The Lexus RX has been an overwhelming success for Lexus ever since its debut in the late 1990’s. The RX was one of the first luxury crossovers and now five generations later, Lexus has improved on the formula that has made the RX so popular. The last generation few generations have sold well, but we would never really say that they were very exciting to drive or look at, so Lexus has fixed that with a bolder design, improved powertrains and a new platform.
The last generation RX didn’t win us over with its styling, so the good news is that the new RX has thrown out the last generation’s dorky looks for a more aggressive and modern look. The shape is similar to what we’ve come to expect from the RX, but this time the RX has a sportier look and stance that finally brings some excitement to the RX. At the front there’s a new version of the brand’s spindle grille, while the rear looks more modern with its full width lightbar and “Lexus” lettering across the tailgate. You might wonder why the RX is now only a two-row SUV, since the last generation did offer a three-row version, but that space in the lineup will now be occupied by the 2024 TX.
Under the hood, there are several powertrain options to choose from, which includes the 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder for the RX 350, while there’s also the two hybrid options, the RX 350h and the more exciting RX 500h. The RX 350 is easily the most popular version of the RX with its four-cylinder engine that generates 275-hp and 317 lb-ft. of torque, which replaces the last generation’s V6. The four-cylinder is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and buyers can choose either front- or all-wheel drive.
On the road, the RX 350’s acceleration is adequate, although if you want something with more of a punch, you’ll want to go with the RX 500h F Sport Performance model with its 367 hp. We’d call the acceleration more than adequate for most buyers in this class, but it does get a bit loud when pushed hard. The eight-speed automatic transmission also surprised us with some less refined shifts. But again, the powertrain in the RX 350 will easily be suitable for most buyers.
The F Sport package also adds a stiffer suspension to make the RX 350 a bit more engaging to drive, but it’s let down a bit by its numb steering. On our drive around the streets of Los Angeles, the suspension did a great job by creating a comfortable ride even when the road ahead got a bit rough.
The RX 350 with front-wheel drive is rated at 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined. With all-wheel drive those specs drop slightly to 21/28/24 mpg. If you want a more fuel efficient version, there’s the RX 350h hybrid that’s rated at 37 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 36 mpg combined.
Inside the RX 350’s interior is a big improvement over the last generation. The biggest change is the new 14-inch touchscreen that run’s the brand’s latest infotainment system. The entire system is far easier to use than the last infotainment system and the navigation system is powered by Google Maps. Voice commands are easy to use when you don’t want to take your hand off the steering wheel and the system will also stay up to date via over-the-air updates.
The overall design of the dashboard looks and feels more luxurious with its soft touch materials and pleasing design. In front of the driver there’s a 7.0-inch digital display that actually looks smaller than you would expect with the amount of real estate surrounding the screen. You also might notice that the door handles look a bit different, since you simply just push them to open the door instead of pulling them with your hand. The electronic door handles help prevent you from opening the door in front of an oncoming car or biker. One thing that did take a bit to get used to are the unmarked buttons on the steering wheel, which are reconfigurable for different functions, but it’s not easy to always remember the settings.
On the tech front, a Mark Levinson audio system, head-up display and digital rearview mirror are optional. In terms of safety, the RX comes with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, which has new features, like a pre-collision system that will alert you to oncoming cross traffic at an intersection or a system that can automatically slow the RX down if it detects a pedestrian.
Pricing for the 2023 Lexus RX 350 starts at $48,950, while the RX 350 F Sport Handling version starts at $58,150.
The Lexus RX has been completely revamped for the 2023 model year with more exciting styling, a more premium cabin and new powertrains. The 2023 RX will easily satisfy current RX owners and even better we suspect that Lexus will win over some new buyers as well.
