2010 Lexus RX 350
L-Finesse Elegance in a Crossover

Introduced in 1998 it didn’t take long for the RX to become the best selling Lexus model on the road. Available in either FWD or AWD configurations, the all-new 2010 Lexus RX 350 now incorporates the beautiful L-Finesse design cues to update the exterior styling while maintaining the recognizable RX look. Under the hood, the revised 3.5-liter V6 powerplant now produces 275 horsepower and is mated with a new 6-speed Automatic Transmission. The RX 35 EPA numbers are 18/28 and the warranties are 4-years and 50,000 miles and 6-year 70,000 powertrain.

Some of standard safety features include; advanced front driver and passenger airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, rear seat mounted airbags along with Anti Lock Brakes, Electronic Brake Distribution and Vehicle Stability Control.

As with all Lexus models, the RX 350 comes with a complete compliment of standard features that one would expect on a luxury vehicle, including power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth technology, XM radio with a 90 day trial subscription, reclining/sliding rear seating, SmartAccess Passive Entry system height adjustable headrests on all seats just to name a few. The test car added Heads Up Display, Bi-Xenon headlights and automatic hi-beams, heated and ventilated front seats, nice for Phoenix summers, and the NavSystem along with the Premium Package that has a lot of niceties. All the extras added some $11,000 to the sticker bringing the total for my tester to $49,300 with shipping. Interestingly after I told a friend of mine that was riding with me the price, he seemed a bit overwhelmed but it wasn’t long till he was making comments about just how nice this car really is.

Inside the new RX is elegantly and intelligently designed and beautiful. The center console curves up into the dashboard, where the navigation screen is set deep in the dash so there’s less sunlight hitting it making it easier to read. That’s made possible because the system controls are on the console where there’s a controller that fit’s perfectly in your palm as your thumb rests on the button to enter information. The feedback in the controller can be set so you actually feel when the cursor hits different commands and I can see how after a while, one would rarely have to take their eyes off the road to use the system.

Once you settle into the luxurious seats strap in and get ready to roll, it’s time to really enjoy one of the really cool extras on the test car, the fabulous Mark Levinson sound system. Whether you’re listening to your favorite terrestrial station, XM satellite or your own selection of tunes on your iPod, you’ll enjoy hearing it through 15 strategically placed speakers for maximum enjoyment as you cruise down the highway.

Driving the RX 350 simply stated is a pleasure. Although it rides pretty tall, it it’s a crossover after all, it’s amazingly well balanced and taut on the road without being harsh. It corners extremely well for a tall car and soaks up any imperfections in the road with ease. While there isn’t anything particularly scintillating about the RX 350, it’s far from boring and in truth the L-Finesse styling has manned it up a bit so it won’t just be soccer mom’s driving them for sure.

I really enjoyed my week in the RX and can say with confidence, if you’re looking for a complete vehicle, from grocery getter to get in the backwoods for camping, the RX 350 can certainly fill the bill

 

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