I have to admit Lexus has done such a great job with its vehicles that they’ve actually become a bit boring. So well made. So luxurious. So comfortable. So uninspiring. So predictable. Which is why sliding behind the wheel of the 2010 RX 350 was such a nice surprise.
This benchmark crossover may look familiar with the shape that launched the segment, but don’t let that fool you. This vehicle is all new for 2010, and it has raised the bar again. I’m typically not a fan of anything larger than a coupe for my personal use, but after driving the RX 350 for a week, it has joined the Nissan Maxima on my top-pick list. Usually when I hop into a new car there’s a learning curve. Sometimes it’s a day, sometimes I’m in the car a whole week and still don’t quite get it. But with the RX 350, it was like driving a car I’d driven a million times before. No learning curve. No real frustration with controls. Just the familiar and comfortable sensation of driving a vehicle that I’ve driven before.
This is one of those crossovers that has a very carlike ride, so for people who are used to driving a sedan, the jump to the RX 350 isn’t that different. Ride and handling is smooth and even, and only the largest of those Chicago potholes will jostle the vehicle uncomfortably. And, while you aren’t going to take the RX 350 out on a race track, it is nice to know that the crossover corners pretty well and accelerates even better. Equipped with the 3.5-liter V-6 engine, the RX 350 is perfectly powered for a 4,343-pound vehicle. It delivers 275 horsepower and 257 pound-feet of torque. The six-speed automatic transmission is very well geared, and combined with the V-6 engine, you’ll notice smooth, seamless power during acceleration.
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