Lexus RX ALA10

With the fifth-generation RX (factory code ALA10, from 2023), Lexus made one of the biggest technical shifts in the model's history: the long-serving 3.5-litre V6 gave way to a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder. The ALA10 remains an upper mid-size premium SUV with the customary high standards of build and comfort, but presents itself in a more modern, efficiency-focused way. As the newest generation, the data is naturally still thin, so the assessment leans on already documented early failures and will need sharpening as mileage accumulates.

At its heart is the T24A-FTS, a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder with 205 kW that also serves in the NX 350. It delivers adequate power and holds its own in everyday use, but feels noticeably less refined than the silky V6 it replaces — a point discerning buyers should keep in mind. The four-cylinder's refinement is itself tracked as a weak point. Long term, timing chain stretch is the central concern, joined by cracking of the EGR cooler and injection-system complications. As this is a young engine design, disciplined oil changes to the correct specification and a watchful ear for chain noise are advisable.

On the vehicle side, software and electronics issues dominate at first, as is typical for a new vehicle generation: infotainment software faults, a software recall on the VSC system, and a possible display failure of the reversing camera. Add to that wind noise at motorway speeds, a high-pitched whine from the blower motor, a clicking noise from the driveshaft when steering, and a dashboard trim strip working loose. On the powerful RX 500h, low-speed transmission jerkiness and hesitation when pulling away from a standstill are reported.

For the buying decision, that means the ALA10, as a new car and young used one, is still in a phase where software updates and recalls are being rolled out continuously. Before purchase, check by VIN whether the VSC recall and the latest infotainment updates have been applied. Buyers who accept the four-cylinder's grittier character and choose a car with a current update status get a modern, efficient premium SUV.

Bottom line, the ALA10 is a technically ambitious fresh start that preserves the core Lexus virtues of build quality and comfort but breaks new ground with the engine change. The long-term reliability of the turbo four-cylinder has yet to prove itself — reason to look more closely here than with the fundamentally solid V6 predecessors.