The Special Edition Lexus RX brings quality and class that’s ideal for exploring the California coast and making any road trip memorable.
There is something about driving down the California highway, with the ocean on one side and mountains on the other that just gives off a vibe… it’s relaxing. So while visiting family in Southern California, we decided it was a great time to explore and really enjoy the SoCal experience. To do that, we wanted to rent a car and plan a little road trip along the coast. We knew we’d need the essentials – snacks, good music and of course a vehicle. While a Lexus may not be the first car that comes to mind when you think about a road trip, it’s the perfect way to take any trip up a notch.
We rented the limited-edition Lexus RX Hybrid 450h F Sport Black Line Special Edition. It came in Grecian Water – a gorgeous blue that perfectly matched the California vibe we were going for. It was a great vehicle to fit our family of four, including lots of room for car seats in the back for our two boys. Chris and I definitely felt lucky to get our hands on this car as there are only 1,000 of these special editions available with 250 of those being the 2021 Hybrids.
The Lexus RX was a smooth ride that made our road trip feel a little extra special from start to finish. It has black 20” wheels, dark grille surround and black seats with white accents and blue stitching. It’s a dynamic car that definitely gets a second look as you pass by. We especially loved that it was a hybrid, so it meant impressive fuel economy. In fact, even though we travelled for four days, we only had to fill up with gas once thanks to the 32MPG fuel efficiency.
“Even though we travelled for four days, we only had to fill up with gas once thanks to the 32MPG fuel efficiency. ”
With our ride secured, it was time to start the road trip! We picked up our brand-new Lexus RX in San Diego and hit the road. Travelling with two kids meant we had to bring A LOT of stuff (parents you know what I mean), but the Lexus RX was completely equipped to handle whatever we packed with a ton of trunk space. It even has power-folding and reclining second-row seats if you need more room in the back. We were easily able to fit all of our luggage. In fact, for the 2021 Lexus Black Line Special Edition series, Lexus provides the luggage so you can plan your own road trip. When purchased new, the car comes with a Lexus Black Line Zero Halliburton® luggage set, customized exclusively for Lexus owners.
Our itinerary for the road trip was set with the plan to go from San Diego in the Torrey Pines area to Temecula and finally to Laguna Beach. The drive up the coast is beautiful and with the touch navigation inside the Lexus RX, the drive was completely carefree. The 12.3” touchscreen gave us the ability to easily access what we needed for navigation, temperature and audio controls.
We started our trip just 15 miles from downtown San Diego at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. This hotel overlooks the ocean and backs onto a world-famous golf course. It’s surrounded by the Torrey Pines State Reserve and was a stunning property for us to spend the night. It was a great way to begin our road trip at one of San Diego’s premier luxury hotels.
“Our plan was to go from San Diego to Temecula and finally to Laguna Beach. The drive up the California coast is beautiful and with the touch navigation inside the Lexus RX, the drive was completely carefree.”
While travelling to our next destination, one of our other road trip essentials – music – was easily taken care of. The Lexus RX comes equipped with SiriusXM Satellite Radio. It meant everyone could listen to their favorite soundtrack with no Baby Shark on repeat! The sound quality was exceptional with a 15-speaker, 835-watt Mark Levinson® audio system that it felt like a live concert in the car.
Once in Temecula, we stayed at the fantastic Carter Estate Winery & Resort. Temecula is a rising star in the California wine scene and is full of hillside vineyards. We were lucky enough to stay on a property that was part hotel and part winery so we could really take in the experience. We had our own private bungalow with a full living space. It was a cozy and charming place to spend some time while exploring Temecula Wine Country.
As we made the hour-long drive to Laguna Beach, it was reassuring to Chris and I that the Lexus RX has class-leading safety equipment. Especially with our kids in the car, this was super important to us. While our drive was smooth and uneventful, the safety features available are nice to have just in case. The Lexus RX comes with radar and camera technology to help maintain speed and distance from the vehicle ahead and a pre-collision system that can automatically brake if it detects something in your path.
We finished our road trip in beautiful Laguna Beach at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. The hotel is set on a dramatic clifftop overlooking the ocean. It had fantastic restaurants, a beautiful spa and our room even had a firepit complete with a s’mores kit. The best part was the direct access to the beach. It was a great way to end our road trip relaxing in the California sunshine with the waves crashing at our feet.
Driving through Southern California in our Lexus RX felt comfortable and easy. It didn’t feel like we were driving a “family car” as it has the style and sporty feel of a luxury vehicle. It really made our road trip one to remember.
“Driving through Southern California in our Lexus RX felt comfortable and easy. It didn’t feel like we were driving a “family car” as it has the style and sporty feel of a luxury vehicle. ”