The Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance: An enthusiast’s luxury hybrid SUV

1997 was the year I was born. That year marked the start of the Asian Financial Crisis, the tragic death of Princess Diana in a car accident, and the handover of Hong Kong to China from the United Kingdom.

In the automotive industry, 1997 also marked the birth of the Lexus RX, initially introduced in the brand’s home market of Japan as the Toyota Harrier, then to the global market not long after. Now with five different generations throughout its nearly 29-year history, it remains a staple of the Lexus lineup.

Last year, we got our hands on the RX 350h Executive, the entry-level variant. We described it as the ultimate luxury crossover, and being the fan that I am of the Japanese luxury automaker, I approached our friends over at Lexus Philippines once again, this time to ask for the opportunity to test out the luxury crossover’s top-spec RX 500h F Sport Performance trim.

It was immediately game time once we picked up the RX 500h F Sport Performance tester, in its stunning White Nova Glass Flake paint job, at the new Lexus Manila Gallery. We immediately drove it to an event, going through heavy traffic conditions inside the city.

That’s where its hybrid powertrain comes in. This is powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged (T24A-FTS) engine that’s shared with the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 250, but with the addition of front and rear electric motors and a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery. The engine produces 272 horsepower and 463Nm of torque on its own, while total system output is 371 horsepower.

Now, with those numbers and a larger displacement turbocharged engine compared to most hybrids we’re used to, don’t expect stellar fuel economy figures. Driving in heavy city traffic, we were able to achieve around just 7km/l. Cruising on the highway returned around 12km/l which is decent. The savings are still present, that’s for sure, but where this truly shines is in the way it drives.

You’ll be surprised with how light the RX 500h feels, concealing its F Sport Performance designation. It’s easy to maneuver, and runs on pure electric power when driving at lower speeds. Basically, it feels like any other normal hybrid crossover, and that’s not a bad thing.

That F Sport Performance designation will really show once you get on the highway. It’s no 3.5-liter V6, but be sure to watch your speedometer as you will be getting all that 371 horsepower coming in. Shifts are very smooth and quick from the Direct Shift Automatic Transmission, which is similar to the DAT that you’ll find on the high performance Toyota GR Yaris and GR Corolla.

That transmission also works well in distributing torque across all four wheels, making the RX 500h one hell of a crossover when driving through twisty mountain passes, not that you should as it is still a family compact crossover.

And despite being capable of high performance driving, ride quality and NVH insulation will still remain a priority for RX 500h buyers. It’s not as quiet as I was expecting, mainly due to the fact that the media tester is already a couple of years old and had over 20,000km on the odometer, and the fact that we had Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires which aren’t exactly known to be quiet.

The Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance also looks the way it drives, definitely one of its strongest suits. While it wears one of the earliest implementations of the brand’s current design language, it certainly has aged gracefully despite being due for an update.

In front is the signature Lexus spindle grille, flanked by tri-projector LED headlights with distinct L-shaped daytime running lights. The side profile is also uniquely RX, having its signature rear quarter window design that is always very recognizable.

As this is the F Sport Performance, it wears F Sport bumpers that give off a sportier appearance, along with larger 21-inch alloy wheels with a blacked-out finish. This is matched with other blacked-out exterior touches such as on the side mirror caps and roof rails.

Going back to the interior, more unique F Sport touches can be found. Most obvious is the Dark Rose color scheme for the seats which get the F Sport logo stamped on them, and Aluminum trim on the dashboard and center console.

The dashboard is driver-centric, with the center stack angled more towards the driver. Found here is a larger 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and paired to an oh-so-good 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

The front seats are very supportive, offering plenty of support and a good amount of side bolstering that hugs your body really well. Meanwhile, the rear seat bottoms are slightly angled to provide extra thigh support, while the seatbacks can be reclined to your desired angle for maximum comfort.

Behind its two rows, the RX 500h shows its practicality, coming with an expansive cargo area that should be able to fit everything you’ll need to carry in it. A false floor hides some tools, along with a temporary alloy spare wheel.

The Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance may have the soccer mom crossover stereotype in North America, or may mostly cater to an older demographic here in the Philippines, which are both clearly not me, but you can shed all that as it gives us something that can be enjoyed by everyone.

It’s as luxurious as a Lexus should be, matched with great comfort, and offers not only a fun and exhilarating driving experience, but also an extremely smooth and efficient one. Now, time to find Php 6,598,000 to be able to buy one for myself.

_{Photos by Julian Panlilio and Sam Surla}