SUV Reviews

The midsize SUV segment is a busy place. There are dozens of options to choose from, but we've assembled three of the most important players.Those models are the all-new Toyota RAV4 GLX, which is up against the Hyundai Tucson Active X and Kia Sportage SX Plus. All are petrol-powered, front-wheel drive, and automatic.Which is the best of the bunch? Read on to find out!

The Lexus RX 2020 model range has a few difference seven-seat models you can choose, with two powertrains and two trim levels apiece.That may sound confusing, but here’s a rundown.The entry point to the RX seven-seater range is the RX 350L Luxury, which is priced at $85,000 before on-road costs The RX 350L Sports Luxury adds a lot of extra gear and pushes the price up to $101,600.The RX 350L models are powered by a 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine producing 216kW (at 6300rpm) and 358Nm (at 1650-4000rpm). They run an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, and fuel consumption is rated at 10.2L/100km.Then there are the two RX 450hL models - the Luxury ($94,470) and the Sports Luxury ($111,070). These versions have a 3.5-litre V6 engine backed by a 50kW electric motor on the rear axle and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The combined power output of the hybrid model is 230kW, but Lexus doesn’t specify a combined torque figure. It is AWD and uses a CVT with six-step ratios. Its fuel use is the big selling point - it uses a claimed 6.0L/100km. You might be wondering about what you get in the two trim grades - and here’s an rundown. Luxury versions have 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights (with auto on/off function and auto high-beam), front cornering lamps, rains sensing wipers, and a power tailgate with kick-to-open function. Inside, Luxury models have the new 12.3-inch touch screen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a GPS navigation system (sat nav), DAB digital radio (as well as CD player and AM/FM radio), Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, a 12-speaker sound system, six USB ports (four front, two rear), wireless phone charging, smart key entry and push-button start, power adjustable steering column, climate control air-con and rear privacy glass (tinted windows).Stepping up to the Sports Luxury adds adaptive “blade scan” LED headlights and 20-inch wheels, as well as adaptive variable suspension, plus leather interior trim, heating and cooling for the front seats. The rear seats have retractable sunshades.Top-spec Sports Luxury versions include a Mark Levinson sound system with 15 speakers and a 360-degree camera display, but also add power-adjustable rear seats, second-row seat heating and semi-aniline leather upholstery.

The Lexus RX 450h 2020 model is the flagship powertrain offering in the Japanese luxury brand’s large SUV line-up. You can get it as a five-seater or a seven-seater.The RX 450h name relates to the powertrain this model uses. It’s a 3.5-litre V6 engine backed by a 50kW electric motor on the rear axle and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The combined power output of the hybrid model is 230kW, but Lexus doesn’t specify a combined torque figure. It is AWD and uses a CVT with six-step ratios.Being a hybrid, fuel use is the big selling point - and in five-seat guise it uses a claimed 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres, while the seven-seater RX 450hL uses 6.0L/100km. As with the other models in the range, the RX 450h powertrain can be had in Luxury guise (list price $91,090 for the five-seater, $94,470 for the RX 450hL seven-seater), or as an F Sport five-seater ($103,440) or in Sports Luxury trim ($109,340, or $111,070 with three rows of seats).The RX 450h Luxury grade has 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights (with auto on/off function and auto high-beam), front cornering lamps, rains sensing wipers, and a power tailgate with kick-to-open function. Inside, Luxury models have the new 12.3-inch touch screen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a GPS navigation system (sat nav), DAB digital radio (as well as CD player and AM/FM radio), Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, a 12-speaker sound system, six USB ports (four front, two rear), wireless phone charging, smart key entry and push-button start, power adjustable steering column, climate control air-con and rear privacy glass (tinted windows). It runs a fake leather trim standard.Stepping up to F Sport or Sports Luxury sees adaptive “blade scan” LED headlights and 20-inch wheels. These models gain adaptive variable suspension, plus leather interior trim (with sports seats in the F Sport) with heating and cooling for the front seats. The rear seats have retractable sunshades.The F Sport features additional bracing front and rear for “an even more dynamic character”, with sports suspension, a Mark Levinson sound system with 15 speakers, and a 360-degree camera display.Top-spec Sports Luxury versions include the audio-visual upgrades, but also add power-adjustable rear seats, second-row seat heating and semi-aniline leather upholstery.

