Reading through these 5+ yr old comments. Everyone hated the grill, now every manufacturer is making the same style grills. I bet you guys are getting used to it.
I actually don't mind the spindle grille in the F-Sport trim because I generally like mesh grilles, but I wish Lexus would have better integrated the park assist sensors in the grille. The problem I have, in terms of design, is the liftgate. Because the back glass is so raked down, it looks like a self, or a trunk lid instead of a liftgate
I actually like the spindle grill design, with the horizontal slats edging out the f-sport design; i am actually not a fan of the attempt to create a floating roof design however, especially since nissan already has it in their suv design language
The grill is polarizing to say the least. I don't hate it, but it will certainly take some getting used to. I still give Toyota/Lexus credit for designing a vehicle that stands out from the run of the mill HR-V/Traverse. As far as interior goes, I have never been disappointed by a Lexus interior. Looks like a phenomenal place to spend time. It's unfortunate that, after that time, you egress the vehicle to a terrifying fascia but it is what it is.
The climate has to be added into equation of efficiency vs price. I live in Tokyo, where there it is over 30 deg for three months, with almost 40 deg for few days last year. Using AC without idling is sometimes worth the extra price when considering comfort. Leaving a car with AC on while shopping or fuelling on the motorway is worth it as well.
Excellent presentation Alex. Lot of good and useful info presented with a good flow and great video quality. Thank you. With regard to the grille, I'm going to put a blinder over my eyes before getting into the vehicle so that I don't even get a glimpse of it. How could anyone put such a terrible design on an otherwise great product. The interior is great. Redesign the grille Lexus, ... please.
Great video Alex... I want to but the Lexus RX450H sooooo badly, but I just can't get past that grille! I wonder if Lexus knows that they are VERY likely losing customers.
We own an RX 350 and wanted to upgrade to a new 2016 450h, but will not so because the grill is so ugly. However we really like the rest of the new body styling. Soften the grill in 2017 and we may become a customer.
Not a huge fan of the new grill, they seem to be trying too hard to stand out but went too far. Ever since the LF LC concept was shown and received a lot of praise they slapped that look on everything.
in Japan there is a suv based off the rx450h it looks much better and no spindle grill it is a toyota i forgot the name but i wish it was available in the US but it's not
I agree with Kip - I think the front is vying for ugliest car front view in the world (to be fair, along with some recent Audis, Toyotas and others)! I would never let appearance put me off a car if everything else was right, but this grille would certainly make me need a bit of extra convincing!
+PeteB OK, for the record, Alex asked for opinions on the look of the front end - I mostly like the rest of the car, and many aspects I love - especially the comfy seats and smooth air suspension of the ones I've driven. It's just too big for my needs. I did try out the NX Hybrid last year, top model is fantastically equipped (love the 4 camera all round view), hated the grille on the F-Sport, but luckily the Premier (the model I'd have chosen) had a more subtle front end. However, the firm seats and harsh ride were just too uncomfortable for me, especially as the spec I'd have chosen was almost GBP £43,000 (about USD $66,000). If the comfort had matched the RX I'd have had one (shame it doesn't have a modern dash like my Prius though).
+Walter Black All Toyota and Lexus Hybrids have been specified as not suitable for towing since the original Prius in 1997. The story I got was that they were concerned about overheating the traction battery and the power inverters. They may also have been worried about straining the the power split device. The NX and RX 4WDs are ok for towing, I'm guessing because the extra torque from the rear when needed smooths that out. For what my opinion is worth,. I think they've been over cautious and some people have certainly towed with a Prius without problem. But then. early concerns the Hybrid system would give lots of trouble in later life proved completely unfounded. I gather the next Prius will be able to tow, but now sure if that's only the 4WD versions.
Iranians are not Arabs for your info. It is embarrassing if you're showing yourself as uneducated and then criticize peoples physical appearance. Someone may call you bigot.
gonna say never take a photo of this car's front end again from the ground up. this is just the ugliest view you can have. it looks like a cartoon vacuum cleaner. and just all confused. Again. but maybe i just don't listen very well. is this or is it not comparable to the segment it is in like the MKX and MDX? if so, why is it compared to the MKC so often? is it because of the higher price of the Lincoln? i know all these cars are blending in segment wise...but this is really on the larger size.
i'm certain if this were german, most, if not all of you would be frothing at the mouth to grace it with compliments. and as far luxury cars god, bmw i3 is far uglier.
Mazda didn't make a mistake with there grill, it's better than the old smiley face. and your wrong about Lexus and Toyota, the new grill is fine. your missing out on owning a reliable vehicle. i love the new Camry and i own the new one. people love the looks of this car.
