2016 Lexus RX350 F Sport
Since it started the luxury crossover class in 1998 the Lexus RX has been its best seller and the a moving target for competitors. While it no longer dominates the way it once did—there are simply too many players in its market space for that anymore—the latest, fourth-generation model has maintained its excellence.
The Lexus’ styling initially shocked most, but a year after seeing it under auto show lights it now strikes just the right chord once viewed in its natural environment. It also makes otherwise excellent competitors like the new Lincoln MKX look immediately out of date. Inside Lexus has judiciously upped the already great quality of loaded examples, while stripping out some content form basic ones. The optional new 12in screen at the windshield base is a drastic improvement on the outgoing model’s, but the continued reliance on a mouse-like controller is unfortunate. It takes longer to make a desired command happen, which is dangerous in heavy traffic. Good thing Lexus has made its driver warning and collision-avoidance options more affordable! And as nice the cockpit is, vehicles like the Lincoln are on another level of sybaritic comfort in terms of leather quality and quantity and seating comfort. Speaking of, the F Sport seats are much more cosseting than those in the basic model, but some larger framed folks might find them constricting. Back seat and cargo room are larger thanks to stretches in wheelbase and overall length.
The downside to this is more mass: the latest RX350 tips the scales about 400 pounds heavier than before, so that despite its 3.5-liter engine getting an additional 25 ponies and more torque—for totals of 295hp/267lb-ft—and a standard 8-speed automatic across the board, performance nor economy are no better. At least they’re not worse, and the Lexus still feels quick enough in traffic and is even more refined than before, with less wind and road roar. The F Sport gets a sound enhancer for the engine, while you know its artifice, it isn’t objectionable—sort of like good CGI effects in an action movie. What is certainly better about the F Sport is its chassis.
All fourth-gen RXs come with bigger antiroll bars and a faster steering rack. In normal models these conflict at times with the softer springing, putting things slightly out of phase at times. The FS’s adjustable dampers not only alleviate this to large degree, but they also imbue the Lexus with a better ride—probably as good or better than most anything in the class.
Lexus has an uncanny ability to read market trends and their engineers show the talent to meet and exceed customer expectations, If this latest RX350 can meet the exceedingly high standards for refinement and reliability its forebears have established, and its flashy style can continue to bring new buyers to the brand, there’s no reason not to expect Lexus to retain the luxury sales crown it took back from the German brands in 2015.
EPA ratings:
0-60mph: 6.9sec
More info: lexus.com
Isaac Bouchard is owner of Bespoke Autos, an auto brokerage that helps people save time, money and hassle when buying or leasing vehicles. Since 1991 he has helped his clients save over $1 million dollars. He has written extensively about getting the best deal possible when buying or leasing a vehicle, arranging financing or trading in a car. Isaac has been a professional automotive journalist as well for over 12 years, having reviewed most all types of car, truck and SUV.
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