The 2016 Lexus RX 450h F Sport is the perfect modern crossover. It’s luxurious, practical, smart, comfortable and, thanks to that F Sport badge, it’s also really fun to drive.

This is my first day with it.

Mileage: Right up front: The 4th generation RX is one of your best bets if you’re on the market for a luxury crossover. The 450h F Sport model that I’ve got my hands on has a city rating of 7.7 and a highway rating of 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres making it one of the most fuel efficient vehicles in its segment. And the perfect way to get you through the daily grind.

Aesthetically, it’s had some upgrades,  including a panoramic moonroof, a bigger, better head up display, and a 12.3 inch screen mounted on the dash. That’s one big map. Controls of the system remain old-school, with the remote touch interface of buttons and dials that Lexus fans will be familiar with.

City driving: On the road, it’s smooth and quiet, especially at low speeds with the hybrid engine doing its thing. It moves and feels just like as a Lexus.

Interior room/features: On top of being more dynamic, smarter and more fuel efficient than its predecessor, it’s got more room, too. Something that any good Canadian can appreciate. Lexus has made some moves in the right direction for the average busybody, with features like the gesture controlled rear door command (We’ll call it almost hands free), and rear seats that fold flat in a 60/40 split. More buttons to press. More room to put stuff in.  win win.

The RX has been gifted with the brand’s safety system plus, which includes features like lane departure alert, automatic high beams, and add-on options like the panoramic view monitor that takes advantage of the large display screen. Super useful. Super useful in the parking lot.

Exterior styling: The exterior shows some of the most visible changes to this model. It’s got some seriously proud lines and a generally more aggressive appearance. Then there’s the spindle grill, which is the biggest on any Lexus, ever.

Driving: Past city limits, the F sport model —man I love that badge — gives us the option for S Sport or S Sport plus modes which prompt the car’s ride height to drop, the suspension to stiffen, and give it a little extra athleticism. Always welcome addition. Use of the paddle shifters in this driving mode is optional, but we recommend it.

Concusion: Overall, the first impression I get from a day in the 2016 Lexus rx 450h F Sport is a strongly positive one. It pushes our expectations of a luxury hybrid crossover even further with its winning combination of of smart luxury, stunning design and rewarding driver experience.

I’ll let you know how day two goes.