electric range, according to EPA’s method, will be close to 35 miles.

Lexus RX500h

The RX500h’s 2.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine works with a 6-speed automatic transmission, an inverter, and an electric motor. An eAxle unit integrates a second electric motor, inverter, and reduction gearbox. The second motor powers the rear, wheels effectively making the RX500h an AWD SUV. The fifth-gen RX is the first Lexus equipped with a high-output electric motor and an e-axle at the rear.

The turbocharged gasoline engine of the RX500h produces 367 horsepower and 406 lb.-ft. of torque. Jack Hollis, Senior Vice President – Automotive Operations Group, Toyota Motor North America, made an interesting note during the announcement of the RX500h, that the torque output surpasses that of even the Lexus LFA. Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in the range-topping performance variant takes just 5.9 seconds. In the outgoing model, the RX 500h variant delivers an EPA-est. fuel economy of 27 MPG.

The RX500h delivers faster acceleration and more evenly distributed torque for more power on demand, whether you’re running errands on the freeway or driving a scenic mountain road. It also adopts the same DIRECT4 all-wheel drive technology that we talked about earlier on the RZ that integrates the drive and brake force control that can only be found with Lexus Driving Signature.

Jack Hollis, Senior Vice President – Automotive Operations Group, Toyota Motor North America

Aspect	2023 Lexus RX 350h Specification	2023 Lexus RX 500h Specification
Length	192.5 in.	192.5 in.
Width	75.6 in.	75.6 in.
Height	67.3 in.	67.3 in.
Wheelbase	112.2 in.	112.2 in.
Drivetrain Layout	E-Four AWD	Direct4 AWD
Engine	2.4L gasoline	2.4L turbocharged gasoline
Front Motor Type	PMSM	PMSM
Rear Motor Type	PMSM	PMSM
Traction Battery Pack Type	Nickel Metal Hydride	Nickel Metal Hydride
System Power	246 hp	367 hp
System Torque	233 lb.-ft.	406 lb.-ft.
Transmission	CVT	6-speed automatic
0-60 mph Acceleration Time	7.4 seconds	5.9 seconds
EPA-est. MPG (combined)	36 MPG	27 MPG
0-60 mph Acceleration Time	7.4 seconds	5.9 seconds
Top Speed	112 mph	130 mph

2024 Lexus RX Release Date & Price

The 2024 Lexus RX could be announced in the U.S. in Summer 2023, with customer deliveries planned in Q4 2023. The base hybrid variant (RX 350+) may retail at around USD 54,000 onwards, though. We’ll update this section when we have official info.

Lexus RX sales

The RX is, by and large, the most popular Lexus car in the United States. Lexus delivered 96,041 units in the country in 2022. Compared to 2021, (115,320 units), that was a decline of 16.7 percent. Sales have grown in 2023, though, as production of the new-generation model ramps up and supply increases.

The January-June 2023 period was the best-ever first half for the RX, and for the RX Hybrid in the U.S. The mid-size SUV recorded 57,372 units in sales during this period, 6.7% higher than in H1 2022 (53,769 units). The RX Hybrid alone registered 18,319 units in H1 2023, which marked a whopping 126.3% improvement over H1 2022 (8,094 units).

Buyer preference for hybrids reached a historic high for Lexus in the U.S. in 2022, with 21.3 percent of total sales volume electrified. In 2020, Lexus sold 14,411 units of the RX Hybrid, but this figure was significantly up in 2021 with the Japanese carmaker selling 18,981 units. In 2022, the company delivered 17,194 units of the hybrid SUV, 9.4% lower than in the same period in 2021 (18,981 units), as the local division was preparing to receive the new generation SUV, and battled supply chain challenges.

TopElectricSUV says

Riding atop a new platform, packing more space and features, including a brand-new, U.S.-developed infotainment system, and armed with plug-in hybrid technology, the fifth-gen Lexus RX is a massive upgrade in every respect. The fifth generation of the best-selling Lexus in America is set to continue as a top pick in the mid-size luxury SUV segment.

2024 Lexus RX/Hybrid FAQs

Featured Image Source: Lexus