Review: Lexus RX 450h+ PHEV Takumi

Review from Lou @ Toddle About Head Office.

When I was asked to review a family car, I eagerly accepted the opportunity. With a summer camping trip planned with my family, I saw this as the perfect chance to test the car's capabilities, especially with the added load of camping gear and luggage.

The car provided for the review was the Lexus RX 450h+ PHEV Takumi. From the moment it arrived, I was captivated by its exterior design—it was stunning, and I couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel.

As I opened the doors, the interior quality immediately impressed me. The cabin boasted premium materials, including soft-touch leather and suede-like fabric on the seats and door panels, complemented by wooden trims across the front dashboard.

There’s a sizeable compartment under the front armrest for keeping personal items secure, along with two cup holders and another handy compartment beneath the screen, which includes a wireless phone charging pad—a very convenient feature when you need to keep your phone powered on the go.

The centrepiece was a large, user-friendly screen that provided all the modern conveniences you'd expect, including an excellent sat-nav system. This proved invaluable during our journey to the holiday destination. Connecting my phone was straightforward, allowing us to enjoy our own music throughout the trip. The sound system was superb, turning the drive into a fun sing-along session, which made the time on the road fly by.

One tip I’d offer before setting off on your first journey is to familiarise yourself with all the car's settings. Being a high-spec model, the Lexus RX comes loaded with features, which took some time to get used to. But once I mastered them, the car became a joy to drive.

Space was abundant throughout the car, with the driver’s seat and steering wheel both having electrical adjustments, ensuring a comfortable driving position. The legroom, seating space, and headroom throughout the whole of the vehicle was more than adequate, and the panoramic sunroof added to the sense of openness, making the car feel even more airy and spacious.

The car was automatic, a feature I particularly appreciate on long drives. However, I did notice that the brakes were quite sensitive, which took a bit of getting used to. I'm unsure if this is typical for this model or if it was due to the car being nearly brand new, so possibly requiring some time to bed in.

During our holiday, we encountered some narrow, winding roads. Initially, I was concerned about navigating these in a larger vehicle, but the all-around cameras were incredibly helpful. They made manoeuvring through tight spaces and parking in smaller areas much easier, alleviating my worries.

The back seats are equipped with easy-to-use Isofix points on the two outer seats, which were easily accessible as all the doors open up nice and wide. The boot space was more than sufficient for our camping gear, which was a great relief. For everyday family use, the boot easily accommodates a pushchair, bags, or shopping with room to spare. If additional space is needed, the electric folding rear seats make expanding the boot area a breeze.

The Lexus RX we had was a plug-in hybrid, and it delivered a remarkably smooth and comfortable ride. On electric mode alone, we managed to get about 38-40 miles, perfect for short trips around town. Once the electric charge was depleted, switching to the petrol engine was seamless. On average, the petrol consumption was about 35 miles per gallon—not exceptional, but acceptable. Surprisingly, it cost around £70 to fill the tank, which seemed reasonable for a car of this size.

The price for the Lexus RX series start from around £62,000. The Takumi model that I reviewed is one of the top-tier versions, and considering the extensive features and luxury it offers, I feel that the price tag is justified.

The only slight negative I would mention is that the car I reviewed had the cream interior, which looks very nice and high class, although it’s not exactly the most practical when you have little ones, but there are plenty of various colour options for the interior, so you would be able to pick a colour that would be more suited for families.

All in all, this car was an absolutely pleasure to review and is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable vehicles I've ever experienced, and I would highly recommend this to anyone that is looking for a comfortable and spacious family car.

To find out more about Lexus and their cars, please visit lexus.co.uk