Lexus RX L (2018 – 2022) Review

Lexus realised it was losing sales to rivals with a seven-set cabin, so this was its solution. The stretched Lexus RX L has a third row of seats, although they are not the easiest to get into, which means rivals such as the Audi Q7 and stylish Volvo XC90 eclipse it in the practicality stakes. Read on for our full Lexus RX L review.

As the name suggests, the Lexus RX L is a stretched version of the Lexus RX and also the first seven-seater that the brand sold in Europe, to rival the likes of the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90 and Land Rover Discovery.

It’s hybrid only, in the shape of the Lexus RX L 450h – there’s was no 200t, as with the standard Lexus RX – and as hybrids go, this is one of the best.

It's powerful, smooth and pulls strongly, plus can deliver around 33mpg in the real world, which is not bad for a used car this size with more than 300PS.

But is it any more than a slightly stretched Lexus RX to make it a family SUV?

Well, it’s 10cm longer overall, plus Lexus also made the angle of the tailgate window slightly steeper to improve rear headroom.

The problem, however, is actually getting to those seats. The sloping design of the rear doors makes it tricky, and once in, there’s precious little space, particularly for feet. Older teenagers are unlikely to find it comfortable.

What the Lexus RX L does give you is a bigger boot. Fold those extra seats down (which happens electrically at the touch of a button) and there’s a cavernous capacity of 495 litres – around 50 litres more than the Lexus RX. It’s a usefully large – and deep – space.

Where the Lexus RX L excels is with its ride, which is supremely comfortable. While it is hardly the most dynamic of vehicles to drive, its smooth nature makes up for it.

There are a few gripes inside, like the odd infotainment system with its touchpad controller, which we don’t think works very well. Generally, though, the interior is finished to a very high standard.

Overall, the Lexus RX L feels like a compromise. The rear end can’t disguise the fact this is a car that was designed as a five-seater that has been repurposed into something else.

If the extra seats are for very occasional use, you'll find the Lexus RX L does a good job as a comfortable and spacious family SUV. But if they’re going to be used often, you may be better off looking elsewhere.

Fancy a new Lexus RX? Read our Lexus RX review here.

The Lexus RX L is not a car that wants to be thrown into corners. Take it through a bend at speed, and the tyres will soon squeal in protest.

It’s not terrible, it’s just much more suited to a relaxed style of driving.

The electric steering set-up is devoid of much feel and tends to self-centre a bit too eagerly for our liking, but it’s responsive nonetheless and is nice and light at low speeds, to make parking easy.

While the Lexus RX L may not be especially dynamic, it does ride exceptionally well.

It’s very comfortable, especially on Premier models which get AVS adaptive variable suspension. This adjusts the dampers and shock absorbers depending on the road surface and the kind of driving, so it softens up on the motorway, but will firm up in corners.

It’s also very quiet, helped by lots of sound insulation, acoustic glass and foam inside the rear pillars to reduce wind noise.

The 450h system in the Lexus RX L is identical to the one in a standard Lexus RX.

That means it comprises a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine alongside an electric motor. Combined, these provide 308PS along with 335Nm of torque, which gives the Lexus RX L strong performance when needed.

It’s a car that’s much happier when not rushed, but if you do want meaningful performance, the Lexus RX L will deliver with undeniable pulling power.

If you’ve never driven a hybrid like this before, it can be a little unnerving. The CVT gearbox means continual acceleration without any shifts, but it’s the constant engine noise which is somewhat disconcerting.

That said, the V6 engine does sound good and you can happily make swift progress in the Lexus RX L if need be.

There’s no shortage of safety kit as standard in the Lexus RX L.

All come with Lexus’ Safety System+, which brings automatic emergency braking and lane keep assistance. There’s also traffic sign recognition and a speed limiter.

Plus, you get blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert in the top-spec trim. All but the base SE, meanwhile, has Intelligent Parking Assist.

On a more fundamental level, the Lexus RX L has 10 airbags as standard, along with ESP traction and stability control, and ABS anti-lock brakes.

However, there are no Isofix child seat mounts for the third row seats – only for the middle row.

No figures are quoted for the Lexus RX L for towing, which seems a little odd when the standard Lexus RX 450h can tow an unbraked trailer of up to 750kg and a braked trailer up to 2000kg.

Lexus said it used “ingenious design and packaging” to ensure the two third-row seats are comfortable to use and easy to access.

Sadly, though, this is not the case, and it feels like a compromise. While the back end was redesigned, the Lexus RX L is not a car that was intended to be a seven-seater from the outset, and it shows.

