STAYING THE COURSE
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Mon, Jan 18, 2010
By: The LACar Editorial Staff

2010 Lexus RX 350
STAYING THE COURSE
By Joseph Manalili
A short while ago, I caught a glimpse of the re-designed Lexus RX-350 and did a
double take. I wasn't sure it was a RX-350 because it looked much sportier, more
solid, and, frankly, more masculine than earlier versions. I made a mental note
to add that car to my if-my-car-suddenly-dies-and-I-have-to-buy-another-one list
for consideration.
The previous iterations of the RX-350 were certainly not on my list. They seemed
designed with the rich soccer mom in mind with their odd shape and light ride.
Sure, they had impressive luxury features but they were sort of boring to look
at. I figured they were equally boring to drive, which I confirmed at a Lexus
test drive event. They were sport utility vehicles that lacked sportiness. That
can be said for many of these crossovers, but it seemed that other manufacturers
tried harder to beef up their crossovers in order to take advantage of their
height, size and room while making them powerful yet nimble. I did not feel the
same about the RX 350 - until now.
Maybe it was a week of test driving that changed my mind, but the new
enhancements really toughened up the car. With a less rounded look and lines
that convey more weight, the vehicle seems to have more heft in the right
places, particularly closer to the wheels indicating a lower center of gravity
and, thus, more stability. The sleek lines and the curve of the rear windows
displayed aerodynamics without being too slick. With all that in mind and some
anticipation, I turned on the engine at the press of a button and it roared to
life.
With a 3.5-liter, V-6 engine, the vehicle has a lot of power ready to go - 275
horsepower to be exact. I tested it in a long drive outside the city where
traffic was light. It had a lot of power in lower gears which was necessary to
quickly get up to speed on our freeways. It does 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds. The
vehicle really loves being pushed hard on long straightaways. The new RX weaves
in and out of traffic with ease and distributed weight well with no body rolls
or jerky movement. The cruise control feature works well and adjusts fine when
traffic prevented a steady speed. In the city, it handles well and moves easily
in tough conditions. Even with rain, the Vehicle Dyamics Integrated Management
System (VDIM) anticipates the loss of traction at different times and adjusts
accordingly. Overall, it is a very good driving experience.
One of the most noteworthy attributes of the RX-350 is how quiet it is inside.
Despite all my driving in rain, traffic, etc., the interior remains calm, smooth
and quiet. Complimenting the serenity is a great premium audio system with an
automatic sound levelizer, in-dash single feed 6-disc CD changer and XM
satellite radio, and a plug for my iPod. I love these little features. They
really add to the driving experience and notch up the enjoyment level. All of
those features are controlled by a track-ball, which also controls the
navigation, information, and climate systems. For those familiar with
track-balls, managing the systems through this one device is easy to learn and
use. The navigation system works well in locating my destination and providing
easy to read directions. One nice benefit is that it actually shows the freeway
lanes and any turn off lanes. That helps in avoiding unnecessary lane changes
and following directions. Another great feature is the rear view camera that
helps when in reverse. I found many of these features useful during my week-long
test drive and wish I had them in my current vehicle.
Certain other features did not go over so well with me or with my passengers.
Despite the premium package of leather and genuine wood trim, the interior does
not seem as luxurious as other Lexus vehicles. In fact, I noticed some things,
like the ceiling lights and sunglass case, are the same as the ones in my
colleague's Camry. When you are paying so much more for a luxury vehicle, it's
hard not to expect a more luxurious interior. The vehicle does have plenty of
space for five passengers to sit comfortably, but they would not be able to
bring much luggage. I traveled with two passengers out of town but we could
barely fit three suitcases in the cargo hold. Luckily, we were light packers.
Despite what I said about the trackball, I prefer a touch screen system. With
the trackball, it's a little cumbersome to quickly navigate the system to change
radio stations or to enter a new location to find.
Overall, the RX-350 is a great vehicle to drive, with lots of pep and power. It
could improve certain features including its not-so-luxurious interior and small
cargo area but those are minor complaints when taking into consideration the
total package.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Short of perfection, but pretty darn close to it for this third-generation take
on the most popular of today's luxury crossover vehicles.
For more information about Lexus products, go to
www.lexus.com
SPECIFICATIONS
Name of vehicle:
2010 Lexus RX-350
Price:
$36,800 (base)
$44,851 (as tested)
EPA gas mileage ratings:
18 miles per gallon in the city / 25 miles per gallon on the highway
Engine type:
3.5 liter Four Cam 24-Valve V6 Enginge with Variable Valve Timing (VVT-i)
Horsepower:
275 at 6200 rpm
Torque:
257 pound-feet at 4700 rpm
Transmission:
Six-speed automatic with ECT and sequential shift
Drive configuration:
front-wheel drive
Steering:
Power-assisted rack & pinion
Suspension:
Front: Independent, MacPherson struts with inversely wound coil springs, gas-pressureized
shock absorbers, stabilizer bar
Rear: Independent, double-wishbone with coil springs, gas-pressurized shock
absorbers, stabilizer bar
Dimensions
Length: 187.8 inches
Width: 74.2 inches
Height: 66.3 inches (67.7 w/roof rails)
Curb Weight:
4178 (base)
4343 (as tested)
Towing Capacity
3,500 lbs.