Review: Lexus RX350-Why can't the competitors beat it?

love the stony creek news! great publication!

never heard of it.

Hey, I like the Lexus product, but it's interesting to note that Stoney Creek is (according to Live Maps) aqbout 42 miles away from Cambridge, where they build the RX. Vested interest? Hmmm...

Which Cambridge, Cambridge, Massachusetts?

the RX is manufactured in canada at the plant mentioned above.

Obviously they favor them

001, what's with the slew of Lexus propaganda? Did they give you another free car?

I wanna free Lexus.

*please*

There are three reasons we didn't consider the FX...

1. The trunk is tiny. About half the size of the RX's.

2. At the time, it was the pre-updated FX we would've considered. The interior was disappointingly cheap.

3. My wife prefers a luxurious SUV to a sporty one... and she therefore likes the Lexus brand more than the Infiniti brand.

i actually own a 2004 rx330. and before than a 2000 rx300. What draws me to the car? the wife likes it. its a great cruiser, and i think it actually looks good. add an okay engine in there, some sound proofing, and you got yourself a nice car. Now we dont take it to the track ,and ive never driven an FX, but what kinda soccer mom needs a sporty SUV?

what soccer mum needs a laminated windscreen or indeed a 3.5 litre engine?

laminated glass for quieter interior

3.5 liters for those 5 heavy americans in the car

LexusKindaGuy, I'm in the exact same position. My wife has loved her RXs- she had a '98 RX300 and now has an '04 RX330. But it's average at best. There's no real reason why it sells so well; M-Class is just as quiet, with a more expensive-looking interior, X5 obviously handles better and looks better, RR Sport is more prestigious/luxurious/good-looking, and FX drives better.

I'm perfectly happy to buy it for her, but I uttered a semi-audible sigh of relief when she told me she didn't want another SUV. She doesn't want another Lexus, either-- she says they're too popular, too boring. All of the sudden, I think? Go figure.

Thanks, I really needed you to tell me how to support my family. I'm doing such a terrible job, too. Of course I am- you know everything about my life!

the RX is a bit old tech though, only a 5 speed auto? Does Lexus have the current biggest gap in gearing ratios for a car maker? 5 in the RX to 8 in the LS is quite a jump.

errr.

Rx350 release date: April 2003
LS460 release date: September 2006

3 years is a lot of time for new tech.

Not for three speeds. They could've quite easily put in the six-speed that went into their sedans the year after.

well its in the middle of production. they arent going to make big changes to it until the resdesign.

No, I'm saying they could've put the six-speed tranny in the RX from the START. If they had it a year later, was it really that hard to attain or develop, whichever they did?

more gears does not mean better!!

It's a practical, straight forward, reliable & easy to operate luxury S.U.V. which you'll get bored of the first week.

Best in class for the soccer moms...not the enthusiasts.

The RX was on my shopping list a few years ago until I found out that the spare tire was no longer mounted inside in a proper wheel well and on a matching alloy wheel. Who wants to change a tire mounted on a wheel underneath the vehicle where it is crusted up witth winter salt and mud? Also my wife and I both banged our heads on the roof upon entry due to lack of proper height adjustments on the front seats. I have to ask: has Toyota fixed these problems?

I'm pretty sure the RX350 has more seat adjustments, but I don't know about any of the other problems you encountered.

the reason why they have the tire underneath (which is covered in a case btw) is so that soccer moms (primary drivers) do not need to reach down to drag up the tire, they can lower it from the bottom and install it that way. btw, it does have a full size alloy rim to it. always had.

What makes the RX so sucessful, is like asking what makes the ES 350 so sucessful? I would say that there is no direct competition with either of them.

didnt the rx basically start the whole crossover phase. i can just imagine all the other companys laughing at them, when they first showcased the vehicle, but now every company is coming out with them.

