It's Coming! Shouldn't Be Long Now — Three-row Lexus RX Slated For October Debut

Just yesterday I took delivery of a Volkswagen Atlas for review purposes. I have to say that I looked around and, to be honest, I am not so sure I am pumped up about this vehicle.

At least it delivers in two key areas: It has plenty of space in all directions and it has a third row, which means seating for seven.

This got me thinking: Where the hell is the Lexus RX with three rows? It's been two years since we first got wind of a three-row RX.

According to a Japanese publication, Lexus is preparing for an October debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. And, if the report is to be believed, then we can also trust it will not actually be a long-wheelbase model. Toyota's luxury division is just going to extend the rear end to it can shoehorn the third row in there.

I am already sounding cramped at the thought of it.

We'll keep you abreast of the latest when it breaks.

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bnilhome - 6/30/2017 1:43:57 PM

+5 Boost

There is only one thing worse than the current gaudy design of the Lexus RX.......that is an even bigger version of this same vehicle. Ugh.

Now if they had redesigned the RX and made it look somewhat decent, I think offering a larger version makes sense.

cidflekken - 6/30/2017 1:51:56 PM

+3 Boost

Seeing the test mules that are supposedly of this new 3-row, it appears that Lexus didn't really extend the rear much and reduced the slope of the rear hatch for headroom. I certainly hope Lexus isn't just plopping a couple of rear seats on top of the floor bed like they did with the first 3-row 4-Runner they attempted.

dumpsty - 6/30/2017 3:18:46 PM

+2 Boost

Toyota has already done some serious work on the newest Highlander. And they've parleyed that R&D for the upcoming Subaru Ascent CUV. Seems like it would be easy to do the same for the "revised" RX...so it's have the 3-row setup.

Lexus is in serious need of serious SUVs to really compete with M-B & BMW. Having on a few SUVs in the lineup was cool...like 10 years ago. Now they need more vehicle options for customers to choose from. Otherwise it's easy to shop somewhere else.

Really...who wants to get a new LX or GX?

MDarringer - 6/30/2017 4:07:37 PM

-3 Boost

They should have extended the wheelbase, given it its own styling, and called it the GX to replace the horrible, Third-World conveyance masquerading as a premium Lexus.

carloslassiter - 6/30/2017 6:14:14 PM

0 Boost

"They should have extended the wheelbase, given it its own styling, and called it the GX to replace the horrible, Third-World conveyance masquerading as a premium Lexus."

Translation: If it's not a Hyundai, MDarringer will dump all over it in on this site even if he has no idea what he's talking about (which is usually the case).

MDarringer - 6/30/2017 8:27:05 PM

+1 Boost

No @carlosasshatter

My wife wanted one and I knew how tipsy the GX is. It's an archaic platform with dangerous handling.

We test drove it and I took it through an accident avoidance maneuver at 35mph and it was terrifyingly unruly.

I then took her on a test drive of a Mercedes GL (now GLS) and did the same move at the same place and the Mercedes responded adroitly and without drama.

Given that the vehicle was to be her first "baby car" she quickly decided that the Mercedes was the better choice by far.

The GX is unsafe at any speed.

Firewombat - 7/1/2017 3:48:47 PM

+1 Boost

Good to know you care about the safety of your "stick with boobs" - as you put it. Even sticks deserve safe cars.

MDarringer - 7/1/2017 5:56:12 PM

-2 Boost

@firewombat She'd find the statement utterly hilarious.

malba2367 - 7/1/2017 10:37:00 AM

+1 Boost

@Mdarringer...your posts are full of nonsense and bias. Yes, theLexus GX is a body on frame SUV and won't handle like a sports car. If you look at the IIHS data it is a very safe car with one of the lowest driver fatality rates...hardly unsafe at any speed. In fact the driver death rate in the Hyundai Santa Fe is significantly higher, and the Hyundai Sonata you cream your pants over is even higher.
Yes Lexus had a problem with the stability control program on the GX which CR uncovered and Lexus promptly fixed.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/driver-death-rates

mre30 - 7/1/2017 11:22:21 AM

0 Boost

Malba - you supposition is patently false. If you go the IIHS site you reference, click on "large" and "luxury suvs" - the Lexus GX460 comes up with a death rate of "8" - which is the second highest in front of the Porsche Cayenne (a sports SUV - so driven by a subset of douchy, risky, males) which rates a 9.

For a vehicle driven by soccer moms around the suburbs, a death rate of 8 is shockingly high.

I actually did exactly what MD did - and test drove the GX460 and the MB GL and got the same results - the GX drives like a vehicle from the 1980's and is quite scary if you need to do an evasive maneuver.

I too am very happy with my Mercedes GL350 purchase and (for what its worth) there is a big poster in my Mercedes dealer that claims the GL class is a "zero-fatality" vehicle.

MDarringer - 7/1/2017 11:30:07 AM

-2 Boost

@malba2468 Go buy one then. Just don't write to the factory complaining about how dead you are.

In an avoidance maneuver, the live axle does a "jacking" motion which causes the rear end to step out and that is dangerous for inexperienced drivers. At that point the body roll is most decidedly in play and a stab of the brakes--which most people would do--can easily provoke roll over.

We now have an Escalade given our success in breeding children. With the Escalade your best strategy is to use the mass of the vehicle as your weapon.

And yes, my wife has now been to performance driving school.

malba2367 - 7/1/2017 10:38:19 AM

+2 Boost

I forgot to mention that the Hyundai Tuscon is the worst rated SUV for driver fatality.

malba2367 - 7/1/2017 3:27:23 PM

+1 Boost

A risk of 8 is among the lowest of all vehicles and it ties the scores of the lowest risk minivan (Odyssey) also primarily driven by soccer moms.

I am not interested in the GX, just calling BS on labeling it "unsafe at any speed"

MDarringer - 7/1/2017 10:26:44 PM

-1 Boost

@malba2468 Go buy one then. Just don't write to the factory complaining about how dead you are.