The Best-Selling Lexus SUV
The Lexus RX is basically the brand’s golden goose, so nobody was shocked when rumors of a refresh started swirling. Camouflaged test mules have already been spotted out in the wild, teasing a facelift that was supposed to give the RX a bit of a glow-up before the next big redesign.
Early reports circled the end of the year for the big debut, and everyone figured we’d see some new sheet metal and maybe a tech upgrade or two. Turns out, Lexus has other plans.
Rather than going wild with the styling, Lexus is keeping things mostly the same on the outside and putting its energy into what’s under the skin. A fresh report from Japan says the update is all about making life easier and comfier inside, plus shuffling around some features. The catch? Prices are heading north, especially if you’re eyeing a hybrid.
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The Biggest Changes Are Inside and Underneath
According to Creative Trend, a website usually armed with reliable dealer information, Lexus is finally giving RX owners some of the features they’ve been begging for. Top of the list? The Auto Brake Hold memory function, which Toyota fans will recognize. No more resetting every time you start the car or unbuckle your seatbelt – the system just remembers what you want and sticks with it.
Another smart move: Lexus is spreading IR-cut glass beyond just the windshield. Now the side windows get the heat-busting treatment too, which should make summer drives a lot less sweaty.
Lexus is also tweaking the RX’s suspension and electric power steering for a smoother ride and better steering feel. No word on new hardware, but the report claims a noticeable bump in how refined the RX feels on the road.
There are a few visual changes, but you’ll have to squint to spot them. Sonic Quartz is out; White Nova Glass Flake is in as the go-to white. F SPORTs ditch the orange brake calipers for red, and the RX500h trades its special DIRECT4 badge for the same AWD badge as the rest of the family.
More Standard Equipment, but a Bigger Bill Too
Lexus is making life easier by rolling a bunch of previously optional goodies into the standard package. Depending on your trim, you’ll now get things like a digital key, dashcams front and rear, ITS Connect, wireless charging, a digital rearview mirror, a cold-weather pack, and a beefy 1,500-watt AC outlet – all without ticking extra boxes. The regular moonroof is gone, but the panoramic roof sticks around.
Of course, all these upgrades mean you’ll be paying more. Creative Trend says prices in Japan are jumping by 260,000 to 400,000 yen (about $1,770 to $2,720). The RX350h gets hit the hardest, while the RX450h+ and RX500h see smaller bumps.
The refreshed RX should break cover officially in late September 2026, with Japanese sales kicking off October 1. For now, all these changes are Japan-only, and Lexus hasn’t said if North America will get the same treatment or when.
Jared Rosenholtz/Autoblog
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