Restyle of Popular Lexus RX
The Lexus RX series has been ruling the luxury midsize crossover roost for nearly two decades, and there’s no reason to think the new RX will change that.
Lexus and Toyota have started restyling their vehicles and giving them some personality the last couple of years. The outcome is an RX with dramatic chiseled looks, wrap-around lights and a grille that couldn’t get any more in-your-face aggressive. The taillights protrude so much you can use them as armrests if you’re standing outside the vehicle in a parking lot. Plus the C-pillar is blacked out to create a sportier profile.
The face frames the Lexus-signature spindle grille with a set of slanting, squinting headlamps. Sharp creases highlight the side view, which is capped by a narrow, low-slung roofline. RX brings up the rear with a milder reprise of the front spindle theme.
Though identical in height to the previous editions, the fourth-generation RX 350s are substantially longer (nearly 5 inches), with a wheelbase that’s stretched almost 2 inches longer than before. The RX picks up an additional 1.2 inches of rear-seat legroom, for an adult-friendly total of 38 inches. That’s better than competitive models from Acura, BMW, and Volvo. Lift-over height in back is comfortable, and adjustable rear-seat travel allows you to shift more space to the cabin or to the cargo hold.
The biggest difference between the current 2016 model and previous versions is the available, 12.3-inch display panel. The tablet-sized screen provides a crisp, panoramic view from its location atop the center stack. Luxury crossovers are fertile ground for new technology, and practically any tech feature that you can think of is offered either in trim levels, as a stand-alone, or in an option package.
Several sound system upgrades are available, capped off by an 835-watt, 15-speaker, 10-channel Mark Levinson surround sound system. An optional, heads-up display projects select speed, navigation, and audio information onto the windshield, requiring little diversion of your eyes from the road.
The RX 350 employs a combination of conventional switchgear and an available joystick controller known as Remote Touch. Offered as part of the Premium package, the electronics interface is used to operate navigation, audio, phone, and also HVAC if desired.
A base RX 350 with front-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission features a powerful 3.5-liter V6 that creates 295 horsepower, up from the previous model’s 270 horsepower. The tested dark metallic blue (Nightfall Mica) was an RX 450h F Sport that combines a slightly detuned 3.5-liter V6 with an electric hybrid system to create 308 hp. Both models run on regular 87 octane fuel.
Speaking of fuel, this vehicle is rated at 30 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.
The RX 350 is offered in two variations — base and F SPORT — as well as a hybrid-powered model. Prices for the base RX 350 start at $41,900 (FWD) and $43,300 (AWD). The MSRP for F SPORT is $49,125 (AWD is standard). The RX 450h hybrids are available in FWD, AWD, and F SPORT versions with prices ranging from $52,235 to $55,645.
Stop by Lexus of Highland Park today to get a peek!
