I USED to scoff at the premium SUV sector. Most so-called ‘petrolheads’ still do, but as I get older big four-by-fours become ever more appealing. I never understood why someone with a few quid would pass up fast estates - which have just as much storage space and are undeniably better to drive - and opt for a BMW X5, a Porsche Cayenne or an Audi Q7.
Things change when you become a parent as they become your immediate priority and you would do anything to protect them from the horrendous driving standards shown on the UK’s roads on every journey you take. That’s where SUVs come into the equation as they’re safe, sturdy and wrap up your bundle of joy in an impregnable cocoon of metal.
Sure, they’re not going to set your world alight with their intricate steering or razor-sharp handling, but I now see there is a place for them and this car, the Lexus RX450h, is a clever interpretation of the tried-and-tested formula. It’s different and I like that.
Its traditional rivals may seem to be bigger sales hits than the interesting Japanese car but in elongated, £62,000 ‘L’ guise, Lexus may well have cracked the code in order to lure loyal customers away from its German competition.
Outside, there’s no doubting it’s a striking looking thing with the ultra-modern front end, but it loses marks elsewhere because it looks too bland from behind and the seven-seat L’s extended wheelbase makes it look rather gawky from the side. Inside it’s huge, comfortable and although the switchgear is perhaps looking a little aged and some of the plastics are far too cheap, the design is still good. You can tell the platform is a few years old now and they’ve cheekily used a few parts from cheaper models, but the gigantic tablet-style screen works well and the ‘mouse’ - controlled by your fingertip - is easy to use.
Press the starter button and you’d be forgiven for prodding it again as your ears are met with silence. By default it’s in its hybrid mode which is where the RX’s unique selling point comes to the fore. There’s a petrol-powered 3.5-litre V6, which produces 295bhp, and the battery pack which adds another 18bhp. A green ‘EV’ emblem appears on the dash when you’re using electric power, but the hyper-sensitive throttle soon awakens the engine meaning it’s difficult to drive far in EV mode alone. The amalgamation of the two power forms is seamless, though - the RX shifts between them with ease and you’ll be hard pushed to tell when the changeover occurs.
While plug-in hybrids might be becoming more prominent, the RX uses technology Lexus has perfected over the last decade and it’s better than ever. I’ve criticised regenerative braking systems - which recharge when you’re slowing down - but the RX’s pedal has none of the grainy feel you used to get.
To drive it’s a bit of a cruise-liner and feels all at sea when you show it corners, but you can’t really expect it to feel taut given its considerable bulk. There’s masses of body roll and the steering feel is virtually non-existent and in truth it’s an unpleasant experience if you take a turn quicker than it wants to.
What it is is surprisingly brisk: a two-tonne car has next to no right to boast a 7.7-second 0-60mph time, but it’s the V6’s torque and decent burst of hybrid power which combine well to not only give respectable performance but admissible fuel economy, too. During a week, the leviathan averaged 33mpg.
It’s not perfect, then, but it’s a genuine alternative to familiar SUVs and is definitely one to try if you’re on the lookout for a car in this ultra-competitive sector.
