DRIVEN + VIDEO: One Of The MOST Popular Luxury SUVs Gets A Bit Better Via Its All-new 3rd Row — The Lexus RX350L

DRIVEN + VIDEO: One Of The MOST Popular Luxury SUVs Gets A Bit Better Via Its All-new 3rd Row — The Lexus RX350L
Something that's been going on for quite sometime has perplexed us. It's not the first time this has happened but, finally, we're happy to see the automaker has met the market's needs.

No, we're not talking about the bigger BMW X7.

We're actually here to talk about the all-new Lexus RX350L. Although it seems like it would have been a lay up for Lexus to have a third-row RX, the company has hesitated until now.

So, does the latest RX deliver the goods? Check out what the folks at Consumer Reports have to say about it. They're awfully familiar with great three-row SUVs, which means its benchmark is stronger.


The Lexus RX is now super-sized: the RX350L's added space includes a third row of seats, but some might find it more useful for hauling cargo, rather than passengers.



TomMTomM - 5/12/2018 4:50:54 PM
+2 Boost
Its Funny - normally we completely ignore Consumer reports reviews here because they are geared toward normal transportation driving and not performance.

So - when Consumer Reports give a vehicle a rave - we can generally describe it as a Casper Milquetoast vehicle. And that describes this abominably styled piece of iron almost perfectly. You have to wonder if they only used their Blind reviewers for this nonsense.


MDarringerMDarringer - 5/12/2018 5:30:12 PM
+5 Boost
The flaw of the RXL is that Toyota did not lengthen the wheelbase. Thus, there may be three rows, but the third row is useful only for amputees.


Dexter1Dexter1 - 5/12/2018 5:41:09 PM
+7 Boost
Another row of hideousness.


malba2367malba2367 - 5/12/2018 6:15:18 PM
+6 Boost
This extension makes an already unattractive vehicle look even worse. However, it will sell in droves. Lexus has a pretty good stronghold on the luxury crossover market. This rx-l leaves a nice amount of room in the lineup for a GX replacement, which would be a crossover about 205 inches in length designed as a 3 row from the start...that would be another huge knockout for Lexus.


MDarringerMDarringer - 5/12/2018 10:43:46 PM
+2 Boost
The RXL has stopgap written all over it. It would not surprise me if the Sequoia leaves the Tundra platform and the GX finally leaves its ancient platform to both become modern, FWD/AWD, three-row crossovers.


cidflekkencidflekken - 5/12/2018 9:31:14 PM
+6 Boost
This does not mention what a major pain point: the second row legroom has been significantly impacted for the sake of adding the 3rd row. All other competitors offer between 36-40 inches of 2nd row legroom. The RX-L offers only 30.9 inches (from 38 in the 2-row RX). Most competitors offer between 28-33 inches of 3rd row legroom. The RX-L offers only 23.5 inches. I'm surprised that CR did not mention these facts. These dimensions are also confirmed on Lexus' website.

https://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2018-lexus-rx-l-3-row-first-review/2100005160/


cidflekkencidflekken - 5/13/2018 4:25:59 AM
+6 Boost
And I'll just add that the 30.9 inches of 2nd row legroom in this MIDSIZE SUV, is almost 2 inches SHORTER than they offer in their LC500 sports coupe's rear seats, which many publications have deemed useless. Let that sink in about the packaging of the RX-L.


MDarringerMDarringer - 5/13/2018 3:04:23 PM
+2 Boost
Well that's lovely. I understand why this product exists but I don't understand why Toyota executed it with so many flaws.


t_bonet_bone - 5/13/2018 11:40:33 PM
+5 Boost
Ultimate Compromise Vehicle - UCV. Looks like it can handle sports cars on the track, but is lost on the first corner. Looks like it can manage off road but is challenged with a city curb.

Now - looks like it can seat 3 rows, but now only the driver and passenger are comfortable.

And, offends everyone on the outside with bad taste.


DinduNuffinDinduNuffin - 5/14/2018 1:33:29 PM
0 Boost
Needs more creases.
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