I've sat in the RX before. It is quiet and the bumps are soaked up pretty well. It's how Lexus should be. When i'm in the new ML and the other German SUV's it's a different ambiance (which doesn't mean it's bad). Lexus gives the driver/passengers a feeling. The German's give their driver/passengers another feeling respectively. It's something I can't describe but all of the SUV's in this segment are pretty good these days.

The X3 rides not bad, the gear changes are seamless, but it's a totally different feeling from the RX. It's just something about the product that tells you YES THIS IS JAPANESE.. Haha I'm blabbing on but some of you guys may know what I'm talking about.

"Magic feel?"

Don't be afraid to use that phrase if you truly believe it. There's nothing "wrong" with it.

I interpret the "YES THIS IS JAPANESE" feeling as "QUALITY."

Not all Japanese products are QUALITY. In this case the quality is satisfactory and the consumers in this segment love it.

Will, you know how sick I am of hearing that word? I'm on the verge of pulling my hair out... REALLY.

Please! Define QUALITY! QUALITY, QUALITY, QUALITY, QUALITY! It's all any of you ever say!

Hearing that word wouldn't frustrate you like that if your favorite brands didn't have QUALITY issues. Let's not even say "issues," let's just say, not as reliable as Lexus models. This is no opinion, but a proven fact that the general consensus also happens to share. You and your crew have even admitted it time and time again and have claimed that you would much rather prefer your German automobiles with a few quality issues than "boring and reliable Lexuses" did you not?

Did I say they were? NO.

It just so happens that I have had a perfect experience with my Audi models... they've been every bit as reliable as our two RXs.

So the general public hasn't had the same experience. What do I care? As long as I'm satisfied with mine, as I am, there's no reason to get any Lexus instead.

While you're at it, why don't you add that Lexus is also more reliabile than INFINITI, BMW, Porsche, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar? I'm not denying that! But reliability isn't why I buy my car! I have to LIKE the car first... reliability comes second. If it's truly a horrible experience, I won't keep the car. But that hasn't happened to me, and I don't expect it to.

I think it would easily be the best SUV - its not very expensive, has pretty good features and is just plain great

You'd have to own one first. Owning an RX330 does not mean you don't lust after Range Rovers, Cayennes, etc.

I see these EVERYWHERE on the roads omg

do you live in a cave?

I am a Acura-kinda-guy and I would take the MDX any day 300hp 3.7liter raw animal and it looks better. Heated rear seats as a option which lexus doesnt offer and they say Acura doesn't do luxury, not to mention 1800 extra for Lexus leather seats which are no smoother than Acura's.

The new MDX is a respectable car. Quality levels have been opt for this second generation model. The old one wasn't appealing in any way. It wasn't even close to the RX in comparison. However the new one has been much improved. As good as the RX is now the MDX is an alternative to that.

The RX has a better fan base as well as consumer numbers but it will take some time for consumers to look over at Acura's MDX as a choice for SUV. Because of it's past reputation of having cheap interior quality it will affect the image that MDX has given to people who were once looking to buy.

I disagree we are comparing apples to oranges here, the previous generation MDX was 265 horses while the previous RX was in the low 200'S. MDX was the suv of the year in 01 when it came out and furthermore I live in the New England area and I see more MDX'S than RX'S. If you have a link showing the RX outselling the MDX post it here. I read consumer reports and it list the MDX every year as a best buy/top pick.

FX= Nissan

Rx= Toyota

It's no BMW at the end of the day, it's just rebadged waste. Shucks i can rebadge any car in my garage. Hey i'll turn your old camry into a new ES and charge you twice as much, how does that sound?????

Just to let you know that Lexus has separated from the JDM market. Lexus is a brand on its own and no longer re badged Toyota's (EVEN IN JAPAN). Sure the new LX will be badged as a Toyota in the UK but basing itself off a Land cruiser isn't all that bad to begin with. The LC is fully capable of what its designed for and it does very very well.

I love the BMW X5 and I like how smooth the gear changes in the X3 but I'm not a fan.

