2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport AWD

Class: Premium midsize crossover

Shade: Grecian Water

Miles pushed: 117

Noticed gasoline financial system: 20.1 mpg

Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway

EPA-estimated gasoline financial system: 21/28/24 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)

Gas kind: Premium fuel

Snow Efficiency: N/A

Base value: $56,600 (not together with $1150 vacation spot cost)

Choices on take a look at automobile: Chilly Space Package deal ($100), Digital Key ($275), digital rear-view mirror ($200), LED headlamps ($1565), Panorama Glass Moonroof ($500), Mark Levinson audio system ($2265), energy rear hatch ($150), Visitors Jam Help ($620), door edge guards ($155), rear bumper applique ($90), operating boards ($725)

Worth as examined: $64,395

Fast Hits

The nice: Comfy and upscale cabin, long-trip freeway refinement

The great: Straightforward-to-use infotainment system

The not so good: Often clunky low-speed energy supply

Tom Appel:

Any dialogue surrounding the Lexus RX ought to embody a hat’s-off recognition of the automobile’s place in automotive historical past. Largely forgotten right now, the 1998 Lexus RX was arguably the primary luxurious crossover. Extra importantly, it stays an business benchmark when it comes to gross sales quantity, and in defining the class itself.

The RX method was easy sufficient: Borrow the structure of a wonderful crossover (Toyota Highlander), engineer the chassis for optimum passenger consolation, add a refined V6 powertrain, and improve the cabin to premium requirements.

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Although formulaically easy, God is within the particulars, and the Lexus RX has all the time been greater than sum of its components. Design execution and meeting high quality play enormous roles right here, and the RX has all the time appeared and felt as if the design and meeting folks answerable for the automobile had been constructing it for themselves.

Redesigned for 2023, the RX has not strayed from its core mission. Certainly, it’s as refined and luxury centered because it has ever been, however…the V6 is gone. There’s nonetheless loads of energy on faucet, and it’s doubtless that this creator is the one individual lamenting the passing of the old-school, comparatively low-tech engine, however with it went just a little little bit of powertrain refinement—only a bit—and I form of miss it. Extra on this can be a second…

Although the RX has not grown in general size, its wheelbase has been stretched to 112 inches, a rise of greater than two inches. Many of the house created by that stretch has been allotted to the rear seating space, the place passengers will get pleasure from a dose of additional legroom.

With the redesign comes a soar within the variety of trim degree/powertrain configurations—from eight to 10—and within the variety of powertrain choices, on this case from two to 4.

The 2022 RX was powered by both a 3.5-liter V6, or a hybridized model of the identical engine. As famous earlier, the V6 disappears for 2023, changed by a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4. The hybrid V6 is changed in most trim ranges by a hybrid 2.5-liter 4. New for 2024 is a turbocharged and hybridized 2.4-liter. The brand new engine delivers 367 horsepower and is on the market solely within the performance-oriented RX500h. Not but obtainable, however due quickly, is a plug-in hybrid drivetrain which borrows closely from the setup discovered within the Toyota RAV4 Prime—a profoundly spirted small crossover.

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RX350 fashions function the two.4-liter turbocharged engine. RX350h fashions are powered by the two.5-liter hybrid setup, and, as famous above, the RX500h has unique rights to the turbo/hybrid 2.4-liter mill.

Trim ranges ascend via base, Premium Plus, F Sport, Luxurious, and F Sport Efficiency. Base costs vary from round $50,000 to $65,000, not together with choices, none of which, save for the Mark Levinson audio system, are particularly expensive.

Observe that transferring ahead, the RX is not going to be provided with a 3^rd seating row. A brand new longer Lexus mannequin, the TX, based mostly on the just lately launched Toyota Grand Highlander, will fill that function.

Shopper Information just lately spent every week with an AWD 2023 RX 350 F Sport and got here away very impressed by the newest instance of Lexus’ midsize crossover. Our take a look at automobile, properly geared up with such niceties as LED headlamps, the aforementioned premium audio system, and operating boards, got here to $64,395.

Generally referred to by Lexus, totally on its web site because the RX 350 F Sport Dealing with, the 350 F Sport, not like the five hundred, doesn’t boast an influence pump relative to its RX stablemates. As an alternative, the F Sport enjoys distinctive—and arguably sporty—inside and exterior trim upgrades, in addition to a specifically tuned model of the RX’s Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS). Observe that, maybe as a result of drivers don’t fuss with them that always, the drive-mode selector has been moved from the console onto the touchscreen. That is type of a trouble whenever you hit the freeway and wish to transfer from Sport to Consolation mode, an motion some drivers could usually take.

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As for the powertrain, the brand new 2.4-liter turbocharged engine produces 275 horsepower and mates to an 8-speed automated transmission. The 4 produces much less horsepower than the V6 it replaces, however significantly extra torque, and the online impression of the brand new drivetrain appears negligible. That mentioned, the drivetrain shouldn’t be as clean because the silky V6 setup, shifting too usually at low speeds, and lagging throttle inputs briefly when rolling from cease. There’s nothing really mistaken with the 4-cylinder powertrain, it’s simply not as close to good because the previous powertrain was. On the plus aspect, the EPA mixed fuel-economy estimates for the fashions with the two.4-liter engine are up 2 mpg for 2023.

As we’ve famous earlier than, even in F Sport trim, most Lexus fashions should not really sporty, and the 2023 RX 350 F Sport is not any exception. Our take a look at automobile proved spry sufficient, with responsive steering, loads of energy, and affective brakes. No complaints from this driver, however know that the F Sport shouldn’t be direct competitors for BMW M fashions, not Mercedes-Benz AMG autos. That mentioned, we wait with anticipation to spend time with the RX 500h, which guarantees to be entertaining to spend time with.

Inside, the RX 350 could be very very like the previous RX, solely higher. The cabin continues to be an understated stylish affair, and there’s loads of grownup house in each seating rows. And, more likely to the delight of most repeat Lexus clients, the previous touch-pad type infotainment interface has been changed by a standard—and really properly designed—touchscreen system. I didn’t hate the touchpad, but it surely appears as if almost everybody else did. It’s gone now. Downside solved.

We had been disillusioned that a number of instances throughout our analysis, our telephones abruptly disconnected from the infotainment system, this throughout music/podcast play. The one method we discovered to reconnect our units was to close the automobile off, restart, and reconnect.

And a shout out to Lexus for not relegating fascinating security and comfort options to expensive packages within the method of German luxurious automobile manufacturers. The Lexus Security System+ 3.0 suite of normal options nearly each such system now obtainable, together with Street Signal Help, adaptive cruise management, Curve Pace Administration, Protected Exist Help, and Intuitive Parking Help.

The brand new RX is extra refined, extra environment friendly, and extra technologically superior than the automobile it replaces. Whereas we’ll (I’ll) miss the sleek previous V6, it’s laborious to argue that this benchmark premium midsize crossover isn’t nonetheless a best-in-class providing, particularly when value enters the equation. And even when it isn’t really sporty, we recognize the F Sport for its improved dealing with and aggressive styling.

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2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport Gallery

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