Eric's Autoe: 2024 Lexus RX

Lexus has done a thorough job making the new four feel (and even sound) like the V6 you used to get in the RX. It pulls with the authority of more than just four cylinders, which in a way is exactly what you've got here in that the turbo stuffs as much (or more) air into those four cylinders as six would be able to inhale by themselves. And the power -- the torque -- is at hand sooner, which is the chief boon to this layout, as opposed to the nominal increase in posted gas mileage numbers.

Regardless, it's what hasn't changed that's most important -- to people who love the RX. This Lexus is as soft as ever, if not more so. Even the 500h, which comes standard with the F Sport upgrades that include a set of very tall (21-inch) wheels -- which you'd think would impart a stiff and unforgiving (as of potholes) ride.

They don't. Because they're not shod with rubber band-thin "sport" tires, as is usually the case with tires this tall.

What you do get is sharpened-up steering response, an attribute almost everyone likes when it doesn't come at the cost of a harsh, unforgiving ride. Even the sport buckets that are part of the F Sport package are more supportive than cinching.

At the Curb

When the RX made its debut some 26 years ago, it looked like nothing else. Now everything else looks like the RX.

That is flattering to Lexus, but it also means the latest RX doesn't stand apart from the crowd as the original RX did. It is a victim, in a way, of its own brilliance. Were Lexus to significantly alter the shape of the RX, then the RX would no longer offer the packaging attributes that have made crossovers as popular as they have become.

So the RX's visual distinctiveness is mostly viewed head-on, as is true of other crossovers. And that may explain why the current RX has a much more visually aggressive face than the original RX. It's hard to miss the big Lexus "L" badge in the center of the huge, trapezoidal grille that has become the trademark "Lexus" grille.

Inside, there's a new, all-flatscreen instrument cluster, along with the now-ubiquitous LCD screen for the secondary systems. It's interesting to note that the original '98 RX300 was one of the very first new vehicles to come with an LCD display, and now -- of course -- everyone has one of those, too. Premium trims get a larger (14-inch) screen that's easily twice the size of the '98's screen.

The Rest

Though Lexus has thoroughly updated the RX's tech, the RX still has some old-school tech to go along with it, including a 12V power point just ahead of the gear selector and alongside the modern USB/power points (both types). This is a small but big thing if you have an accessory that uses a 12V pigtail plug -- which you wouldn't otherwise be able to use.

The Bottom Line

The V6 is gone, but everything else that has made the RX the leader in its class for more than a quarter century remains.

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Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.