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That’s just before I started in the automotive journalism business, and Toyota was one of the first manufacturers to loan me test vehicles. Toyota, of course, is parent company of the Lexus brand, and that in mind a year before the RX arrived here with a stylized “L” on its grille it debuted with a “T” on its face and Harrier nameplate fixed to its tailgate. Now, more than 15 years later, the RX is a legend amongst luxury crossover utility fans.
Since I started reviewing vehicles, I’ve tested, photographed and reviewed seven RX models in various stages of trim, both conventionally powered as well as hybrids,
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In case you didn’t know, the Lexus RX is the best-selling luxury crossover the North American market has ever known, and that’s not because our market is without competition. Although body-on-frame when it first launched and therefore not a luxury crossover but rather a luxury SUV, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class actually beat the RX to market by a year. The two forerunners were soon followed by the BMW X5, Acura MDX, Porsche Cayenne, Infiniti FX/QX70, Volvo XC90, Cadillac SRX, Audi Q7, Lincoln MKX in that order, and the list goes on and on with many
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Why all of this sales information? If you remember Regis Philbin’s outrageously popular TV game show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, the most accurately answered “lifeline” was always “Ask the audience,” which incidentally is the only remaining original lifeline in the show that continues to this day. Fortunately you don’t need to go ask the audience which luxury crossover you should buy as the tally has already been counted, with the undisputed answer being the Lexus RX.
Like I said earlier, each time I sit behind the wheel of an RX, I understand why this
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Now that we’re talking vehicle segments, there aren’t too many direct competitors selling midsize five-occupant luxury crossovers. Most are quite a bit longer and standard with seven seats, and while this might be advantageous to some with large families (and Lexus really should be playing in the seven-passenger crossover game) we need to remember that the audience has clearly spoken with their pocketbooks.
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Back to that interior, my RX 350 F Sport tester upped the luxury ante with a sporting twist, the seats surfaced in black leather upholstery with white contrasting stitching, heated and ventilated up front no less and featuring driver’s seat memory, the wood a subtle amount of black gloss birds-eye maple mixed with real aluminum trim covering the centre stack and elsewhere including the shift-paddles and foot pedals, an auto-dimming rearview mirror overhead, just in front of a powered glass sunroof, an eight-inch infotainment display with integrated satellite navigation down on the centre stack, just above the interface for a fabulous sounding 12-speaker audio system with satellite radio and fully automatic climate control below that.
The
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The result of these last items is an RX 350 that feels flat and stable when pushed aggressively through sharp corners, while its ride didn’t noticeably suffer one iota. I’m not going so far to say it’ll beat a Porsche Cayenne through an autocross course, but it’ll outmaneuver many of its peers.
Likewise the F Sport’s stock RX 350 power unit allows quick acceleration and excellent passing power, its upgraded eight-speed automatic gearbox making the most of the 3.5-litre V6 engine’s 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. Yes, there
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Truly, the RX is a relaxing environment, proving that most luxury buyers want to be pampered rather than just go fast. The RX’s ride is smooth and comfortable, the cabin roomy front and rear, the latter compartment boasting fore and aft movement as well as recline. Those seats lay flat for an accommodating cargo hold, with 1,132 litres available behind the 60/40-split rear seatbacks and 2,274 litres when they’re tumbled forward. The liftgate is powered, of course.
Practicalities in mind, the RX 350’s lighter weight, sleek aerodynamic profile and the F Sport’s aforementioned eight-speed automatic transmission help it eke out impressive
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Another
Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press |
It’s hard to knock the RX 350, especially in F Sport trim. A new 2015 model is almost upon us and it remains mostly unchanged other than some additional standard features and a commensurately higher price tag, so if you’re in the market for a luxury crossover you might want to work out the best deal possible for a new 2014 model. Then again, if you’re still on the fence as to which luxury CUV to buy, remember you can always ask the audience.
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