The design of the rear doors means it’s tricky to get to the extra seats, despite the fact the middle row of seats slides and flips forward. Plus, once in the back, you’ll find precious little room for your feet, and limited headroom too.

There are no Isofix points back there, either, so you’re limited to what child car seats you can get in the back.

On the positive side, the two rearmost seats have their own air-conditioning controls, but there’s also a hard plastic section between the two seats with a cupholder, which is not very comfortable when you’re sat back there.

There’s better news in terms of boot space. With the rear seats dropped down, there’s plenty of luggage capacity (495 litres) and the boot is deep, so you can fit a pushchair in, and still have plenty of space left in front of it.

The seats fold down (and back up) electrically and a power tailgate is standard.

The middle row of seats has plenty of room and these also recline, so you can have a kip back here on a long journey. The seats themselves offer good support too.

In the front, the Lexus RX L is identical to the Lexus RX, so there are no complaints about space, comfort or storage.

Interior quality is excellent. While the button-heavy design may look a bit dated now, the Lexus RX L has a superbly made interior that is finished to a very high standard.

The infotainment system in the Lexus RX L uses the strange mouse-style controller as the Lexus RX, complete with haptic feedback.

The system itself isn’t that bad, with a clear layout, but navigating around using the mouse isn’t that easy, especially when you’re on the move.

You’ll need a budget of £27,000 to own a six-year-old Lexus RX L with around 65,000 miles under its wheels. This gets you a Premium trim model.

For something with lower mileage and newer, a three-year-old Lexus RX L with less than 10,000 on the clock is going to require a spend of around £40,000.

This car will come from a Lexus dealer with all the benefits of an approved used warranty, though.

The Lexus RX L comes with a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine as part of a hybrid system. It promises an official combined economy of 47.1mpg.

However, our Real MPG data shows the true figures will be around 34mpg in normal driving.

Given that a lot of the Lexus’ rivals with diesel engines or plug-in hybrid systems offer notably better economy, this is not a strong selling point.

The Lexus RX L does regain some appeal with its 138g/km carbon dioxide emissions, which are low for a car of this size.

However, even with the £10 discount for being a hybrid, you still pay a flat rate of £170 for road tax. Newer Lexus RX Ls will also be subject to the £390 surcharge applied to cars that cost more than £40,000 when new and stays in place until the vehicle passes its fifth birthday.

Insuring a Lexus RX L will be on a par with its main rivals, as its sits in groups 40 to 43 (out of 50).

Keeping the Lexus RX L in good condition should be a little cheaper than is the case for many of its competitors, thanks to the firm’s excellent reliability record.

Also, routine maintenance should be much the same as for its main challengers. whether you choose to use a Lexus dealer or a trusted independent garage.

The Lexus RX L SE is the starting point to the range and has 18-inch, seven-spoke alloy wheels, Lexus Safety System+ and Lexus Navigation with full European mapping.

There is also a reversing camera, leather upholstery, driver and front passenger eight-way power adjustable seats, heated and ventilated front seats, power steering wheel adjustment, power-folding third row seats,and triple-zone climate control.

Add to that Drive Mode Select with four modes, power tailgate, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto-folding heated door mirrors with reverse tilt function, LED headlights with Automatic High Beam, illuminated exterior door handles, smart entry and start, and integrated roof rails.

The Lexus RX L Luxury adds 20-inch machined-face alloy wheels, Lexus Premium Navigation with 12.3-inch display and 12-speaker audio with single DVD player, power tailgate with smart open/close function and triple-zone climate control.

It also comes with wireless smartphone charger, Intelligent Parking Assist, rain-sensing wipers, auto-folding and dimming door mirrors with reverse tilt function, triple-eye LED headlights with Automatic High Beam and LED sequential turn indicators.

Lexus RX L Premier trim gets 20-inch alloy wheels with optional colour inserts, a colour head-up display, illuminated scuff plates, Adaptive Variable Suspension and semi-aniline leather upholstery with 10-way power driver and front passenger seat adjustment.

It also brings heated second row seats, memory function for front seats, steering wheel and door mirrors, Drive Mode Select with five modes, Lexus Premium Navigation with 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor, blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert.

On top of this, there’s a power adjustable steering wheel with wood/leather inserts and integrated heater, rear door sun shades, card key, triple-eye LED headlights with Adaptive High-beam System, plus a sunroof.

The Lexus RX L Takumi arrived in late 2019 with the option of two individual captain’s seats in place of the three-seat bench in the second row.

Both of these seats have a power-folding function to create an extended, flat load space.