Roughly 11 months after making its global debut, Lexus Malaysia has debuted the all-new 2023 Lexus RX here.

For the Malaysian market, only one variant of the Lexus RX will be offered – the RX 350. This sole variant is priced from RM 468,888 (on-the-road, without insurance) and the model is imported (CBU) from Japan.

Power for the 2023 Lexus RX comes from a turbocharged 2.4-litre T24A-FTS 4-cylinder petrol engine that does 279 PS and 430 Nm. The engine is mated to an 8-speed Direct Shift-8AT automatic transmission.

The 2023 Lexus RX gets Lexus’ latest design language, which sees the new SUV gaining the company’s signature spindle grille, with a pair of LED headlights on each side. However, unlike the full-sized grille found on the smaller Lexus NX, the one on the RX doesn’t extend all the way up; the grille only extends to the lower half of the front-end.

Despite being an all-new generation model, the all-new RX, codenamed ALA15, is still recognizable as Lexus’ best-selling model as it continues to offer the signature swooping C-pillar design. The wheel arches are filled with 21-inch wheels finished in dark chrome.

As for the rear-end, the all-new 2023 Lexus RX is fitted with a full-length LED tail light with the L E X U S script emblazoned across. One departure from the previous-generation RX is the neater-looking rear diffuser piece, which hides the muffler tips.

Lexus also reworked the all-new RX’s interior, as the all-new generation model now gets a more cohesive-looking cabin that is based on the Tazuna concept.

Our Malaysian-spec Lexus RX 350 gets the larger 14-inch infotainment display with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Audio is piped through a 12-speaker sound system.

Standard safety equipment on the Malaysian-spec Lexus RX include the enhanced Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+), digital Panoramic View Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Blind Spot Monitor with Safe Exit Assist (SEA).

“The Lexus RX needs little introduction as it is representative of the Lexus brand and its well- established success,” said President of Lexus Malaysia Datuk Ravindran K. “Now 25 years on, and with a cumulative sales of 3.5 million units worldwide, the latest chapter for the Lexus RX begins with the fifth generation model."

The Lexus RX competes against rivals like the Porsche Cayenne (RM 550,000), Volvo XC90 (RM 416,888 to RM 432,888), and BMW X5 (RM 456,750).

Of the above, only the Lexus RX is a imported (CBU) model; the other models mentioned are locally-assembled (CKD).

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