The Lexus RX model has always been a favorite of mine. When the 2023 Lexus RX500h F Sport showed up, I was extremely excited to see what was new. The modern Lexus grilles have been as big of an internet battle as the BMW kidney grilles have, and this new RX 500 is no exception. I didn’t like it from the press pictures but like it a bit more in person. That’s when I realized that the issue is that little transition design they have from the colored part, to the grille itself. If you removed that, I think I could live with the new front end design. The Copper Crest color looked unbelievable with hues of pink and bronze that ultimately gives you its copper look. The matte black 21” wheel was perfect for the F Sport but I did hit a few bumps that would’ve been nicer to have a larger tire sidewall.

Getting inside of the RX500h F Sport, the trim level was pretty obvious. The interior was equipped with sporty front seat that definitely had you regretting going for seconds during holiday meals. The seats were thankfully equipped with both heated and vented options. The impressive thing was the rear seats also had both heated and vented seats to make sure your rear passengers shared your front seat luxuries. The biggest improvement in the new generation is the infotainment system. Lexus has integrated Apple CarPlay with the new RX and it looks great in the massive screen.

Under the hood, the flagship V6 was replaced with a 2.4L inline 4-cylinder turbo with a hybrid system. Although it’s a smaller engine, it is delivering more power at 366 horsepower and 406 lb.-ft. of torque. It did feel like a naturally aspirated V6 delivering a smooth but plentiful amount of power. To help with the power distribution, the DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system made the RX have grip at all times and seamlessly.

Overall, the new Lexus RX model is a big upgrade from the previous generation. If this was the big improvement the RX had, we can’t wait to see what Lexus does with the GX model.