Lexus RX450h
Looking for a family-friendly vehicle that's kind to the
environment? Our car enthusiasts, Royce and Angela Pedersen, check
out the Lexus RX450h.
What he says
How often have you wished you could suggest changes to a vehicle
designer and have them immediately implemented? When I last
reviewed the Lexus RX450h, I was impressed with what Lexus had done
in combining luxury with technology to provide a great all-rounder,
but I also had a list of improvements. Well, it's as if they read
my mind - the new Lexus RX450h is head and shoulders above its
predecessors and competitors. Originally, handling was my main
complaint, but to my surprise this model handled far better,
considering it weighs a whopping 2,500kg! Performance has also been
improved to 220Kw (more than enough to take the kids to school and
back!) and this power is delivered smoothly via an electronically
controlled continuously variable transmission, where the engine
changes gear so smoothly you don't know it's happening.
All up, it boasts a far more user-friendly
driving experience. Lexus seems to have made a real effort to act
on their vision - as their managing director explains, "Only
by anticipating the needs of our customers will we truly be able to
help them make the most of every moment."
The interior is stylish as ever, with
every imaginable control and bit of information at your
fingertips. Attention to detail and quality is evident throughout,
giving you a sense that you are driving something really unique.
Some minor features that stood out were kick panels that light up
when the door is opened, heated seats, auto brightness on dash
lighting, and when reversing, the wing mirror moves to give a view
of the rear wheel so you don't curb your new mags.
The dashboard boasts a comprehensive
selection of controls which seem to pre-empt your intentions, and
you can control it all with a few clicks of the built-in mouse
device. The battery charge/usage meter has been simplifed and gives
you a clear indication of what is happening with the driveline and
power sources.
My favourite feature is the heads up
display (HUD), which reflects information onto the windscreen to
allow you to keep your eyes on the road! Information such as
satellite navigation directions, vehicle speed, audio settings and
pre-collision safety system (PCS) brake information is placed right
in your direct view, without being distracting or annoying.
My other favourite feature is the cruise
control auto sensor - set your maximum cruising speed and if you
come up behind a car, the Lexus will gently brake and maintain a
safe following distance. How often have you used cruise control on
a long trip and had to keep resetting it due to other cars' erratic
speeds? Well not any more - give a pay rise to the genius who
thought of and implemented this feature!
I do wonder if Lexus is in cohoots with
NASA, with all of the hi-tech computerised systems present in the
RX450h - just have a flick through the user manual and you'll be
bombarded with a plethora of features, each with it's own acronym
which really gets confusing after reading the first 10. Here are a
few: Active torque control (AWD), advanced traction control (TRC),
vehicle stability control (VSC+), all-wheel drive (AWD), electronic
power steering (EPS), adaptive front-lighting system (AFS),
pre-crash safety system (PCS)...
The only thing I that still needs
improvement (and this is just my opinion) is the car's external
look and shape. In spite of all the pros, I still believe this
masterpiece is undeserving of its sadly unattractive shell. It just
seems to lack that aggressive finesse you would expect from such a
car. Looks can be deceiving; however, I believe a car's appearance
affects its popularity more than we all would admit.
What she says
Contrary to my husband, I quite like the look of the Lexus RX450h.
Its fine lines and grilles exude luxury and ranks it right up there
with the best of them.
I'm all about stealth. If I was a boy
racer, I'd have the most ordinary-looking car but the
biggest, meanest engine under the bonnet to suprise my adversaries.
While the hybrid isn't exactly boy racer style, it does hide a very
powerful engine (including the electrical component). I have always
thought of "green" cars as having poor performance, but this car
has good looks, performance, and gadgets for Africa.
The five-seater SUV fits three carseats
comfortably in the back with ample leg room for the kids. (Finally,
they stopped kicking my seat!) The interior is made of quality
material (I love that new-car smell!), and appeared to be easy to
clean should sticky little fingers get ice cream/peanut
butter/chocolate all over it. The kids loved it, especially the
extra space, which comes in handy on those long trips away. On our
test drive, my hubby and I enjoyed singing songs with the kids,
made all the more fun by the MP3 stereo pumping out sounds from the
12 surround-sound speaker system, which could be set up and
cutomised in just about every way you can imagine.
The thing I love about hybrids is that
when you turn the engine on with the press of a button and drive
off, you're not even sure you've turned the car on, it's that
quiet! It's not until you give it some acceleration that the engine
starts up - and this is still almost unnoticeable.
The RX450h is certainly a vehicle you
would feel safe driving your family around in - Lexus have gone to
such lengths to ensure safety in every aspect that I was quite mind
-boggled just reading through the brochure. Rather than just having
anti skid brakes, they have a system which anticipates a crash and
sounds a warning buzzer (just in case you find yourself dozing off
while driving). Rather than having only traction control, they have
a fully computerised ride system which adjusts power distribution
and braking to each wheel. And instead of just headlights, they
have high intensity discharge (HID) headlights with an adaptive
front-lighting system (AFS) that at slower speeds redirects the
powerful low-beam headlights around corners. With 12 air bags and
side intrusion bars, you know safety is well-covered. All of this
in a car which uses less fuel, emits less pollution and is built
like a tank - a very luxurious tank that I would be proud to
own.
Royce and Angela Pedersen are the parents of three
children: Ella (four), Eva (two) and baby Jesse. Angela is
OHbaby!'s Managing Director and Publisher.
As seen in OHbaby!
magazine Issue 8: 2010
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