THE RX450h has always been a well-heeled model - but Lexus has recently made a big Advance.

That's the name of the version added to a line up already boasting a number of superstars.

The Advance basically takes the existing Luxury RX450h and raises its game.

The new look is striking with a deep front bumper plus hi-tech headlights that shift the beam in the direction you are steering - helping to light the way when turning corners.

The modern snazzy styling includes seven-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels and either a fixed panoramic roof or a natty electric sunroof.

The Advance is more evolution than revolution so offers the same performance figures as before with a goodies list including my personal favourite - the heated, eight-way adjustable, front seats.

They make it virtually impossible not to get comfortable up front in this car and there's a neat trick when you operate the push-button ignition.

Turning the engine off sees the driver's seat slide back giving plenty of room to exit the vehicle. Damn, you think, I'll have to reset the driving position again.

Thankfully this is not so for when you fire the beast up again the seat slides back to you're favourite spot thanks to a clever memory function.

Other natty bits of kit from the Luxury model include auto-dimming and folding door mirrors, rear privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, and auto windscreen wipers.

The Lexus Premium Navigation system provides all the connectivity and infotainment options via a mouse-like control that's a little bit fiddly and distracts your attention more than it should.

However, most day-to-day functions can be operated through controls on the steering wheel simplifying things greatly.

The 12-speaker audio pack, DVD player and DAB tuner cover all of the bases when it comes to music, while hands-free mobile phone calls and audio streaming are handled by Bluetooth. There is also a rear-view camera which makes parking this big Lexus a cinch.

As you would expect for a large SUV there's plenty of space for five adults and the cabin feels light and airy while the boot is a reasonable size although not as big as some.

You are able to slide the rear seats back and forth however, so varying the amount of space for passengers or baggage as desired.

Get up and go for the RX is provided by a full hybrid powertrain linking a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and an energy efficient electric motor which allows 62mph to be reached from a standing start in a shade under eight seconds.

That said, this SUV is more of a luxury cruiser than a speed merchant.

All this futuristic wizardry doesn't result in out-of-this-world fuel economy although a combined 44.8mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of 145g/km aren't bad for a beast this size keeping tax bills reasonably low.

There's also the added fun of the RX being able to run silently on its electric motor alone so allowing you to sneak up on unsuspecting family members.

Lexus has set its hybrid SUV up with European motoring tastes in mind so the ride is cosseting with the many humps and hollows littering the roads these days dealt with competently.

The handling is reasonably sharp with neat and tidy steering and decent levels of grip.

At a shade under £49,000 the RX450h Advance isn't cheap, but you get a spacious, tax-efficient 4x4 that's loaded with equipment and has a luxurious feel.