Lexus RX History
The SUV that defined the luxury crossover segment — Lexus's perennial best-seller since 1999, now in its fifth generation.
Photo: “File:LEXUS RX (XU30) China (3).jpg” by Dinkun Chen / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
The RX 300 launched for the 1999 model year as one of the first car-based luxury crossovers, built on the Toyota Camry platform and aimed at buyers who wanted the raised ride height and AWD of an SUV without the truck-like ride of the LX. It was an immediate sales success and essentially created the premium crossover segment as it exists today.
Five generations have followed, each growing in size and luxury content. The RX 400h (2004) was the first luxury hybrid SUV; the fourth-generation RX (2016–2022) added an RXL three-row variant for 2018. The fifth-generation RX (2023–present) replaced the long-running V6 with a turbocharged four-cylinder and expanded plug-in hybrid options.
The RX has been Lexus's top-selling model in the US for most of its existence, and its success gave Toyota the confidence to build out the brand's full crossover-heavy lineup.
Generations
First generation (XU10) · XU10 — RX 300
The original car-based luxury crossover; Camry-derived; created a new segment.
Second generation (XU30) · XU30 — RX 330/400h
Photo: “File:LEXUS RX (XU30) China (3).jpg” by Dinkun Chen / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Larger body; RX 330 V6, then RX 350; RX 400h (2004) was the world's first luxury hybrid SUV.
Third generation (AL10) · AL10 — RX 350/450h
More upmarket interior and safety tech; RX 450h hybrid continued; strong US sales.
Fourth generation (AL20) · AL20 — RX 350/450h/350L/450hL
Photo: “File:LEXUS RX 300 (AL20) China.jpg” by Dinkun Chen / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Bold spindle grille redesign; three-row RXL variant added for 2018.
Fifth generation (AL30) · AL30 — RX 350/350h/500h/450h+
Photo: “File:2023 Denver Auto Show Lexus RX front quarter.jpg” by Corqe / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Turbo four-cylinder replaces V6; plug-in hybrid RX 450h+ and performance RX 500h added; no more RXL.
Body styles
- 4-door SUV
Notable special editions & performance variants
RX 400h
The world's first luxury hybrid SUV — a full parallel hybrid with AWD, launched for 2004.
RX 350L / RX 450hL
Three-row long-wheelbase RX variants added for the 2018 model year; discontinued with the fourth generation.
Related models
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