This should definitely bring in a younger buyer, who will be attracted to the new bolder styling. The RX will have no problem selling 10k a month. Lexus isn't playing anymore. The Germans are now ultra-conservative, and Lexus is going bold. I like it!
+redav Actually that floating roof and C/D pillar (that they copied from - of all cars - the Nissan Murano, for cryin out loud) are FAR WORSE than the grille!! **rollseyes**
Although I'm not a fan of the spindle grille, I think the overall design is an improvement over the previous gen. I sometimes joke that Toyota & Lexus vehicles don't need "sport modes" or "F sport trims" because out here in Northern California it seems many of their owners drive them a bit too aggressively, even the Yaris and Prius variants, which hurl themselves way above the speed limit especially on Highway 101. It's as if they got tired of hypermiling on the hills and just let themselves loose at 80 mph or so. And a bit of badge snobbery too. They'll sell like hot-cakes since Lexus still #1 in reliability per Consumer Reports.
Wouldn't buy the F-Sport with that look - not too hot on the non-F Sport either. It looks like they've attempted to take a cue from aggressively designed US cars - such as the ugly tank look of Cadillac's SUV. Makes you wonder if the headlights are meant to double as machine guns.
The quality of Lexus means you will have the car for possibly ten years or more. That grill will be way out of style very soon way before the car wears out. That front end is stupid looking and I can't imagine looking at it for ten years.
This change to the grill seems as alienating as Acura TL's change to the beak `08 -> `09. I suspect it will drop sales despite better room, safety etc. How many realtors want to drive clients in that monstrosity? Remember, this will have to go against the next generation Q5, and very soon, the next gen XC60. Garish draws a smaller number of buyers than tasteful in this segment.
I was planning on buying a 2016 lexus 350 but after seeing the horrendous looking front end, I've decided to keep my 2013. The last thing this car needed was to be bigger than previous ones. My personal opinion is that Lexus really screwed up with this design. I simply hate it, sadly...love the Lexus but need a new designer. :)
+777PharmD777 Older RXs are loved by most and hated by few. Polarization isn't necessary to design a popular car. I expect this car will be liked by few and hated by many. I don't think they did a good job with applying their design language to it.
+redav I disagree as well. I never cared for the RX before, but now I really want it. It's something about it daring to do what others are afraid to do. It's sharp edges and bold in your face grill.
I've owned 4 Lexus vehicles in the last 12 years, now have a 2011 RX450h which I love. Currently researching BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, maybe even Jeep to replace with a new high end SUV... Sorry Lexus, I will never buy another Lexus with that ugly grill design. Biggest mistake in your design history...
@Gabriel G i drove it and it's awesome...what r u talking about man and hey btw i drive bmw 5 series right now so yeah i know about luxury cars and comfort
as an artist it isnt the grill that is the problem its the angular shape of the headlights and he side lights..also that smile on the bottom doesnt work -- instead of v lines the design needs 0 ROUND lines
The review was very insightful also I love the fact you didn’t have only one camera and it facing your face. You had multiple camera and out of the others were facing you
The new RX is hideous, and I predict its sales will suffer because of it. I'm not opposed to the spindle grille. It works on some cars, like the RC & NX. I kind of like the NX, but the overall lines and proportions of the RX don't work.
in the start u compare Rx lenght with Bmw x5, and later u say Rx has 33% more Cargo than Bmw x3, i mean hallo u cant campare RX with x3 Q7, Cayenne, x5, Range Rover, MB GLS these are the target, not q5, x3, macan or GLC
Great video Alex, as always!! In reference to your bumper question, I don't see any protection for those plastic squiggly lines since they extend all the way down the front end of the vehicle. I see high repair cost as a result of all that exposed plastic squiggly lines, right along with the parking sensors!!
I'm having a hard time understanding the purpose of the 450h. It's basically $10,000 more expensive than the 350. It has the same 0-60 time, and only a small difference in horsepower. It gets 3-4 mpg better fuel economy. Just how many miles are you going to have to drive before that tiny improvement in fuel economy pays for the $10,000 up charge?
Are you not allowed to say how vomit-inducing ugly that front end is? Are you obliged to say no more than "personally I'm not...." etc? Be honest - it is vile.
+markguox I had so little time with the RX hybrid to shoot the video that I had to just use the first parking lot big enough and that's what I ended up with...
About the grill... that big grill will get a lot of bugs in the radiator fins if you live in Florida. Other than that, it does make the Lexus look more aggressive.
The front grille looks like a transformer , it's ugly they're trying too hard and get rid of the plastic stuff around the fenders because it's going to fade and look ashy
I also love the new grille designs of Lexus and Toyotas. So tired of traditional looking vehicles in the 21st century. Lexus' now stand out in an otherwise sea of bland vehicle designs.
