In-depth reviews

Lexus RX L 450h (2018-2022) reliability & safety

The Lexus RX L 450h is likely to provide a trouble-free and safe ownership experience

Overall rating

3.5 out of 5

Reliability & safety rating

5.0 out of 5

Fuel Type:
Hybrid Petrol
Euro NCAPAdult protectionChild protectionSafety assist
5 stars (2015 – rating expired)91%82%77%

Life with an RX L 450h should be free of problems, with Lexus scoring well in reliability and dependability surveys. Meanwhile, the SUV is packed with standard safety features, but you’ll need to splash out on the top trim to get the best package.

Lexus RX L 450h reliability & problems

Lexus always performs well in the annual Driver Power survey, and 2019 was no exception, with the manufacturer finishing in first place for customer satisfaction. The standard, five-seat RX was rated as the fifth-best car to own, with less than one in ten owners experiencing a problem with their vehicle. With such a good reputation for build quality and reliability, the Lexus RX – and by extension, the RX L – is one of the safest bets in the business.

Safety

The RX L 450h hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP, but the five-seat RX 450h was awarded a maximum five-star safety rating in 2015. The scores were impressive across the board: 91% and 82% for adult and child occupant protection respectively, 79% for pedestrian safety, and 77% for passive and active safety technologies. As of January 2022, however, that rating has expired, so it's no longer comparable to the five-star rating of newer models.

Regardless of the trim level, the RX L 450h offers a host of standard safety equipment, including 10 airbags and the Lexus Safety System, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams and sway warning alert.

Upgrading to the Premium Sport Edition adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while the top-spec Takumi trim level also gets a panoramic view monitor. This is a boon when manoeuvring into a parking space, as the RX L 450h is a long car and it’s very difficult to see out of the back. The bird’s-eye view makes reversing into a space easy.

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