Lexus RX350

More power sees the world's best-selling luxury SUV stay on top of its game.

What's New
Since the first generation RX 300 was introduced in 1997, it has enjoyed an uninterrupted run as the world's best-selling luxury Sports Utility Vehicle.

In the time since then, challengers to its throne have come and gone but none have come as close as to matching (and then some) the RX's brief as the Nissan Murano.

Coincidence or otherwise, Lexus has seen fit to discontinue the RX 300 locally and replaces it with the RX 350 which as you may have guessed is powered by a 276bhp 3.5-litre V6 - 461cc larger than the previous model.

Elsewhere, even the most ardent Lexus fan would be hard pressed to spot any other revisions found on the RX 350.

How it Performs
Where the RX 300 rendered a smooth, comfortable but inert driving experience, the 350 feels unquestionably more inspired when moving off or accelerating from low speeds.

As before, the latest RX features full-time four-wheel-drive, which in this car's context, serves as reassuring form of traction control for any road surface rather than proper off-roading since its ground clearance isn't really high enough.

The on-paper figures also confirm what the seat of your pants tell you that the RX 350 is noticeably quicker, cracking the 0 to 100km/h barrier in 7.8 seconds, making it quicker than Lexus' perceived rivals such as the Volkwagen Touareg, the BMW X5 3.0 and yes, the 3.5-litre Nissan Murano.

Credit of course goes to the additional 72Nm of torque that the RX 350's V6 produces, but the overall experience is also enhanced with a more communicative steering rack and a revised suspension geometry that now smothers road surface imperfections without anesthetising its occupants from all the action.

However, the RX wouldn't be a true Lexus if it doesn't ride like a magic carpet or cabin isn't as quiet as a tomb. To this end, the RX 350 features an "acoustic windscreen" which apparently has a noise-insulating laminate between the two sheets of glass that make up the windscreen.
The result, according to Lexus, is a 3dB reduction in wind noise even at speeds of up to 200km/h.

The five-speed automatic gearbox on the RX 350 has been reprogrammed to take advantage of the 3.5-litre unit's gains in power and torque. Gone is the lethargic performance which, really, was one of the previous RX's few weaknesses.

How it Stacks Up
In the presence of larger rivals that offer more space than the Lexus, it is beginning to feel dated in some aspects. When it comes to performance, comfort and refinement however, the RX 350 comfortably out-drives the others thanks its new-found additional grunt.

While styling and space are subjective, with prices starting from less than $150,000 with COE, its buyers get a car that comes with a premium badge and refinement that can shame many cars costing $50,000 more.

In terms of equipment, even the entry RX model comes comprehensively equipped with seven airbags, an 11-speaker Mark Levinson sound system and 18-inch alloy wheels, among many other features.

Spend another $17,000 and you'll get a tailgate that can be opened and closed with a touch of a button so as not to dirty your fingers while another $5,000 gets you an extra large moonroof that extends beyond the rear seats.

Oscar Wilde once wrote, "My tastes are simple, I only want the best." With the RX 350, it would seem that the best choice is to keep it simple.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Lexus RX350 ENGINE Engine: 3,456cc 24V in-line 6 Max Power: 276bhp at 6,200rpm Max Torque: 342Nm at 4,700rpm TRANSMISSION 5-speed automatic TOP SPEED 200 kmh (limited) 0-100km/h 7.8s