Lexus RX

The fuel-thrifty 450h hybrid gets an excellent 29 mpg overall. Inside, the RX is very quiet and well-finished. Ride comfort is plush whether you get the base car on 18-inch tires or more uplevel versions with 20-inch tires. Handling, however, is ponderous and devoid of any sporty feel, but ultimately secure. The mouselike controller and interface require a steep learning curve. Rear passengers get lots of leg and knee room. All 2017 models get Lexus Safety System+ as standard equipment, which includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Options include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Still though, the car remains secure when pushed to its limits. Ride comfort is a strong point and the cabin is quiet. Inside is a well-finished interior with comfortable seats and room for five. Cargo room is on the modest side and rear visibility is not ideal. The infotainment system, while gaining in terms of connectivity and capability adapted a convoluted mouse-like controller that interfaces with a center screen for audio, phone and navigation functions. We found this system distracting, less than precise and unintuitive.