Customers can choose from a variety of trims combining different powertrain and battery setups to suit individual needs and budget. Darpan was loaned the Ultimate AWD grade packing dual 239-kilowatt electric motors and the higher-output 77.4-kilowatt-hour pack, together yielding 320 horsepower, 446 lb-ft of torque and a maximum range of approximately 400 kilometres.
The hybrid is powered by an ultra-efficient combination 2.0-litre four-cylinder internal combustion engine and two electric motors, sending 181 net horsepower to all four wheels via an electric all-wheel drive system, mated to a continuously variable transmission. Especially during these uncertain economic times where gas prices are at record highs, this fuel-thrifty setup is a welcome one.
Most compact SUVs seat five people. But there are a few that also come with a third-row seat to boost capacity up to seven passengers. While that third row is pretty small, it does give you an easier-to-park and less expensive alternative to a three-row midsize SUV. If this is an appealing option for you, check out the 2022 Kia Sorento and 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan.
The level of premium appointments in the interior is absolutely stunning. The cabin in our near grade-topping Sensory tester, slotting under the $67,995 Autograph, was draped in gorgeous melt-to-the-touch Saddle Brown semi-aniline leather with complementary hits of open pore ash wood looking elegant rather than gaudy as the trim sometimes can.
The most immediately noticeable outdoorsy aspect is the use of copious amounts of black body cladding on the bumpers, wheel arches and side sills. The addition of the off-road-ready armour complements the wind-swept lines of Kodo styling language surprisingly well, particularly in the desert-esque Zircon Sand Metallic paint colour of Darpan’s press loaner.
The already-excellent Lexus Safety System+ suite of technologies benefits from a few additions such as enhanced camera and radar equipment to help the pre-collision detection spot not just oncoming vehicles but preceding cyclists and pedestrians as well.
