2020 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450hL unveiled

For 2020, the Lexus RX gets revised styling, a stiffer suspension, enhanced smartphone connectivity features and an additional safety kit.

Lexus’s premium crossover, the RX, has been updated for 2020. While Lexus claims that the car’s exterior, interior and underpinnings have been altered, it’s the changes inside & under the skin that are more important. The exterior changes are mere styling updates. Further, the versions that have been updated are the RX 350 F Sport and the RX 450hL (Three-Row variant). In India, though, only the RX 450h is sold in Luxury and F Sport trims.

Starting with the changes inside, the RX comes with an updated multimedia system, which makes it the RX becomes the first Lexus model to receive an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity option. While the 8-inch touchscreen remains standard fitment, customers can also choose a high-definition 12.3-inch split-screen multimedia display, which now comes paired to a Remote TouchPad. The 12.3-inch screen also supports dynamic voice recognition.

Exterior changes include new standard 18-inch allow wheels and a reworked front & rear fascia, along with redesigned triple-beam LED headlamp units, which are now slimmer. The rear boot lid can now be opened with an optional ‘kick sensor’. Those opting for the Luxury trim can order their RX with optional 20-inch wheels. Also, on offer here are two new exterior colour options – Moonbeam Beige Metallic & Nori Green Pearl.

Talking about the changes made under the skin, overall, the suspension on the RX has been made stiffer. To be specific, the front and rear stabiliser bars are now hollow to reduce weight. Further, the shock absorbers have been re-tuned to work with stiffer roll bars, and the dampers have been upgraded too, which now feature a friction control device for absorbing high-frequency vibrations. To reduce understeer (a common problem with big & heavy cars), Lexus has also added active corner braking that will apply the brakes on the inner tyre (while making a high-speed turn) to improve handling.

While the engine specs have been left untouched, the RX’s entire variant line-up now gets the Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 as standard fitment. With this, safety kit like Daytime Cyclist Detection, low-light Pedestrian Detection, Road Sign Assist (RSA) & Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) will be available with all Lexus RX versions.

Production of the 2020 Lexus RX will begin in the third quarter of 2019, and prices will be announced closer to the reveal date. So, expect the updated RX to hit the Indian shores sometime in the second half of 2020.

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