REFINED, RELAXING LUXURY CROSSOVER GETS A REFRESH
The Lexus RX and I are old buddies. We’ve known each other for 22 years and four generations. I was there for its unveiling as the RX 300 back in 1998, the first real, successful attempt by a Japanese brand to build a luxury-oriented mid-size sport ute.
I’ve driven them all — the RX 300, the 330, the 350, and the hybrid-powered RX 400h and 450h. Regular five-seater and newer seven-seater. It’s been a steadfast, true-blue friend, dead-nuts reliable but a little too buttoned down. Oh, it got middle-age crazy with the fourth generation, shucking a distinct but conservative style for more creases than a slept-in suit, trying to be all hip and now. And that unfortunate nose job — people are still talking. But through it all — the minor ups and downs, the increased competition, the questionable grille — the Canadian-built RX has been true to its original intent of providing a balance of all things: luxury, comfort, power and amenities.
Which brings me to the 2020 RX 350, which includes a reworked grille (still monstrous and overbearing), redesigned LED headlights and rear tail lights, and restyled wheels. There are enlarged and repositioned side grilles and new fog lamps, while a “precisely honed” character line running from front to rear ostensibly reduces noise and enhances stability at higher speeds.
Inside, the roomy five-passenger RX 350 tester pleases the eye of driver and passengers with vibrant red leather seats. Updated features throughout the RX lineup include a new available 12.3-inch touch screen and Lexus Remote touchpad infotainment system, plus two extra USB outlets in the rear. All RX models finally get Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as Enform Remote Connect, Safety Connect and Service Connect. (Safety Connect, for instance, provides the driver with access to a 24/7 response centre agent who can provide assistance in an emergency.)
There are a couple of ergonomic glitches that mar an otherwise comprehensively equipped and logically laid out cabin. The first is that to access the seat heat/ cooling functions on the centre stack, one must reach over or around the shift lever. The second is that while the power and volume control for the excellent Mark Levinson sound system are in easy reach, the tuning function requires a long arm or a helpful front passenger. As for the touchpad, let’s just say I am not its biggest fan.
Unlike many of its European rivals, there’s no turbo-four base engine for the RX 350, just
Lexus’s stalwart 3.5-litre V6, an exceedingly refined motor that puts out an easy, stress-free 295 horsepower. Explosive acceleration is not the RX’S forte — the weighty, 1,990-kilogram crossover takes a tick under eight seconds to hit 100 km/h. Still, the engine and the silky eight-speed automatic to which it’s mated, is one of the truly great combos to be found within the luxe class of crossovers.
There is a Drive Mode Select system that will modify to some degree the engine and chassis. The Sport setting offers a slight measure of extra zip with more aggressive throttle mapping and quicker engine response. The Sport+ setting additionally firms up the electric power steering and stiffens the suspension for flatter cornering.
Drivers can also select Eco, Normal or Custom to tailor the RX’S demeanour. The first two, however, provide little in the way of feel.
Both the front and rear stabilizer bars are now hollow to reduce weight, yet have thicker diameters and reinforced bushings to reduce body roll and improve steering response. The shock absorbers have been retuned to work with the new roll bars, while upgraded dampers come with a new friction control device that helps lessen high-frequency vibrations for a smoother ride.
And the ride really is wonderfully smooth. A 110-km jaunt to visit the outdoor patio of a favourite restaurant for its mouth-watering wings (a completely rational reaction to the loosening of Ontario’s COVID-19 restrictions) extols the virtues of the RX’S tweaked underpinnings. It’s quite easy to forget this is a crossover and not some flagship luxury sedan.
The 2020 RX 350 starts at a reasonable (and well equipped) $56,050. The tester was kitted with the F Sport Series 3 package, a pricey ($13,800) but comprehensive suite of add-ons that not only bolster the RX’S already assertive looks (or junk it up, depending on your perspective) but seriously up the cabin’s comfort and entertainment quotient. Yet, thanks to various trim levels and packages offered, one can find most of the creature comforts for less than the tester’s near-$70k suggested sticker.
Those loyal to the brand will be comforted by the fact that the refreshed 2020 RX has not strayed from its reputation as one of the most refined and relaxing crossovers on the market. Those shopping the segment for the first time should at least be curious.