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On this episode, we share our first impressions of the redesigned 2023 Lexus RX. We discuss how it drives, new safety features like active driver monitoring, and the updated powertrain. We also debate the perceived color of the RX we rented from Lexus and answer an audience question that begs, “What’s the deal with voice controls?”
SHOW NOTES:
0:00 – Introduction
0:15 – 2023 Lexus RX 500h
4:14 – Debating the RX’s color
6:30 – Driving dynamics
10:36 – Vehicle controls
14:30 – Active Driving Assist Systems
23:54 – Question: “What’s the deal with voice controls?”
LINKS:
2023 Lexus RX Gets New Safety Features and Four-Cylinder Engines:
Hot, New Electric Cars That Are Coming Soon:
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Currently have a 2008 RX350 with 252k on the odometer. Got it new and it’s been the best vehicle my wife has ever owned. I will be getting the 2013 RX350 hybrid to replace the ol’ faithful.
Did mean 2023 or 2017?
@alti samuels yeah was that a typo?
@alti samuels 2023…
WHY ON EARTH WOULD ANYONE TEST THIS SUV???? LOLOLOL
Because it is benchmark of Premium SUVs
Because their CR and they test vehicles for a living.
Because Lexus sells tons of them….
Anyone that’s thinking of buying it?
CR, RX 350h mic drop!!!!! Actually the 350h is a careful, responsible and sensible return of the microphone to its stand. 😁
Voice control to change the temperature? I’ll pass. Give me a knob that takes half a second to adjust. Voice controls to search an address and set navigation? Sure. (But leave that to Android Auto it Apple Carplay)
What was Lexus thinking here with the new update. Common guys think about the your main demographic buyer. HUD system is too complicated. Also if am buying $60k plus SUV I would love a smooth quite v6 after than a noisy 4cyl. Also what the bs with recording your face all the time and god knows who all they sell that info to. Not great not great
Yikes! Lexus failed if TCwCR spends a podcast complaining about poor controls. I love data too!
Lexus really needs to get rid of that large ugly grill already.
Lexus made a huge mistake not making a cleaner V6 (like Honda did for the Pilot) vs putting the 2.4T I4 what is, by almost all accounts, noisy and unrefined by comparison.
2.4t is fine like all other competitors doing the same, but toyota is sucks at fuel economy with its 4 cylinder
I totally agree, but it’s more due to the taxes levied on engine size in a lot of European and Asian markets…But, that said, with the US market being as big as it is, you’d think they’d keep a V-6 option here…V-6 hybrids are way smoother than a 4cyl hybrid….I’m a NA fan and don’t like turbos, so I’m with you on this….
I feel you guys should clarify “CVT” when you are reviewing a car with a CVT in available models. The CVT is called, I believe, an eCVT, and It’s a planetary split gearset, totally and completely different than a traditional CVT with a steel braided belt on opposing “cones” (if you will.)
Amazingly this continues. Even though virtually everytime someone on YouTube calls a planetary power split device a “CVT”, they don’t ever stop. I’ve given up trying.
All CVT suck so it wasn’t important enough to differentiate.
This car didn’t have a CVT/eCVT…they mentioned it quickly in passing about a different model….don’t think they needed to address it since they weren’t reviewing that transmission in this video…
31% use voice to change temperature? More than people who use voice to make a phone call (30%)? I don’t see how that’s even close to possible….I only use voice to make phone calls….and it works accurately 95+% of the time. The rare misses are when it’s noisy in the car…not sure what cars these guys are driving that it’s not reliable…I drive a Kia, Jeep, and Honda, and works equally well across all 3…but worked equally as well in my last few cars…Tesla, Porsche, Audi, BMW, Chrysler…
Ooooooo v4 turbo hybrid? The repair cost is going to be rocket.
They’ve been around for years without many issues…it’s in just about every other Toyota.
OMG, this new RX sounds like a train wreck! I have a 2016 RX-450h & it has lots of little stupid crap that goes bad. Toyota has failed to fix any of these issues in 6 years & I expect the same with these redesigned models. My voice control is worthless! It ends up either not doing anything or doing something incorrect.
What an ugly automobile … Damn,,, Toyota / Lexus. .. Good discussion! .. As always, Thanks…
Using voice controls isn’t a good fit when riding with passengers. I’ll continue to buy vehicles with controls for the basics.
Great review guys. Good group. Love the color!!! And I’m shocked that Toyota/Lexus made a complicated/hard to use UI! LOL…I’ve never driven a Toyota that had a easy to use UI…they are all terrible. And when they fix what is terrible, they replace it with something else terrible, so not surprised at all. Too bad, because that’s a deal breaker for me. I purchased a RAV4 Prime a couple of years ago and from a powertrain/comfort perspective, it was perfect. HOWEVER, the infotainment system seemed like it came off a 1994 Toyota and was extremely frustrating to use…I sold it after 9 months of ownership finally…luckily, I got it right before COVID and sold it for 9k more than I purchased it for! Someday Toyota and Honda will learn how to do infotainment/UIs…but I doubt it’ll be in my lifetime.
I’m a listener who is so over the “amping up driving dynamics” fanboy drivel. I’m in stop-and-go traffic all day dodging folks who are texting and driving.
I just want something safe, affordable, reliable & with good gas mileage. This economy has not been kind to non-Trust Fund types, so please don’t forget the rest of us!
Whoever is responsible for the exterior body styling should look for alternative work…that color is also awful
Can we have a talking cars episode with 3 women?
I don’t like the color, and that extra plastic portion over the grille looks terrible.
You know who else is gonna wanna get their hands on that video? The insurance companies…
I have been a very satisfied RX driver since 2004. I have purchased model after model because of the comfort, reliability and safety inherent in these vehicles over the years. Every one of those cars has been equipped with the native navigation system, and I prefer not to use Apple Carplay, Android Auto or a subscription system like in Audis. Rumor has it that going forward, Lexus will no longer offer an embedded, subscription-free navigation system, starting with this new RX. I was disappointed that this topic was not discussed in the initial review today. I hope that you will address that topic and clarify the situation at some time in the future. This issue will be a deal-breaker when I next consider getting a new RX.