New 2026 Lexus RX 500 Release Date, Review, Specs

New 2026 Lexus RX 500 Release Date, Review, Specs     –    The RX 500 has undoubtedly aged in recent years, but that isn’t always a bad thing or a reason to limit sales, which have been increasing. However, the revamped New 2026 Lexus RX 500 places a greater emphasis than ever before on its rough attitude, while the family-oriented TX finds a position among the brand’s products.    New 2026 Lexus RX 500 Release Date

New 2024 Lexus RX 500 Release Date and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

The new RX 500 is slightly larger than its predecessor, although the combination of bulging body panels and almost pinched side glass makes it look slightly leaner this time around. There are some similarities to the equally capable Land Rover Defender as far as overall styling is concerned, but this Lexus is a bit bolder than its British counterpart. 

Its cabin, however, is more classically premium, going without its counterpart’s exposed hardware and neoprene upholstery in favour of a look and feel that could be found in any other luxury SUV. That’s not necessarily a knock against the RX 500, although even its adventurous new Overtrail trims are largely unassuming inside. Plus there’s the lack of real leather in some of the more affordable trims that still start at more than $85,000 before tax that’s somewhat shocking.  New 2026 Lexus RX 500 Release Date

New 2026 Lexus RX 500 Specs

The New 2026 RX 500 gets the sort of revolutionary redesign that’s entirely out of character for Lexus. Never before has one of the brand’s models looked so entirely different from one generation to the next, with absolutely nothing borrowed from the version that came before this. Even the signature spindle grille has been cut down in the same peculiar way it was on the exceptionally popular RX, although it manages to work well with the proportions of this larger SUV.  New 2026 Lexus RX 500 Release Date

While the old fascia has long been cited as polarizing, the same can be said about the entire aesthetic this time around. There’s no question it looks macho and muscular, but its appeal probably isn’t as broad as it once was. Then again, that sort of universal allure now falls to the likes of the three-row TX that offers less brawn across its similarly sized body.

Engine and Performance

Make no mistake: this is very much a successor to the SUV that came before it – it’s just one that’s been thoroughly modernized. Familiar characteristics include a body-on-frame construction, full-time four-wheel drive, and a slick flip-up rear window that can be opened independently of the tailgate itself – handy for accessing cargo without having to open the whole hatch. (The tailgate now opens conventionally rather than in a swing-out style.)

Alas, V8 power is no longer part of the package; instead, a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder is the lone offering in this part of the world (other markets get a hybrid version, which happens to be the only powertrain offered in the redesigned Toyota Land Cruiser that’s dimensionally identical to the RX 500). Notably, the 3.4L is more potent than the engine it replaces, with 349 hp and a whopping 479 lb-ft of torque on tap compared to 301 hp and 329 lb-ft before.    New 2026 Lexus RX 500 Release Date

The 10-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive system, which has a fully adjustable high- and low-range gearbox, are mated to the motor. In the Overtrail trim levels, the limited-slip rear differential is replaced with a locking one. This is one really powerful sport utility vehicle that manages to feel about as nice as any other entry-level vehicle out there, thanks to the combination of hefty all-terrain tires and a plenty of electrical wizardry.

New 2026 Lexus RX 500 Fuel Economy

This test didn’t include any towing, although Lexus promises the RX 500 can pull anywhere from 3,629 kg (8,000 lb) to 4,111 kg (9,063 lb), depending on equipment. Better still, every trim comes with both a trailer hitch and a built-in trailer brake controller, the latter of which is a Lexus-first. There’s also a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a full advanced safety suite including lane-keeping assistance.

Both Overtrail trims come with all kinds of off-road goodies, including an adaptive suspension and an electronic version of the brand’s kinetic suspension that now features the ability to disconnect the front sway bar in the same way as the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. They also come in a five-passenger configuration, while the rest of the lineup features a third row of seats.

New 2026 Lexus RX 500 Safety Features

But then the RX 500’s entire reason for being is its ruggedness. There’s a sense here that this SUV is one that’s built for adventure, both literally and figuratively. It’s the reason the frame is still fully boxed, with the resulting robustness an uncommon characteristic amongst entries this size. Likewise, the pair of Overtrail trims on offer ratchets up the go-anywhere capabilities of the New 2026 RX 500.

It starts with Toyo tires developed specifically for this Lexus, which also boost ground clearance to 225 mm (8.9 in). Both the Overtrail and Overtrail+ trims also come outfitted with extra skid plates underneath, plus that locking rear diff to go along with an adjustable crawl control system.

Unfortunately, this short test was limited to some obstacles that were tailor-made to the RX 500, including undulating ruts that showcased its suspension travel and chassis stiffness, but little else. Ultimately, it felt a bit like wearing a Canada Goose parka while walking the dog in barely-below-zero temperatures; sure, it did the job, but it was only scratching the surface of the inherent capabilities here.

New 2026 Lexus RX 500 Price and Release Date

The New 2026 Lexus RX 500 starts at $83,500 before freight and tax, while both the Premium and Overtrail packages add $9,000, and the Luxury and Overtrail+ upgrades make this a nearly $102,000 SUV before the government’s share. Finally, the Executive kit pushes the price to $105,850 before freight and tax. None of that means this is an inexpensive SUV by any measure, although it’s easy to spend even more on the Land Rover Defender.

The most jarring part of the redesign Lexus RX 500 might not be its radical redesign – it might well be its drastic price increase. At $87,550 before freight and tax, the outgoing version’s priciest Executive trim is nearly $20,000 cheaper than its replacement. Yes, there are many more features for the money, but that’s not an insignificant sum. Neither is the $92,500 asking price Lexus has slapped on the Overtrail trim, nor is the $101,850 for the Overtrail+ that adds niceties like massaging front seats and more. (Then there’s the Executive version that’s almost $106,000.)