The Lexus RX is a luxury crossover SUV that Lexus, a high-end brand of Toyota, has been selling since 1998. The Toyota Harrier was initially made available in its native Japan in late 1997, while export sales of the Lexus RX started in March 1998. [1] There have been four generations of the RX made to date, the first being tiny in size and the latter three being categorized as mid-size. The RX is regarded as the first premium crossover SUV[2][3]. The RX series has utilized both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive setups, and many gasoline powertrain options, including V6 engines and hybrid systems, have been provided. The RX stands above the smaller NX crossover with a smaller displacement inline-four engine and below the bigger GX and LX (marketed as the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and the Toyota Land Cruiser body-on-frame SUVs outside of North America) in the Lexus model lineup. RX stands for “Radiant Crossover,” hence the name. [4] In some markets, it has also been referred to as “Recreational Cross Country.” [5] The Highlander/Kluger and the Harrier and Venza were once the RX’s Toyota competitors.
Sales of the 3.0 liter V6-powered first-generation RX 300 started in 1998. A 2.2-liter inline-four, later increased to 2.4 liters, was also available in the 1997 Harrier for the Japanese market. The second-generation RX 300 (3.0 liter V6) and RX 330 (3.3 liter V6) vehicles first went on sale in 2003, while the more potent RX 350 (3.5 liter V6) took their place in the market in 2006. In the Japanese market Harrier, a 3.0 liter V6 engine and a 2.4 liter inline-four engine were offered. The 3.3-liter second-generation vehicle was made available in 2005 as a hybridized gasoline-electric version under the names RX 400h in international countries and Harrier Hybrid in Japan. Both the RX 350 (3.5-liter V6) and RX 450h (3.5-liter V6 hybrid) models were initially available for the third generation, which debuted in 2009. Since 2010, however, Lexus has also marketed the entry-level RX 270 (2.7-liter inline-four) in several Asian markets, including Japan. Japanese sales now take place under the RX moniker rather than Harrier as they had in the past since the third generation’s debut. The 2.7-liter engine was replaced by a turbocharged (2.0-liter inline-four) RX 200t/300 variant in the fourth generation.
Since its debut, Toyota Motor Kyushu has been producing the RX. The RX and RX Hybrid were the first Lexus models to be produced outside of Japan; North American market versions were made at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada factory in Cambridge, Ontario starting in 2003 (RX), and it was enlarged in 2014. (RX Hybrid). [6] Since 2009, hybrid transaxles are manufactured at the Kokura facility in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. [7] [8]
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What does Lexus RX stand for?
Radiant Crossover is the name of the particular model. The word Radiant stands for the optimistic future that Lexus had in mind when the car was introduced at the beginning of the millennium. The design was the first sports utility vehicle to act as a bridge between an upscale sedan and an off-road vehicle.
What kind of automobile is a Lexus RX?
The RX 350 L is a three-row SUV, whereas the RX 350 and RX 350 F Sport are two-row SUVs. A 3.5-liter V6 engine with 295 horsepower in the RX 350 and F Sport and 290 horsepower in the RX L is standard on all grades. All models come standard with a front-wheel drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
What is the foundation of the Lexus RX?
Both the Toyota Highlander and the Lexus RX 350 are front-wheel drive vehicles and share a common Toyota SUV platform. A V6 engine with a displacement of 3.5 liters and 270 horsepower powers the Toyota Highlander Limited. It has a six-speed automatic transmission and achieves up to 25 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city.
What does the automobile term RX mean?
According to conventional opinion, RX7 is an acronym for “Rotary Experimental 7” or “Rotary Experiment 7”. Others have claimed that RX can stand for either “Rotary Sport” or “Rotary Export” (we will get to the “Sport part shortly).
What does the Japanese word “Lexus” mean?
A top-of-the-line luxury vehicle produced by the Toyota Motor Company Japan is referred to as a Lexus. The word “LEXUS” is Latin for “luxury.” To the US: export. L-EX-US. Not “premium edition for the US” at all. The Lexus moniker is now used by Toyota Motor Co. for its luxury range in Japan as well.
An individual who possesses high potential, beauty, a ton of drive, a good nature, and a pleasant temperament is referred to as a Lexus (adjective). Very gorgeous, really intelligent, and has an extremely original sense of humor.
What Lexus SUV is the most opulent?
The Lexus LX is the largest and most opulent SUV offered by the Japanese luxury brand, and for 2022 it will receive a complete overhaul from the wheel nuts up.
Is Lexus merely a Toyota brand?
Where is Lexus manufactured? Is Lexus a Toyota brand? Yes, the Toyota Motor Corporation, which has its headquarters in Japan, is the owner of the Lexus brand. However, the luxury car line runs separately from Toyota Motor Corporation in many aspects.
Which Lexus SUV is the best?
The Lexus RX 350 is a popular vehicle. For nearly two decades, Consumer Reports has given it nothing but positive evaluations, and for good reason: it is the greatest Lexus SUV you can purchase overall.
What is so fantastic about the RX 350? One benefit is that it is fuel-efficient. Although it doesn’t seem that great on paper (the EPA rates it at 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway), in practice it performs better and achieves more like 31 mpg highway. Additionally, a hybrid powertrain with 28 city and 31 highway mpg is offered.
It’s also a terrific family vehicle because it has two sets of LATCH connectors and a tether anchor in the back seats. This LATCH system received the highest possible grade of Good+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), indicating that it is user-friendly.