"HugoBoss?" With those kinds of comments, I doubt you've ever even SEEN a Hugo Boss suit. Ridiculous...

HBoss:

"It's no BMW at the end of the day, it's just rebadged waste."

it must be a TERRIBLE EMBARASSMENT that a purpose built bmw suv is getting it's ASS KICKED by a mere rebadged Camry! LOL! ;)

true that, last time someone brought an x5 to the track is tipped over. not good since it didnt go off the track, causing a jam. dunno about the x3, but anyone taking any bmw suv to a track has to be seriously desperate for some german road feeling.

one time i saw someone jump a curb in a cayenne. the guy got pulled over by a cop.

Why would anyone take an X5 to a track? BMW may produce performance cars, but the X5 ISN'T one. It's a rich housewife car, just like the RX and ML.

You've obviously never driven an X5.

It handles better than most cars, and about as good as any SUV out there. Low center of gravity and great suspension components. I drove one just a couple weeks ago and gave her hell. Turned the DSC off and wagged the tail even on some hard corners. There's NO WAY I could do such a thing in an RX, which has about as much body roll as a doubelstacked eurobus and a suspension about as soft as cottage cheese.

The only thing similar between an X5 and a RX is they both have five doors.

Saying it's the "best-handling" SUV is no huge feat. It is NOT a sports car, period. Yes, I know, it has great handlig for a 5,000lb car. And I know the RX drives like a Camry!

In fact, the X5 might be the BEST handling SUV, Period.

This study concludes that:

* No vehicle with comparable or better off-road performance has better handling.
* No vehicle with comparable or higher seating height (and the corresponding improved visibility that this imparts) has better handling.

http://www-ksl.stanford.edu/people/kpfleger/auto/handling.html

bull**** test show the new MDX outburned the BMW as well as the Porsche non turbo on the track in their own home town.SH-AWD is the best technological advancement on the market today. Yes BMW use to be the performance kings but the comp has caught up.

Okay you must have received a killer deal on a GM vehicle to say something so incorrect. A Saturn or GMC can compete with an RX in quality and comfort? I beg to differ. Even though the RX is in the small segment of SUV's and may not be as large as GMC's I assure you it is no piece of crap.

This website is basically Lexus & German fans. There is no room for domestic loving(especially when you compare German/Japanese Trucks or SUV's to a Domestic).

and GM has soul? what are you kidding me? You're the pansy here.

You don't know why people drive glorified Honda's? Is it because you drive a BMW and think you are better than them? Quit being so ignorant. You give us German fans a bad name. By the way It's not even a Honda to begin with. It's a Lexus. However one thing is for sure. I would take an MDX or RX over an X3 any day.

Here's an explantation that will make a lot of you sleep better tonight.

The RX sells because everyone who buys one is a simple-minded fool who has been tricked. Truth is, the entire Lexus dealer network is made up of gypsies and retired circus carnies.

Since all Lexus products are completely undesirable, the staff at the dealerships make use of all their trickery including slight of hand, hypnosis, and blackmail(East coast only) to sell their vehicles.

Lexus ALWAYS understates their 0 - 60 times by at least .5 seconds. Here are the results of the 5 Top Luxury Cars in this test which was reported in the January Issue of Car and Driver. Please note these tests were all done on the same day at about the same time and at the same altitude. The results reflect the average of 3 runs and all cars are the 2007 vintage.

Mercedes S550 5.6, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.1
BMW 750iL 5.7, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.2
Jag XJ Super 6.0 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.5
Lexus LS460L 6.2 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.6
Audi A8 6.8 0 - 60 quarter mile 15.2

Note that Lexus, as usual, is more than the 5.4 the manufacturer CLAIMS to get by .8 seconds.

Also note the LS430 (prior model the LS460 replaced) was rated at 295 HP and was actually 278 when Lexus corrected their rating. And there were no refunds or apologies from the so-called "quality" car company. ABC - Always Be Careful what you buy from the Lexus people.....