2024 LEXUS RX 500H F SPORT PERFORMANCE: REVIEW, PRICE AND PHOTOS

Sometime back in 1998, Toyota shipped a Harrier SUV over from Japan to the US, slapped a Lexus badge on it, dubbed it the RX and discovered a way to print money. It’s practically impossible to overstate the importance of the Lexus RX. Not only is it considered by many to be the first luxury crossover, to Lexus, the RX is its cash cow. Using some publicly available figures and some top-of-the-head math, the RX (in its 14 different variants) makes up approximately 33% of Lexus’ total sales volume.

The only other Lexus that comes close to this figure is the smaller NX crossover, basically the “RX lite,” and together the two crossovers make up close to 50% of Lexus’ total sales. So yeah, creating the very first luxury crossover turned out to be a very big deal. The success of this SUV certainly inspired other luxury car makers to make their own fancy crossovers, meaning that the RX is in some way, shape or form responsible for rides like the Porsche Cayenne or Lamborghini Urus.

And just as the Germans were inspired by Lexus, Lexus is now taking some inspiration from them, offering an RX variant designed to play in the high-performance crossover space. Launched in 2023, the Lexus RX 500h F SPORT Performance is, in theory, how Japan builds a Porsche Cayenne fighter. Based on the fifth-generation RX—also launched in 2023—this F SPORT Performance variant is the fastest, most powerful RX yet.

Related: The Best Lexus Models, Ranked

What’s New for 2024

This latest RX was launched in 2023 and was a clean-sheet design. Everything from the chassis, sheet metal, powertrains, tech and so on was all new. And as manufacturers typically like to wait two to three years before introducing a mid-cycle refresh, it’s a bit too early for the 2024 model to offer much in the way of new features.

Looking across the entire RX lineup, 2024 will see the introduction of a plug-in hybrid model—the first RX PHEV to be offered in North America. Since you’re likely curious, this PHEV gets an EPA-estimated 35 miles of EV-only range and a manufacturer-estimated 83 MPGe combined.

The entire lineup also sees the addition of Cloudburst Gray as an available color, and Lexus now offers an available remote parking feature that allows drivers to use their smartphone to get the crossover into and out of tight parking spaces. Note that a subscription to Lexus’ Drive Connect is required to access this new Remote Park feature, as well as the majority of Lexus’ more notable tech features. There have been no exclusive updates made just for the RX 500h F SPORT Performance, meaning you can have a gray RX in whatever trim you choose.

2024 Highlights

• Introduction of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant to RX line
• Addition of new Cloudburst Gray exterior color
• Technology suite now includes Remote Park

Exterior Dimensions

Related: 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ Adds A Plug And 35 Miles Of EV-Only Driving

Performance

As it literally says “Performance” on the badge, it’s nice to learn that this fancy crossover is putting in the work to back up that statement. By the numbers, the RX 500h F SPORT Performance offers up 366 horsepower, 406 foot-pounds of torque, a 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 130 MPH. But what’s most interesting is the powertrain itself, which could be described as a mechanical version of a mullet: Business in the front; party in the back.

Handling the business side is a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline four that’s good for 271 ponies on its own without the electric boost. This engine is mated to a six-speed automatic gear box, as well as a power control unit and electric motor. In other words: It’s a basic hybrid set up that Toyota perfected over 20 years ago (and uses a variant of across the lineup), with a bit of forced induction thrown in for good measure.

Move to the back and you’ll find the party, starting with a high-output NiMH battery hiding neatly under the rear seat bench. Lexus hasn't published any official numbers for this battery, but we're confident in assuming it's the 1.87 kWh unit found in the brand's other hybrid models. Also sitting out back—between the rear wheels, to be specific—is high-torque 80kW (107 horsepower) electric motor called an “e-Axle,” which forms the basis of an advanced AWD system Lexus calls DIRECT4 AWD. As Lexus describes it, this DIRECT4 AWD system can seamlessly shunt power between all four wheels as needed, so in theory, it can behave like an FWD chassis when entering a corner and, depending on your inputs, behave like a rear-biased RWD vehicle upon corner exit.

Performance Specifications

All RX models get the same basic suspension setup: MacPherson struts up front with a multi link in the rear. Here in the F SPORT Performance, these get what Lexus calls “F SPORT-tuned” suspension pieces that include performance dampers, revised springs and unique stabilizer bars. An Adaptive Variable Suspension system is also available, which can change its damping characteristics in real time to better suit current driving inputs and road conditions.

