Check Drive: 2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport | The Each day Drive

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2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport AWD

Class: Premium midsize crossover

Shade: Grecian Water

Miles pushed: 117

CG Report Card


Room and Consolation	B+
Energy and Efficiency	B-
Match and End	A
Gasoline Financial 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 degree evaluated, and should not replicate Client Information’s impressions of the whole mannequin lineup.

Huge & Tall Consolation

Huge Man	B+
Tall Man	B

Huge & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” 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 gasoline financial system: 20.1 mpg

Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway

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

Gasoline sort: Premium fuel

Snow Efficiency: N/A

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

Choices on check automobile: Chilly Space Bundle ($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), Site visitors Jam Help ($620), door edge guards ($155), rear bumper applique ($90), working boards ($725)

Value as examined: $64,395

Fast Hits

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

The great: Simple-to-use infotainment system

The not so good: Sometimes 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 system 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 elements. Design execution and meeting high quality play big roles right here, and the RX has all the time regarded and felt as if the design and meeting folks accountable 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 seemingly that this writer 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 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 leap 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 out there completely 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 dear.

Be aware that transferring ahead, the RX won’t be supplied 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 position.

Client Information just lately spent every 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 automobile, effectively outfitted 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 a substitute, 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). Be aware 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 sort of a problem once you hit the freeway and need to transfer from Sport to Consolation mode, an motion some drivers might 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 web impression of the brand new drivetrain appears negligible. That mentioned, the drivetrain just isn’t 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 truly mistaken with the 4-cylinder powertrain, it’s simply not as close to excellent 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 are usually not truly sporty, and the 2023 RX 350 F Sport is not any exception. Our check automobile proved spry sufficient, with responsive steering, loads of energy, and affective brakes. No complaints from this driver, however know that the F Sport just isn’t direct competitors for BMW M fashions, not Mercedes-Benz AMG automobiles. 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 may be very very similar to the previous RX, solely higher. The cabin remains to be an understated elegant affair, and there’s loads of grownup house in each seating rows. And, more likely to the delight of most repeat Lexus prospects, the previous touch-pad fashion infotainment interface has been changed by a traditional—and really effectively 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 dissatisfied that a number of instances throughout our analysis, our telephones all of a sudden disconnected from the infotainment system, this throughout music/podcast play. The one approach we discovered to reconnect our gadgets was to close the automobile 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 automobile manufacturers. The Lexus Security System+ 3.0 suite of ordinary options just about each such system now obtainable, together with Highway Signal Help, adaptive cruise management, Curve Velocity 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 graceful previous V6, it’s arduous 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.

First Spin: 2022 Lexus NX