The Lexus RX 350 2020 model is the mid-point in the large luxury SUV range, and it comes in a few different derivatives - including a five-seat model and a seven-seat version (RX 350L).The RX 350 name relates to the powertrain it uses - a 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine producing 221kW (at 6300rpm) and 370Nm (at 1650-4000rpm) in five-seat guise. The seven-seater has slightly less power due to packaging constraints on the exhaust system - it has 216kW and 358Nm. The RX 350 and RX 350L models have an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, and fuel consumption is rated at 9.6 litres per 100 kilometres for the five-seater and 10.2L/100km for the seven-seater.As with the other models in the range, the RX 350 powertrain can be had in Luxury guise (list price $81,890 for the five-seater, $85,000 for the RX 350L seven-seater), or as an F Sport five-seater ($93,970) or in Sports Luxury trim ($99,870, or $101,600 with three rows of seats).The RX 350 Luxury grade has 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights (with auto on/off function and auto high-beam), front cornering lamps, rains sensing wipers, and a power tailgate with kick-to-open function. Inside, Luxury models have the new 12.3-inch touch screen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a GPS navigation system (sat nav), DAB digital radio (as well as CD player and AM/FM radio), Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, a 12-speaker sound system, six USB ports (four front, two rear), wireless phone charging, smart key entry and push-button start, power adjustable steering column, climate control air-con and rear privacy glass (tinted windows). It runs a fake leather trim standard.Stepping up to F Sport or Sports Luxury sees adaptive “blade scan” LED headlights and 20-inch wheels. These models gain adaptive variable suspension, plus leather interior trim (with sports seats in the F Sport) with heating and cooling for the front seats. The rear seats have retractable sunshades.The F Sport features additional bracing front and rear for “an even more dynamic character”, with sports suspension, a Mark Levinson sound system with 15 speakers, and a 360-degree camera display.Top-spec Sports Luxury versions include the audio-visual upgrades, but also add power-adjustable rear seats, second-row seat heating and semi-aniline leather upholstery.

The Lexus RX 2020 range consists of three powertrains and 13 variants, with four of those being seven-seaters. It's a big line-up that's big on value. And although there have been some changes made to the model, it's hardly a big update.

The Lexus RX 300 2020 model is the entry-point to the large luxury SUV line-up. The RX 300 delineates the engine offered in this model, which is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 175kW of power (at 4800rpm) and 350Nm of torque (at 1650-4000rpm). It is front wheel drive only, and comes with a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is rated at 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle. The RX 300 is available in three trim levels: the entry-level Luxury, mid-grade F Sport and top-spec Sports Luxury. Unlike the other powertrains which have a seven-seat option, the RX 300 is only sold as a five-seater.The RX 300 Luxury grade is priced at $71,920 plus on-road costs. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights (with auto on/off function and auto high-beam), front cornering lamps, rains sensing wipers, and a power tailgate with kick-to-open function. Inside, Luxury models have the new 12.3-inch touch screen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a GPS navigation system (sat nav), DAB digital radio (as well as CD player and AM/FM radio), Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, a 12-speaker sound system, six USB ports (four front, two rear), wireless phone charging, smart key entry and push-button start, power adjustable steering column, climate control air-con and rear privacy glass (tinted windows). It runs a fake leather trim standard.The step up to F Sport ($86,800) and Sports Luxury ($92,700) grades sees adaptive “blade scan” LED headlights and 20-inch wheels. These models gain adaptive variable suspension, plus leather interior trim (with sports seats in the F Sport) with heating and cooling for the front seats. The rear seats have retractable sunshades.The F Sport features additional bracing front and rear for “an even more dynamic character”, with sports suspension, a Mark Levinson sound system with 15 speakers, and a 360-degree camera display.Top-spec Sports Luxury versions include the audio-visual upgrades, but also add power-adjustable rear seats, second-row seat heating and semi-aniline leather upholstery.

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