Front brakes are appropriately massive, with six-piston calipers clamping down on 15.74-inch rotors. And to further boost these brakes’—and the RX’s—performance cred, Lexus claims that these calipers are 2.4 pounds lighter than the ones used on its current LC halo car. The wheels themselves are large, coming in at 21 inches in diameter for both the standard and optional wheels. Tire choice is nothing special, though, with a standard set of all-seasons wrapping each alloy.

Related: Review: The Perfect Luxury Coupe Doesn't Exist? The Lexus LC 500h: "Hold My Beer."

Interior Tech and Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 Lexus RX 500h F SPORT Performance

• Available 14-inch high-resolution touch-screen display
• Standard leather-trimmed F SPORT seats
• Standard multi-stage heated and ventilated front seats
• Thematic ambient lighting
• Available 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system

Previous generations of the RX, while good vehicles overall, didn’t put a premium on driver ergonomics. It was tough to find a seating position that allowed easy manipulation of both the steering wheel and pedals. The buttons used to control most interior functions were both plentiful and small. And in more recent times, there haven’t been many kind words written about Lexus’ old trackpad or mouse-style interface controls.

This latest Lexus SUV seems to have learned from its past mistakes, while introducing some new ones. First, the good: Driver ergonomics are just as good as what you’d find in its luxury German rivals. Between the more aggressively bolstered F SPORT seats and added adjustability, this is the first Lexus SUV we’ve been in that allowed us to find an ideal driving position. While a few buttons remain, a high-resolution touchscreen display controls the bulk of interior features, and falls within easy reach of the driver. This touchscreen, like others, presents its own set of problems, which we’ll cover in a bit.

All new Lexus vehicles include a three-year trial subscription to Drive Connect, which opens up a bunch of features such as the ability to save driver profile settings, enhanced voice control options, a navigation system that can learn your routine and provide real-time data showing you the fastest route, that remote parking feature we talked about in the intro, and so on. Wireless connectivity to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is included as standard in this RX, and will likely serve as the main UI drivers use to interact with their vehicle.

In terms of other comforts, all the stuff you’d expect in this luxury space is here. We’re talking premium leather trim on all major surfaces, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outboard second-row seats, a heads-up display, premium audio system, multi-colored mood lighting and more. In other words, the stuff you’d expect in this mainstream luxury space.

Interior Dimensions

Safety and Reliability

This is a Lexus, so reliability is a given. JD Power rates the 2023 Lexus RX as the #1 Premium Midsize SUV, with an overall score of 83 out of 100, especially citing Quality and Reliability and the Dealership Experience as Great. The Long-Term Quality Index, which measures defects in high-mileage cars when they reach auction, has given it a perfect 100 since 2010.

Even with the IIHS strengthening its award requirements for 2023, the agency has given the 2023 Lexus RX its Top Safety Pick+ accolade, giving “Good” marks to all key criteria, and marking the RX’s vehicle-to-pedestrian crash avoidance systems as “superior.” Again, as there have been no changes between the 2023 and 2024 model-year vehicles, these ratings are expected to hold for the 2024 models.

In terms of NHTSA ratings, at this time none of the 2023 or 2024 Lexus RX models have been tested by the agency, so no data or ratings exist at this time.

• Recalls (NHTSA): 2024, 0; 2023; 1
• NHTSA Investigations: 2024, 0; 2023; 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 2024, 0; 2023; 0
• Awards: IIHS 2023 Top Safety Pick+

Driver Assistance Features

Every RX has what’s called Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which is a basically a brand name applied to a collection of active safety technologies, and is the same as Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS3.0), with some optional features from the Toyota version included.

• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and Intersection Support
• Lane Tracing Assist
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
• Road Sign Assist
• All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Curve Speed Management
• Intelligent High Beams.

Warranties

All Lexus vehicles include a robust warranty, including a standard four-year/50,000 mile basic warranty, a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and 48 months of roadside assistance. This is part of the premium you pay for a Lexus, since it's longer than for Toyotas which are essentially mechanically identical.

While some of the additional warranty and safety features “technically” require a subscription, new RX models include a complimentary 10-year trial subscription to the following features: There’s Service Connect, which basically lets you monitor vehicle health and schedule services via an app or online portal; and Safety Connect, which features an SOS button that can call for emergency services. Also bucketed in the Safety Connect name is the stolen vehicle locator. Enhanced Roadside Assistance is also included via 10-year trial subscription and doesn’t include a mileage cap.

