Skip advert
Advertisement

Lexus RX review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

Boot capacity isn't the best, but there's plenty of room in the cabin

Practicality, comfort and boot space rating

3.8

How we review cars
Price
£63,530 - £85,040
Find your Lexus RX
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

Even though the latest RX isn’t that much bigger on the road than its predecessor, the new model’s redesigned seats, longer wheelbase and the more favourable packaging of the GA-K platform mean Lexus can claim that space inside is much better than before. The RX is only available as a five-seater, however, and as yet there has been no word of the return of the RX L seven-seat variant. 

Size

The fifth-generation Lexus RX is 4,890mm long – exactly the same length as the previous model – but it’s 25mm wider and 10mm lower. Plus the new model’s wheelbase is 60mm longer than before, made possible by the move to the newer GA-K platform. Wider front and rear track widths are joined by a shorter rear overhang, giving the new car a different stance to the old model.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

The new RX’s longer wheelbase means there’s lots of legroom in the rear, and despite the RX’s tapered roof (partly a styling trick), headroom is good, too. The rear seats will accommodate three adults, no problem, and by upgrading to the top-of-the-range Takumi spec you also get heated and electrically operated rear seats, allowing those in the back to recline. There are also lots of handy cubbyholes dotted around the cabin.

Boot

With 461 litres of boot space on offer, the RX’s luggage capacity is rather small for an SUV of this size, especially when compared with the 650 litres you get in a BMW X5, or the Mercedes GLE’s cavernous 690 litres of cargo space. At least the plug-in hybrid RX doesn’t get any less boot space. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Lower-spec models have levers for folding the rear seats down, but in pricier versions they can be folded up and down with the touch of a button, which takes a little longer.

Towing

Whether you go for a self-charging or plug-in hybrid Lexus RX, the towing capacity is 2,000kg for braked trailers and 750kg for unbraked trailers. While it can’t match the 3,500kg towing limit of a diesel Land Rover Discovery, two tonnes should be plenty for the majority of drivers who want to haul a large caravan or sizeable trailer with a load on it.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa-e

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys

Editor Paul Barker takes a closer look at our 2024 Used Car Awards
Opinion
20 Nov 2024
Best used cars to buy 2024
Best used cars 2024

Best used cars to buy 2024

From city cars to large SUVs, here’s our annual pick of the star performers that’ll save you thousands when you buy them used instead of new
Best cars & vans
22 Nov 2024
Jaguar concept car teased further in new image
2024 Jaguar badge teaser image

Jaguar concept car teased further in new image

The all-electric concept promises to have bold styling and showcases polarising new logo
News
22 Nov 2024