THE RX SUV is a vital part of the Lexus sales volume holy trinity, along with the IS executive sedan and CT200h hybrid hatch.

This mid-life facelift will no doubt cement its position in the range as it comes with hefty price cuts, improvements to standard equipment and a new front-drive, four-cylinder entry-level variant to provide a competitor – at least on price – against the smaller BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

As well as the new Lexus corporate face and the addition of performance-oriented F-Sport variants, the RX has received numerous small improvements – but is this enough for Lexus to remain relevant in the high-stakes luxury SUV arena?