Finally, it received top marks in crash tests. In all six crash tests, the IIHS granted the 2022 RX 350 the highest rating of Good. For its technology to prevent vehicle-to-vehicle front crashes, it likewise achieved the top score of Superior.
Which is preferable, a Lexus or a Toyota?
In the U.S. News Battle of the Brands comparison, Lexus defeated Toyota in five of the 13 categories performance, interior, safety, subcompact SUV, and midsize SUV outperforming Toyota in all 13 categories. In the 44-inch midsize SUV class, the two brands were tied.
Although Lexus only triumphed in less than half of the categories, U.S. News nonetheless named it the superior vehicle overall. This is largely attributable to how well the high-end brand performed in the crucial areas of safety and performance. In the latter, Lexus cars typically outperform even the most sporty Toyota models in terms of handling.
Toyota is surpassed by Lexus in terms of interior design as well. While both companies have generally appealing interiors, Lexus cars consistently come with premium materials, cozy seats, and a more opulent vibe.
The Lexus brand is known for its emphasis on luxury, comfort, and overall performance. If you have a higher income and desire a car that provides a pleasant driving experience without compromising performance, upgrading can be worthwhile. If you’re looking for a sports vehicle or an SUV, the upgrade is especially valuable because Lexus consistently obtains top ratings in these categories.
Is the Lexus RX the Highlander’s similar size?
You’ll find it simpler to get in and out of the Lexus RX 350 than the Toyota Highlander in a confined parking space because it is slightly thinner. The Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX 350 use almost the same amount of space in your garage when comparing overall lengths.
Which Toyota is the Lexus RX’s competitor?
The Lexus RX 350L and Toyota Highlander are two of the most well-liked SUVs on the market. The Lexus RX 350 has far more expensive materials and a sportier ride, but the Highlander is one of the best options for a three-row SUV. These cars are somewhat different from one another.
Are Lexus repairs expensive?
In comparison, maintenance and repairs are affordable because Lexus is Toyota’s premium arm. For its low ownership expenses, Lexus received an overall ranking from RepairPal of sixth. Owners of Lexus automobiles pay $551 on maintenance and repairs annually, while expenses rise as cars get older.
You can choose from a number of options to manage your Lexus maintenance costs. To minimize high maintenance expenses, you might want to consider extending your warranty. Although Lexus has its own program, there are several third-party alternatives available that may be more economical.
The most well-known providers were assessed, and we chose a few that stood out above the others. All of our suggestions for third-party extended auto warranties scored highly in terms of features, plan alternatives, industry reputation, and customer support.
What makes the RX 350 so well-liked?
One of the most well-known luxury car brands in the US is Lexus. The fact that Toyota owns it is a major contributor to its appeal. It comes as no surprise that the Lexus RX continues to outsell rivals given the popularity of the brand as a whole. Even when measured against the Genesis GV80 or the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, most analysts concur that the RX doesn’t face particularly challenging competition.
Is buying a Lexus a wise idea?
According to Consumer Reports, Lexus is the most dependable new automobile brand. The fact that local dealerships worked so hard to consistently provide you with an amazing car-buying and service experience is evidenced by the fact that Lexus dealerships were rated as the best in terms of the overall dealership experience.
What does ES stand for in Lexus?
The Lexus ES is a line of mid-size executive automobiles that Lexus, the luxury arm of Toyota, has been selling since 1989. Each iteration of the Lexus ES features a front-engine, front-wheel-drive design and a V6 engine. The Toyota Camry platform was utilized for the first five generations of the ES, however the sixth and seventh generations are more closely related to the Avalon. A smaller inline-four engine became an option in Asian countries in 2010, and a gasoline-electric hybrid variant was released in 2012. Manual gearboxes were available until 1993. The ES sedan served as the entry-level luxury automobile in the Lexus portfolio in North America and other territories until the launch of the IS in 1999. Prior to the introduction of the related RX in 1998, the ES was the sole front-wheel drive vehicle offered by Lexus. “Executive Sedan” is what the ES moniker denotes. [3] Although some Lexus importers call their vehicles “Elegant Sedan,” this is a backronym. [4]
The first-generation ES 250 and the LS 400 were the two cars that made up Lexus’ initial lineup in 1989. The third generation ES 300, the fourth generation ES 300/330, and the second generation ES 300 all made their debuts in 1991, 1996, and 2001, respectively. The first through fourth generation sedans shared body style cues with Toyota sedans produced in Japan. A domestic market competitor, the Toyota Windom (Japanese: Toyota Windamu), was offered until the fifth generation ES was introduced in 2006. Combining “win” and the suffix “dom,” the phrase “Windom” conveys a condition of unending victory. [5] The fifth-generation ES made its debut in early 2006 as a 2007 model and utilised body style that Lexus branded as L-finesse. The sixth generation ES made its debut as a 2013 model in the first half of 2012 and has a larger cabin thanks to a wider wheelbase that it shares with the full-size XX40 series Avalon.
In contrast to sport sedans that ride more stiffly, Lexus has positioned the ES in the comfort luxury market, emphasizing interior comforts, quietness, and ride quality[6].
[7] The Lexus IS and competing vehicles cater to those looking for more performance-focused automobiles, offering a sportier drive with variably adjusted suspensions.
[8] The GS sport sedans occupy the mid-size category in the Lexus portfolio until it is discontinued in August 2020 in Europe, Japan, and other territories where it was not offered until the seventh generation model.
[9] For more than fifteen years, the ES has been the most popular Lexus sedan in the US. [10] [11] [12]