The current Lexus GX 460 feels like a creation from the bygone era compared to most of its rivals. With this generation trailing its origins back to the 2010 Toyota Prado, it is in dire need of a complete revival. With the next generation supposedly not coming until 2024, a facelift is the closest to an update we can get.
The Lexus NX is the middle child in Lexus’ SUV lineup. Sandwiched between the smaller UX and the larger RX and LX SUVs, the NX was mostly forgotten. But the compact luxury SUV now gets a new generation with an evolved design and better tech.
The Lexus ES is the Japanese brand’s only answer to the Mercedes Benz E-Class and BMW 5-Series sedans, now that the sportier GS sedan has been killed off. For the 2022 model year, Lexus has refreshed the ES to compete better with its more technology-laden rivals.
Mild performance vehicles are now a staple in almost all premium manufacturers’ portfolios, be it the Mercedes-AMG 43 line, or Audi S Line. Lexus joins this party with the launch of an F Sport Performance line filling in the gap between its regular body-kitted F-Sport vehicles and the fully blown F models, just to muddy the waters a bit further. Starting this new family is the V8 variant of their smallest sedan, 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance.
Luxury minivans belong to a very tiny niche but that has never stopped manufacturers from dropping one or two products into this segment. Usually these products compete with executive sedans or mid-size SUVs and try to woo the rich with their colossal cabin space. China is especially popular for chauffeur-driven cars, and Lexus has decided to step up the game. Their new Lexus LM300h minivan takes the fight right up the alley of the Bentleys. Talk about confidence.
The Lexus LS, Toyota’s full-size luxury sedan, is still around, lest you forgot about it with the big-nostrilled BMW 7-Series taking up the limelight and the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class around the corner. Lexus has gone ahead and given the 2021 Lexus LS a bit more tech to stay relevant. And yes, it finally gets a touchscreen.
To strengthen its weak footing in the compact luxury segment, Lexus revealed the 2021 Lexus IS sports sedan with a refreshed design and more tech. The Japanese sedan had its own strengths but was drowned in the immense popularity of the German trio in that segment, the Mercedes Benz C-Class, BMW 3-Series and the Audi A4.
The full-size luxury coupe flashes a blingy design that has always made it stand out, despite its relatively-lacklustre performance credentials compared to German rivals. So, when the time has come to give it a refresh for the 2021 model year, Lexus has chosen to confine the changes to a few new colour options, wheel options, suspension tweaks and slightly less bulk to carry around.
The first month of the new decade opened up to two massive recalls from two Japanese manufacturers, one letting the infamous Takata airbag issue to resurface. In addition to this, an American manufacturer is correcting a mistake that it had made while it was correcting a previous mistake.
A little late to the party, but better late than never, Lexus launches its first all-electric vehicle. An EV version of their smallest crossover, the 2020 Lexus UX 300e’s arrival was quite significant for the Japanese brand, but it was drowned in the commotion created by the Tesla Cybertruck and its failed windows. So, has the UX 300e has what it takes to stand out in the ever-growing EV crowd?