Lexus RX 2021 Review

In the executive SUV market in Malaysia, the Lexus RX series has always held a prominent position with its blend of luxury and reliability. The 2021 RX 300 Luxury Special Edition, as a high-end variant of the mid-cycle refresh, emphasizes "enhanced features + all-wheel-drive stability," perfectly catering to the needs of families who prioritize comfort and safety. This time, we got our hands on the actual car, and the main goal is to verify whether its static quality lives up to the price and whether its dynamic performance matches its executive-class positioning.

First, let's look at the exterior. The overall design retains Lexus's signature spindle grille. However, the Special Edition features a denser black mesh design inside the grille, paired with sharp LED headlights on both sides, enhancing its recognizability compared to the standard version. The car's side profile is sleek, with clean and sharp waistlines extending from the hood to the rear. The 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels further boost its presence, with a tire specification of 235/55 R20, balancing comfort and grip. At the rear, the slender LED taillights adopt a cross-through design that's not overly pronounced, but the internal light structure is refined, providing adequate recognition when lit. The silver skid plate under the rear bumper and the dual exhaust pipes on both sides prevent the rear end from looking too plain. The lighting system features LED lights across the lineup, with automatic headlights, front fog lights, and daytime running lights listed in the configuration, ensuring convenience for daily use.

Stepping inside, the interior materials and craftsmanship align with Lexus's consistent standards. The dashboard combines soft-touch leather and wood-grain panels, offering a delicate feel. The central control screen measures 12.3 inches and adopts a floating design. Although it is not a touchscreen (operated via the Remote Touch pad on the center armrest), the system is smooth and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument cluster features electronic analog dials with clear information display, and the small central screen can toggle between fuel consumption, driver assistance, and other information. In terms of features, the front seats are electrically adjustable, equipped with memory, heating, and ventilation functions, while the front passenger seat also has heating and electronic recline options. The rear seats have a 40:20:40 split-folding design, with a center armrest and cup holders, as well as air conditioning vents and USB ports. Notably, the car is equipped with a 12-speaker Sound Plus audio system. While the sound quality is average, it is sufficient for most users' needs. The panoramic sunroof, though a single-pane design, provides ample lighting and enhances the openness of the rear seating area. Regarding storage space, the front center armrest box has a large capacity, the door storage bins can accommodate two bottles of water, and the trunk offers a standard capacity of 453L, which can be expanded by folding the rear seats, making it suitable for daily use or short trips.

In terms of space, the vehicle measures 4,890mm in length, 1,895mm in width, and 1,690mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,790mm, making it spacious for a 5-seater SUV. When the front driver's seat is adjusted to an appropriate position, it provides a headroom space of one fist and two fingers. Rear passengers have about two fists of legroom and one fist of headroom, ensuring that even passengers with a height of 180cm won’t feel cramped. The nearly flat middle floor ensures that the comfort of the middle passenger isn't significantly compromised when seating three people in the back. Regarding storage capacity, besides the standard door pockets and armrest box, the front also features two cup holders and a wireless charging pad (not listed in the specs sheet but present in the actual vehicle), showcasing thoughtful attention to detail.

Dynamic driving-wise, this car is equipped with a 2.0T turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 238PS and a peak torque of 350N·m (there might be an error in the specification sheet regarding the torque unit; the actual torque of the 2.0T RX 300 is 350N·m), paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and features an all-wheel-drive system. The throttle response at startup is not particularly sensitive, but the turbo engages early (maximum torque is available at 1650rpm), so it doesn’t feel sluggish during low-speed following or city driving. The acceleration process is smooth, the 6-speed automatic transmission has clear shifting logic, and there is almost no noticeable jerk; when you press the throttle hard, the transmission quickly downshifts, providing linear power output that gives you enough confidence when overtaking. The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 9.5 seconds, which is fairly standard given the 2.07-ton weight.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel has a moderate amount of resistance, minimal dead spots, and the steering precision is relatively good for an SUV. The front MacPherson and rear double-wishbone independent suspension setup leans towards comfort, effectively absorbing most vibrations when crossing speed bumps or bumpy roads, and the car body remains stable. When cornering at high speeds, body roll is within an acceptable range, and there is no noticeable swaying feeling. The all-wheel-drive system provides better traction on slippery roads or light off-road conditions, but as an urban SUV, you shouldn't expect it to handle extreme terrains. In terms of braking, the ventilated disc brakes on both front and rear respond promptly with linear braking force, giving drivers confidence during daily driving.

As for fuel consumption, we conducted actual tests: under congested city conditions, fuel consumption is about 11L/100km, while highway cruising results in consumption of around 7.5L/100km, with a combined fuel consumption of approximately 9L/100km. For a 2.0T AWD model, this performance is reasonable. Regarding noise control, Lexus does an excellent job. At a high-speed of 120km/h, wind noise and tire noise are subdued to low levels, and engine noise only becomes noticeable when the throttle is fully pressed; daily driving is very quiet.

Safety features are one of the highlights of this car, with a standard offering of 10 airbags (including front and rear side airbags, curtain airbags, and knee airbags). It also includes the LSS+ driver assistance system, which features lane departure alert, lane keeping assist, pre-collision braking, and forward collision warning, among others, effectively enhancing driving safety. The 360-degree panoramic camera and front and rear radars make parking easier, allowing even novice drivers to handle it effortlessly.

In summary, the core strengths of the 2021 Lexus RX 300 Luxury Special Edition lie in its balanced product capabilities: luxurious interior craftsmanship, rich configurations, comfortable driving and riding experience, and reliable safety systems. Compared to competitors of the same class like the BMW X5 or Mercedes-Benz GLE, it is more affordable (RM 421,910) yet offers more comprehensive features; compared to Japanese rivals like the Toyota Harrier, it boasts greater brand value and luxury appeal. This car is suitable for families that prioritize comfort and safety, or middle-class buyers seeking quality without spending excessively. If you need an SUV that can balance daily commuting, family outings, and occasional long-distance travel, the RX 300 Luxury Special Edition is a strong choice — it has no obvious shortcomings and everything is just right.