Our Expert Review

Lexus launched its F SPORT Performance sub-brand back in 2022 with the introduction of the IS 500 F SPORT Performance. That sedan, without a doubt, is the finest sports car Toyota makes today. The GR86 and Supra are fine, but built by outside vendors. And the GR Corolla, while all Toyota, is a bit too rowdy for day-to-day driving. So for Lexus to give that badge to an RX of all vehicles, well, it must mean that this SUV is truly something special.

It isn’t.

Objectively, the current RX is an excellent premium crossover, with very few flaws. It exceeds at the stuff people want from this segment, namely ample passenger space front and rear, a generous cargo area, and a quiet and smooth ride. Material choice and overall fit and finish is exemplary, and all the primary convenience features generally work as advertised.

Had Lexus given this RX anything but an F SPORT Performance badge, we’d be fully on board with what this crossover is offering. But that badge sets some high expectations which the underlying vehicle simply can’t live up to. Sure, on paper the 500h is quicker than the base version, and that trick all-wheel drive system does help it feel more neutral when pushed through corners. But who exactly is buying an RX as a canyon carver? It feels quick, but not fast. Corners well, but doesn’t feel like it’s on rails. It just does the things an average crossover can do, but doesn’t feel any quicker while doing so.

The other glaring flaw is the Lexus Interface system. It’s a re-skin of the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, and frankly, it needs work. It boasts a sort of artificial intelligence that can learn the driver’s voice, habits, etc. to be more seamless to use, but all those features are locked behind a subscription. The UI itself isn’t the greatest—it needs a “home” button, or an intuitive way to tune the radio, at least. And doing anything more than basic climate adjustments requires a deep dive into various sub-menus, and this includes switching the performance parameters from Eco to Sport.

If you’re going to build a performance vehicle, go all-in. The Lexus IS 500 offers a supremely ideal blend of speed, handling and refinement. It was the perfect car to launch a performance sub-brand, and it made us excited to see what Lexus would build next. This RX 500h F SPORT Performance, on the other hand, feels like a half-hearted logo slap. We want something with the F SPORT Performance badge to make us feel something; this specific RX just leaves us feeling like something is missing.

Related: 2023 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Review: An M3 For College Graduates

The 2024 Lexus RX 500h F SPORT Performance Versus The Competition

Sticking a performance badge on a luxury crossover is, for most, performative. Buyers generally aren’t looking for speed; rather, they’re looking for a visual shorthand that demonstrates that, yes, they have the money to buy the expensive version. And really, when it comes to the vehicles that currently define the performance/luxury crossover, there are two brands that immediately spring to mind: Porsche and AMG.

Say what you will about Porsche deciding to build SUVs, but the brand’s DNA can be felt across every aspect of the Cayenne. And as Mercedes-Benz is to luxury, AMG is to performance, making the AMG GLE 55 more than a simple sticker package. There’s no doubting the pedigree of either of these German crossovers, but is the Lexus RX 500h ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these giants?

How Lexus RX 500h F SPORT Performance Compares To The Porsche Cayenne

• 2024 Lexus RX 500h

  Model F SPORT Performance

  Engine: 2.4-Liter Turbo Hybrid I-4

  Power Output 366 HP

  Torque 406 LB-FT

  Transmission 6-Speed Automatic

  Driveline AWD

  MSRP $63,800

  0-60 MPH 5.9 Seconds

  Towing Capacity 3,494 Pounds

• 2024 Porsche Cayenne

  Model Cayenne (Base)

  Engine: 3.0-Liter Turbo V-6

  Power Output 348 HP

  Torque 368 LB-FT.

  Transmission 8-Speed Tiptronic S Automatic

  Driveline AWD

  MSRP $79,000

  0-60 MPH 5.4 Seconds

  Towing Capacity 7,700 Pounds

While Lexus may be credited with creating the luxury crossover, it’s Porsche who injected performance into this segment. And the Porsche Cayenne continues to set the benchmark for all performance SUVs.

Spec-for-spec, it seems like the Lexus outclasses the Porsche, with the base model Cayenne packing a 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 348 horsepower and 368 foot-pounds of torque. That’s less power and torque than the RX. But the Porsche does a better job of getting that power to the ground with a faster 0-60 time of just 5.7 seconds (or 5.4 seconds with the Sport Chrono package equipped), and a faster top speed of 154 MPH. This crossover was built for the Autobahn, and it shows. But this is also a good time to remind everyone that the base model Cayenne is a lot more expensive than a fully loaded RX. And if hybrid powertrains are your thing, opting for a Cayenne E-Hybrid will shoot that starting price to $91,700.

