Can admit to something? I love the Lexus RX. I know, it’s not as sporty as some of its contemporaries, especially those hailing
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| Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
from Germany, but in top-line F Sport trim it comes pretty close, while it does everything else so brilliantly that the model had already me won over way back when Lexus singlehandedly created the car-based luxury crossover segment in 1998.
That’s just before I started in the automotive journalism business, and Toyota was one of the first manufacturers to loan me test vehicles. Toyota, of course, is parent company of the Lexus brand, and that in mind a year before the RX arrived here with a stylized “L” on its grille it debuted with a “T” on its face and Harrier nameplate fixed to its tailgate. Now, more than 15 years later, the RX is a legend amongst luxury crossover utility fans.
Since I started reviewing vehicles, I’ve tested, photographed and reviewed seven RX models in various stages of trim, both conventionally powered as well as hybrids,
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| Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
and edited many more reviews from a bevy of professional writers that have come and gone over the years (and fortunately with some, come and stayed). I’ve also been on a number of RX launch programs, even piloting a hybrid to the 4,250+metre (14,000+foot) summit of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, an experience I’ll never forget. And each time I sit behind the wheel of an RX, I understand why this vehicle has sold so well over the years.
In case you didn’t know, the Lexus RX is the best-selling luxury crossover the North American market has ever known, and that’s not because our market is without competition. Although body-on-frame when it first launched and therefore not a luxury crossover but rather a luxury SUV, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class actually beat the RX to market by a year. The two forerunners were soon followed by the BMW X5, Acura MDX, Porsche Cayenne, Infiniti FX/QX70, Volvo XC90, Cadillac SRX, Audi Q7, Lincoln MKX in that order, and the list goes on and on with many
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| Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
new variations on the crossover theme by many of these manufacturers as well as numerous mainstream branded crossovers that come very close to delivering premium levels of luxury. Despite all of these rivals, the Lexus RX beats each and every one of its luxury branded peers on the sales charts, not to mention achieving best-selling model status within the Lexus brand itself.
Why all of this sales information? If you remember Regis Philbin’s outrageously popular TV game show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, the most accurately answered “lifeline” was always “Ask the audience,” which incidentally is the only remaining original lifeline in the show that continues to this day. Fortunately you don’t need to go ask the audience which luxury crossover you should buy as the tally has already been counted, with the undisputed answer being the Lexus RX.
Like I said earlier, each time I sit behind the wheel of an RX, I understand why this
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| Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
vehicle has sold so well over the years. But before I tell you about all its soft-touch surfaces, real wood trim, genuine metal accents, superb fit, finish and switchgear quality, not to mention its beautifully detailed leather upholstered seats and bevy of standard features including standard infotainment with Lexus’ impressive haptic-responsive remote interface, let’s talk price. At $46,150 plus $1,995 for freight and pre-delivery prep, the RX 350 is one of the least expensive luxury crossovers out there, let alone within its midsize category; the F Sport starts at $55,400 plus freight.
Now that we’re talking vehicle segments, there aren’t too many direct competitors selling midsize five-occupant luxury crossovers. Most are quite a bit longer and standard with seven seats, and while this might be advantageous to some with large families (and Lexus really should be playing in the seven-passenger crossover game) we need to remember that the audience has clearly spoken with their pocketbooks.
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| Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
Many of the RX’s competitors are larger, heavier and thus not very light on their feet while using more fuel, and this isn’t fully in tune with the RX’ fuel conscious, environment-minded clientele.
Back to that interior, my RX 350 F Sport tester upped the luxury ante with a sporting twist, the seats surfaced in black leather upholstery with white contrasting stitching, heated and ventilated up front no less and featuring driver’s seat memory, the wood a subtle amount of black gloss birds-eye maple mixed with real aluminum trim covering the centre stack and elsewhere including the shift-paddles and foot pedals, an auto-dimming rearview mirror overhead, just in front of a powered glass sunroof, an eight-inch infotainment display with integrated satellite navigation down on the centre stack, just above the interface for a fabulous sounding 12-speaker audio system with satellite radio and fully automatic climate control below that.
The
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| Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
F Sport moniker also enhances RX 350’s exterior design with an arguably better looking front fascia design featuring a honeycomb mesh grille flanked by self-leveling HID headlights, all above a deep full-width air dam. Its profile view is enhanced with special 19-inch F Sport aluminum alloy rims, the only outward hint to its improved sport-tuned suspension with performance dampers.
The result of these last items is an RX 350 that feels flat and stable when pushed aggressively through sharp corners, while its ride didn’t noticeably suffer one iota. I’m not going so far to say it’ll beat a Porsche Cayenne through an autocross course, but it’ll outmaneuver many of its peers.
Likewise the F Sport’s stock RX 350 power unit allows quick acceleration and excellent passing power, its upgraded eight-speed automatic gearbox making the most of the 3.5-litre V6 engine’s 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. Yes, there
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| Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
are others on the market with more power, but remember that the RX is a slightly smaller and lighter five-passenger crossover utility, and therefore its straight-line performance feels strong, while its drivetrain is as pleasurably smooth as its cabin is quiet.
Truly, the RX is a relaxing environment, proving that most luxury buyers want to be pampered rather than just go fast. The RX’s ride is smooth and comfortable, the cabin roomy front and rear, the latter compartment boasting fore and aft movement as well as recline. Those seats lay flat for an accommodating cargo hold, with 1,132 litres available behind the 60/40-split rear seatbacks and 2,274 litres when they’re tumbled forward. The liftgate is powered, of course.
Practicalities in mind, the RX 350’s lighter weight, sleek aerodynamic profile and the F Sport’s aforementioned eight-speed automatic transmission help it eke out impressive
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| Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
fuel economy, claimed to average 11.2 L/100km in the city and 7.7 on the highway. That’s actually better than the standard RX 350’s six-speed automatic can muster, so don’t let the F Sport’s performance-oriented demeanor fool you into thinking its heart isn’t still focused on its environmental impact. The F Sport’s eight-speed gearbox gets paddle shifters on the steering wheel too, which while more engaging during spirited romps down my favourite serpentine test road were also very helpful for short-shifting around town, helping me to use even less fuel than I would have otherwise. Still, don’t rely on the above-mentioned Transport Canada EnerGuide ratings for anything close to reality, as my mileage over a week was closer to the U.S. EPA’s metric-converted rating of 13.0 city, 9.4 highway and 11.2 combined. Still, very good fuel economy for a 1,970-kilo (4,343-lb) midsize SUV. Of course, if you want better, Lexus has an RX 450h hybrid with your name on it.
Another
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| Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
luxury feature that deserves mention is Lexus’ incredible reliability record, and the RX 350, which as mentioned makes up the vast majority of the brand’s sales and just happens to be made in Canada, is mostly responsible for keeping that reputation rock solid. The RX is the top rated model in the midsize luxury crossover class of J.D. Power and Associates 2014 Vehicle Dependability Study, a position it’s held for a very long time, and Lexus holds more top category positions than any other luxury marque, making it the most dependable brand as well. The RX is also rated as one of the safest CUVs available.
It’s hard to knock the RX 350, especially in F Sport trim. A new 2015 model is almost upon us and it remains mostly unchanged other than some additional standard features and a commensurately higher price tag, so if you’re in the market for a luxury crossover you might want to work out the best deal possible for a new 2014 model. Then again, if you’re still on the fence as to which luxury CUV to buy, remember you can always ask the audience.
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