DRIVEN
LEXUS RX450h TAKUMI The RX is one of the most luxury-led SUVs there has ever been. In Takumi form, Lexus describes it as ‘the pinnacle of luxury’ – and at £63,315 it has come to look like a high-value option too
WHEN A CAR MAKER DESCRIBES one of its vehicles as the ‘pinnacle of luxury’, it’s easy to sneer a bit. But when it’s Lexus, you take it seriously. The Takumi model sits at the top of the RX range. And it certainly IS luxurious – though there’s no such thing as an RX that isn’t. Needless to say, the equipment list has everything on it that you’d expect. But what the RX demonstrates is that luxury doesn’t just come from a load of spec. It’s never convincing if it’s not based on a strong foundation, and this is where Lexus scores. The quality of the vehicle itself is top-notch – it would still be a good SUV with fabric seats and none of the toys, which is why it’s a brilliant one with them. It’s such a cliché to say a vehicle feels like it’s carved from a solid block, and of course it’s a cliché that comes out a lot when people are talking about Lexus. It’s worth repeating, though, if only just to highlight how well the RX really is made. The feeling of solidity, even perfection, is all around, and the quality of the materials in which the cabin is trimmed adds a layer of class on top of that. So often, we find ourselves sitting in leather seats and thinking a good quality fabric would be better. But that’s certainly not the case here. The hide used in the Takumi is soft, supple and exceptionally comfortable, while the seats themselves are three-way heated and cooled, with four-way lumbar adjust for driver and passenger alike. They feel as good as they look, and they look superb.
Elbow and leg room are excellent, and headroom is fine – not amazing, thanks to the panoramic roof that’s a no-cost option (the Takumi is in fact listed as two separate models, with and without the sunroof and both at the same price), but you’d have to be extraordinarily tall for it to be a problem. It’s not quite as palatial in the back. The seats are heated again, and very comfortable, and legroom is excellent, but headroom is only just enough for a six-footer. The C-post sweeps forward at a fast angle, too, putting it right next to your head, so you’re looking forward and out rather than having a vista next to you. Nonetheless, the RX can carry four tall adults with none having to feel cramped. This is a vehicle which, through many models, has been a bit of a practicality sleeper, and so it proves again with the current one. The boot
You expect immense build quality and effortless luxury from Lexus, and that’s exactly what the RX delivers. Its cabin has an elegantly designed image to it that’s individualistic without being over the top, and the materials and fittings alike are top-notch
34 | OCTOBER 2021
2pp Lexus RX450h.indd 34
4x4 29/08/2021 21:35
