2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport AWD
Class: Premium midsize crossover
Coloration: Grecian Water
Miles pushed: 117
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B+ |
| Energy and Efficiency | B- |
| Match and End | A |
| Gas Economic system | B |
| Worth | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and will not mirror Client Information’s impressions of your complete mannequin lineup. | |
| Massive & Tall Consolation | |
| Massive Man | B+ |
| Tall Man | B |
| Massive & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Massive” ranking based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 275-horsepower 2.4-liter |
| Engine Sort | Turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 8-speed automated |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Noticed gas financial system: 20.1 mpg
Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway
EPA-estimated gas financial system: 21/28/24 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gas sort: Premium gasoline
Snow Efficiency: N/A
Base worth: $56,600 (not together with $1150 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check car: 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), working boards ($725)
Value as examined: $64,395
Fast Hits
The good: Snug and upscale cabin, long-trip freeway refinement
The nice: 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 car’s place in automotive historical past. Largely forgotten immediately, the 1998 Lexus RX was arguably the primary luxurious crossover. Extra importantly, it stays an trade benchmark by way of gross sales quantity, and in defining the class itself.
The RX formulation 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 at all times been greater than sum of its elements. Design execution and meeting high quality play big roles right here, and the RX has at all times appeared and felt as if the design and meeting folks liable for the car 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 targeted because it has ever been, however…the V6 is gone. There’s nonetheless loads of energy on faucet, and it’s seemingly that this creator is the one particular person lamenting the passing of the old-school, comparatively low-tech engine, however with it went somewhat little bit of powertrain refinement—only a bit—and I type of miss it. Extra on it is 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 area created by that stretch has been allotted to the rear seating space, the place passengers will take pleasure in a dose of additional legroom.
With the redesign comes a soar within the variety of trim stage/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 accessible 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 characteristic 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 by way of 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 dear.
Notice that shifting ahead, the RX won’t be supplied with a 3rd seating row. A brand new longer Lexus mannequin, the TX, based mostly on the just lately launched Toyota Grand Highlander, will fill that function.
Client Information just lately spent per week with an AWD 2023 RX 350 F Sport and got here away very impressed by the most recent instance of Lexus’ midsize crossover. Our check car, nicely geared up with such niceties as LED headlamps, the aforementioned premium audio system, and working boards, got here to $64,395.
Typically 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). Notice that, maybe as a result of drivers don’t fuss with them that usually, the drive-mode selector has been moved from the console onto the touchscreen. That is form of a problem once you hit the freeway and need 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 affect of the brand new drivetrain appears negligible. That stated, the drivetrain will not 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 improper with the 4-cylinder powertrain, it’s simply not as close to good because the outdated powertrain was. On the plus facet, 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 check car proved spry sufficient, with responsive steering, loads of energy, and affective brakes. No complaints from this driver, however know that the F Sport will not be direct competitors for BMW M fashions, not Mercedes-Benz AMG automobiles. That stated, we wait with anticipation to spend time with the RX 500h, which guarantees to be entertaining to spend time with.
Inside, the RX 350 may be very very like the outdated RX, solely higher. The cabin continues to be an understated elegant affair, and there’s loads of grownup area in each seating rows. And, more likely to the delight of most repeat Lexus prospects, the outdated touch-pad model infotainment interface has been changed by a standard—and really nicely designed—touchscreen system. I didn’t hate the touchpad, however it appears as if practically everybody else did. It’s gone now. Downside solved.
We had been disenchanted that a number of instances throughout our analysis, our telephones immediately disconnected from the infotainment system, this throughout music/podcast play. The one manner we discovered to reconnect our gadgets was to close the car off, restart, and reconnect.
And a shout out to Lexus for not relegating fascinating security and comfort options to dear packages within the method of German luxurious car manufacturers. The Lexus Security System+ 3.0 suite of normal options nearly each such system now obtainable, together with Highway Signal Help, adaptive cruise management, Curve Pace Administration, Secure Exist Help, and Intuitive Parking Help.
The brand new RX is extra refined, extra environment friendly, and extra technologically superior than the car it replaces. Whereas we’ll (I’ll) miss the sleek outdated V6, it’s arduous to argue that this benchmark premium midsize crossover isn’t nonetheless a best-in-class providing, particularly when worth enters the equation. And even when it isn’t really sporty, we admire the F Sport for its improved dealing with and aggressive styling.
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2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport Gallery
Click on under for enlarged photographs