Nice upgrade on Lexus RX350
Smooth ride, tech advances impress
isn’t your typical upscale Toyota.
Since 1998, Lexus has managed to overcome lackluster interiors, limited infotainment usability, and rough-riding SUVs that left buyers cold: Enter the Lexus RX. And on this 2020 midcycle refresh, the 2020 Lexus RX350 hits all the marks.
Lexus has a mature customer base, demanding easy access, plenty of storage, a comfortable ride and dependability just to start. The mid-size luxury RX350, distinctive with its V-motion grille, boasts nice upgrades in the new version.
On the 2020 refresh, we noticed sleek updates to the front and rear fascia, a stiffer but more enjoyable suspension package as well as a lovely plush and quiet interior. The Lexus RX suspension upgrade eliminates the ruggedness of the ute, while overcoming any road imperfections on the way. Customers love the RX for just that reason; the ride and quality materials that mesh to create an inviting environment — and inviting it is.
Additional plushness in the seating, with more relaxed bolstered seats and more padding, as well as some additional long-awaited technical upgrades are notable. New to the RX is an 8-inch touch screen that protrudes from the leatherwrapped dash. Lexus owners had been limited to the center touch pad to navigate around the infotainment sysThis tem. Now you can use either option, a welcome feature. A 12.3-inch screen is available for $3,000 more and also includes a significant sound and speaker upgrade, a little pricey in our opinion.
Addressing a consumer complaint, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now available on the Lexus RX.
Powering the Lexus RX is their standard 3.5-liter V6 engine providing 295 horsepower via an 8-speed transmission, or you can upgrade to the RX450h, the hybrid version, which is 308 horsepower accompanied by a CVT transmission. We feel the 3.5L is adequate enough in this category and try to avoid the CVT transmissions when we can.
Competing in this category is the Volvo XC60, which we feel is a better option and for a slight savings financially, or the Infiniti QX60 which falls slightly behind the Lexus.