In late September, the torrid monsoon had allowed the temperatures to finally drop below sweltering levels and made way for the first signs of the transitional season of fall to set in.
In the hustle of busy city schedules, it’s easy to miss when your surroundings slowly begin adopting those autumnal hues and the sunsets get even more golden. But after one such hectic week, the weekend gods had allowed me the chance to escape the concrete jungle and make my way towards the open road, clean air and breathtaking landscapes. And my companion? The Lexus RX 350h.
This hybrid SUV has a sleek but strong road presence with its signature spindle grille emblazed with the Lexus logo, a 21-inch alloy wheel design and an integrated spoiler. At the front you get 3-projector Bi Beam LED headlamps as well as an LED Daytime Running Light, and at the back, you get combination lamps, which feature the signature Lexus L-shaped light bar with lenses that wrap around the sides of the body.
With our final destination set as the picturesque town of Sawai Madhopur, we set off on a five-hour drive from Delhi along the newly built and (yet to be completed) Delh-Mumbai Expressway.
Navigating the Chaos
Before the open road could reveal itself, we first had to face the inevitable chaos of Delhi's traffic. But the RX 350h's hybrid powertrain switched seamlessly between electric and gasoline, offering smooth acceleration without the head-nod of conventional engines. Its instant torque comes in handy if you want to work off gaps in traffic.
Lexus is renowned for its cabin insulation—from high-quality insulation in the doors to the dampened suspension that absorbs every vibration—and the RX 350h is no exception. Even as horns blared and engines revved around us, inside, all was quiet (when we muted the radio). Lexus claim that they have modified the weather strip and glass run strip on the front and rear doors to enhance door sealing, added a twin-lock structure to suppress the engine hood vibration, besides adding high sound insulation to the front door glass and reduced road noises by stuffing each panel with sound-absorbing materials and high-dampening adhesives. And we have no reasons to not believe them.
Effortless Highway Cruise
Once we were on the newly built Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, the true performance of the RX 350h came into play. The hybrid engine, while modest in size at 2.5 litres, delivers 247PS—a perfect balance for both city streets and highway cruising. On open roads, the SUV cruised effortlessly, its responsive hybrid system blending power and efficiency to provide a smooth, uninterrupted journey. While the speed limit was capped at 120 km/h, the Lexus had plenty more power in reserve, and its 15 km/l mileage on the highway was more than respectable.
The RX 350h isn’t just about straight-line speed; its suspension setup excels at keeping the drive smooth and composed. As we crossed the Rajasthan border, where highways often meet uneven roads, the suspension absorbed every bump without sacrificing comfort. The Lexus’s advanced driver assistance features—adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist—ensured I could drive for hours without fatigue, with the car handling much of the effort on long stretches.
Luxury Meets Functionality
As the sun climbed higher and the clear skies of Rajasthan spread before us, I opened the Lexus's panoramic sunroof to let in a flood of golden light. Despite the outside temperature hovering around 32°C, the climate control kept the interior cool and comfortable. With dual-zone climate control and rear-seat air conditioning, even the rear seats are a comfortable space to be in. Soft leather seats, adjustable lumbar support, and ventilation made long hours fly by. The 14-inch infotainment system integrates rather seamlessly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 9-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound system is also the perfect road trip companion. The eye for detail in the RX 350h—whether it’s their heads-up display that projects steering controls over the windshield, the wireless charging station, the USB ports scattered thoughtfully throughout the cabin, or the ample storage—lives up to Lexus' reputation.
The Lexus also makes mundane daily-driving challenges a breeze with its suite of assistance features. The hands-free power back door, along with front and rear parking sensors, cross-traffic alerts, and blind-spot monitoring, made even the trickiest spots feel manageable.
As the drive came to an end, I stepped out of the Lexus RX 350h feeling refreshed and ready to explore Sawai Madhopur, instead of being drained like one might expect after a long journey. And that's a testament to the RX 350h's commitment to comfort.
