THE Lexus RX became the world's first luxury SUV in 1998.

Times and technology have changed with, petrol and diesel electric hybrids and full electric vehicles now becoming more common and the Japanese car maker is right at the forefront.

The big Lexus still has bag of luxury and power, but also offers cutting edge hybrid technology to deliver the holy grail of potent performance combined with good fuel economy and very low carbon dioxide emissions, certainly for the size of vehicle.

The RX 450h is a striking looking motor with sporty, dynamic exterior styling that features trapezoidal headlamps, sun roof, smart grille with the Lexus logo in blue to signify hybrid technology and 19-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels.

Inside is an array of equipment that would not look out of place on a jet fighter, including a windscreen head-up display. The fixtures and fittings scream luxury with attention to the finest detail obvious throughout the light and airy cabin.

It has plush leather upholstery, thick carpets and classy soft touch finish to dash and doors and features ambient lights that illuminate key controls to the intelligent climate control system.

Contoured, adjustable seats ensure comfort throughout the journey. And should you need extra space, the rearmost  seats offer versatile folding options, with plenty of boot capacity at the touch of a lever.

The interior of this range topper features 10-way adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system with DVD playback facility which is housed in the dashboard centrepiece LCD display. Navigation, phone and other audio functions are also controlled from here.

The only thing that feels oddly cheap is the tiny gear selector, but otherwise it's comfortable and luxurious.

All models feature a comprehensive list of equipment, which is what your would expect from motors starting at £44,495.

The single petrol engine/electric motor set up boast massive power, which is needed to propel what is a big lump of metal along.

This combines a 3.5-litre V6 petrol unit linked with two powerful electric motors and four wheel drive capability.

This combination delivers jawdropping performance with smooth acceleration through the CVT transmission. Floor the pedal and the car leaps forward, hitting 60mph in just 7.8 seconds and on to a top speed, where permitted of 127mph.

Quieten it all down and the big vehicle drops into virtually silent electric power mode only and allows you to coast along in traffic jams, saving fuel and delivering economy of a claimed 44.8mpg. Pretty impressive with CO2 emissions of 145g/km meaning lowish road tax and benefit in kind charges.

Not only that road and wind noise are virtually absent, and for such vehicle, handling characteristics are good.

Like all SUVs, it is a practical vehicle and has generous load space with the seats in place of 496 litres.

The single touch tumble system allows the rear seats to be folded or split 40-20-40 and create masses of extra space. The bridge-like centre console also offers extra storage underneath of up to 6.5 litres.

On high spec models the air suspension can also be lowered so heavy objects can be lifted out more easily, while the tailgate is electrically powered.

As well as the array of hi-tech equipment, reversing aids and sound systems safety equipment is of the highest standard with a full set of airbags and traction and braking assitance as well as Isofix child seat anchor points.