With many loyal customers drawn to the reliability, safety, and upscale interior, the 2023 Lexus RX remains a popular compact luxury SUV. Although expensive, the RX has its more affordable trim levels at the bottom of the lineup. However, like most vehicles, it offers a more costly high-end trim that includes everything a driver could want. The fully loaded 2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD costs over $62,500 but comes with sport-tuned parts, a fancier interior, a hybrid powertrain, and more. Does the highest price in the RX lineup include enough to make it worth your while? What comes with a fully loaded 2023 Lexus RX?

2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance: Powertrain

The first thing most people ask about an expensive compact luxury SUV is the powertrain. According to Kelley Blue Book, under the hood of a 2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD, you’ll find a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine combined with a Lexus Hybrid Drive system. Together, the two combine to make an impressive 366 horsepower. That’s not the best in the luxury world, but it beats many competitors and still provides the smooth and potent-feeling drive that Lexus owners expect.

Moreover, the fully-loaded variant gets a different transmission than other RX models, a six-speed instead of an eight-speed, which is tuned for performance. Using this powertrain, the RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD can drive from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. Furthermore, it’s rated for a combined fuel economy of 27 mpg. Although the fuel economy falls short of other hybrids, it beats performance-focused models in its class.

F-Sport Performance

There are a lot of words in the name 2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD. As you might’ve guessed, the ‘h’ is for hybrid, but what does F-Sport Performance mean? First, Lexus’s F Sport in-house tuner shop tunes the suspension, so it’s better to drive around corners. The model comes with sport-tuning, solenoid-actuated shock absorbers, and a performance damper. In the rear, gas-pressurized shock absorbers and a performance damper further increase handling ease.

As many reviewers and experts have stated, all of this combines to make an SUV that feels like a car. Driving the luxury compact model feels closer to a sporty sedan than a bulky family crossover.

Luxurious interior with fancy features

Although driving the 2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD is a highlight, sitting inside the cabin isn’t too bad either. First, the fully-loaded model gets upgraded seats throughout. The front seats are strengthened to help hold passengers in place during fast, tight cornering. Each is upholstered using perforated leather, and the front chairs are heated and ventilated without paying extra. However, heating and ventilating rear seats costs a fee more than the standard price. There’s also an exclusive interior color, dark graphite aluminum, available for this model.

Next, the RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD has a 9.8-inch touchscreen instead of the 14-inch model that comes with some cheaper trims. However, the larger touchscreen is an option for the top-of-the-line crossover. Owners can use many features regardless of size, like cloud navigation, voice commands, Lexus Destination Assist, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Furthermore, it also gets a 10-inch color head-up display, perfect for clearly viewing vital information like speed, turn-by-turn directions, and more.

A few more options

Although the standard features for the 2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance model are excellent, it can also get incredible upgrades. For example, the 1,800-watt Mark Levinson PurePlay surround-sound system adds 21 speakers. It strategically places speakers throughout the cabin, so every seating position receives excellent sound quality.

Moreover, customers can also opt for Traffic Jam Assist. Although it sounds like something to do in traffic, it’s much more. The system can steer, accelerate, and brake the car for you in some conditions and locations. This way, a bored driver stuck in stop-and-go traffic can do a little less work.

2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance standard features and equipment

In conclusion, the 2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD is a fully-loaded model of the compact luxury SUV. As a result, it has more options and features than the rest of the lineup. A hybrid powertrain for better performance and fuel economy, advanced technology, an upscale interior, and more are all included. Many loyal customers enjoy the RX for its reliability, but the fully-loaded version can do just about anything.