Related: Everything To Know About The 2024 Porsche Cayenne Coupe

How Lexus RX 500h F SPORT Performance Compares To The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 53

• 2024 Lexus RX 500h

  Model F SPORT Performance

  Engine: 2.4-Liter Turbo Hybrid I-4

  Power Output 366 HP

  Torque 406 LB-FT

  Transmission 6-Speed Automatic

  Driveline AWD

  MSRP $63,800

  0-60 MPH 5.9 Seconds

  Towing Capacity 3,494 Pounds

• 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ SUV

  Model GLE 53 4MATIC+ SUV

  Engine: 3.0-Liter Supercharged I-6

  Power Output 429 HP

  Torque 413 Lb-FT.

  Transmission 9-Speed Automatic

  Driveline AWD

  MSRP $87,900

  0-60 MPH 4.4 Seconds

  Towing Capacity 7,700 Pounds

While car nerds know that Mercedes-Benz offers everything from semi-trucks to tractors to taxis, to the world at large, that three-pointed star remains the definitive icon of luxury.

A base GLE starts at $62,650, which isn’t too far off of the entry price of the RX F SPORT Performance. But the Benz would be slow, somewhat featureless and plain. What people are paying for here, is that star. It would be more accurate to compare the RX 500h F SPORT Performance against the AMG GLE 55 4MATIC+. Both crossovers share similar philosophies—make a quick version of a base family hauler—but take fundamentally different approaches.

This isn’t the superior AMG product with the hand-built engine; rather it’s just the AMG-enhanced one. This crossover outputs 429 horsepower and 413 foot-pounds of torque, and it can rocket from 0-60 in just 4.9 seconds. From the elegant cockpit to the rear-drive architecture, the AMG GLE 55 does deliver on its promise of performance. Or at least the sensation of such. You’ll be paying for that privilege, though, as this faster GLE starts at a weighty $86,750.

Related: Here's Why Mercedes-Benz SUVs Are Perfect For Both Speed Freaks And Off-Road Enthusiasts

How Much Does a 2024 Lexus RX 500h F SPORT Performance Cost?

While Lexus technically is a luxury brand, its vehicles are designed, engineered and built by Toyota, so buying an RX tends to be cheaper than buying something with European provenance. That’s not to say these things are cheap: A base RX starts at $49,950 with the F SPORT Performance version starting at $63,800. But then again, a base Porsche Cayenne—with similar performance numbers, mind you—starts at $79,200, so maybe the Lexus isn’t such a bad deal after all.

If you want your fast RX in any color other than black, expect to pay an additional premium. Copper Crest, the most expensive color option, will add another $595 to your base price. Technology packages are a nightmare to navigate, with certain add-ons requiring you to purchase other add-ons just to equip it to your vehicle. Want the $1670 Convenience Package to get a Panoramic View Monitor, Remote Park (which requires an additional subscription to use) and Advanced Park? Well, you gotta either pony up an additional $1105 to get the larger interior touchscreen display, or get the $2265 package which includes said screen plus the 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system

Suffice it to say, go all-in and get the heated steering wheel, power door rear kick sensor, smartphone as key, panoramic glass roof, fancy LED headlights, and heated and ventilated rear seats, and you’re looking at an MSRP of $72,610. Again, that seems expensive, but then we look at its German competition and suddenly feel that this top-spec RX isn’t a bad deal.

Fuel Economy

The EPA has not yet tested any 2024 Lexus RX models, but at the time of writing, the 2023 numbers still seem to apply. Per FuelEconomy.gov, the 2023 RX 500h F SPORT Performance is EPA-estimated at 27 MPG city, 28 MPG highway and 27 MPG combined. Total range is EPA-estimated to be 464 miles on a full tank. The EPA will evaluate the 2024 models when they’re good and ready, so in the meantime, Lexus is providing the same fuel economy estimates, with the caveat that all numbers are manufacturer-estimated.

Is it Worth Buying the Lexus RX 500h F SPORT Performance?

Not to sound wishy-washy, but this is sort of a “yes and no” answer. As much as we knocked on the UI and relative lack of sportiness, the RX in general is one of the easiest vehicles to recommend. It’s built well, comfortable, reliable and has the bells and whistles one wants in a luxury car. Sure, it’s not the most exciting thing out there, but with basic care it will likely outlive you, your grandchildren and society as we know it. On the other hand, it’s hard to specifically recommend the 500h F SPORT Performance over other models within the RX line. The “performance” just isn’t there, and there’s not much here to justify spending a near-$10k premium over a nicely equipped—and hybrid—RX 350h Premium AWD.

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