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THe
2018 Lexus RX 350L |
The 2018 Lexus
RX 350L six- or seven-passenger SUV is an uncharacteristically
half-hearted effort from Toyota’s normally buttoned-down luxury
brand.
Lexus’s
sterling reputation rests on a savage attention to detail. The brand’s
slogan was once "the relentless pursuit of perfection,"
but the stretched, three-row version of the brand’s best-selling
SUV feels more like the relentless pursuit of "meh."
Lexus dealers
have been begging for a family-hauling SUV with three rows of seats
for years. The lack of one ceded a significant piece of the luxury
market to vehicles like the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, Buick Enclave, GMC
Acadia, Infiniti QX60 and Volvo XC90.
For reasons we
may never know, Toyota’s usually sharp product-planning department
declined to develop an SUV to compete with these profitable models,
leaving its dealers in the unenviable position of trying to talk
buyers who wanted a sleek and car-like family wagon to buy the
bigger, less fuel efficient and more expensive truck-based LX 570.
When that
failed, Lexus brass decided to add 4.3 inches of length and about
230 pounds and a row of seats to create the RX 350L.
If that were
the best solution, other automakers would not go to the trouble and
expense of developing all-new vehicles for their three-row SUVs. The
result: Lexus got a compromised vehicle, but an attractive price.
Behind the
Wheel
2018 Lexus RX
350L Premium AWD
All-wheel-drive,
seven-passenger luxury SUV
Price as
tested: $52,080 (excluding destination charge)
Rating: ??
(Out of four stars)
Reasons to
buy: Price; three rows of seats; interior materials.
Shortcomings:
Third-row comfort; cargo space; controls.
How much?
Toyota
engineers added 4 inches to the rear of the regular model, RX 350,
to create room for a small third row, and changed the roof and
tailgate to increase cargo space.
The lengthened
350L is new for the 2018 model year.
The drive
train is unchanged, except for being very slightly less powerful
than the smaller, lighter 350. A 3.5L V6 produces 290 hp and 263
pound-feet of torque in the L versus 295 and 267 in the five-seater.
Gasoline-powered RXs get an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Hybrids use a continuously variable transmission and a pair of
electric motors to boost system power to 308 hp.
Prices for the
2018 RX start at $43,470 for a short with front-wheel drive, $44,870
for the same with AWD. The 450h all-wheel-drive hybrid starts at
$45,895.
The six- or
seven-passenger 350L starts at $47,670 FWD, $49,070 AWD and $50,620
hybrid.
I tested a
well-equipped 350L Premium AWD. Features included heated and cooled
front seats, adaptive cruise control, navigation, blind spot and
cross traffic alerts and more.
My test
vehicle stickered at $52,080. All prices exclude destination
charges.
The RX 350L’s
price compares well to comparably equipped competitive three-row
luxury SUVs.
Competitive
base prices
(Excluding
destination charges)
(All-wheel-drive
models)
Lexus RX 350L
Premium AWD: $46,670
Acura MDX
SH-AWD with Tech packages: $50,600
Audi Q7 3.0
TFSI Premium Plus: $56,400
Buick Enclave
Essence AWD: $46,300
GMC Acadia
Denali AWD: $47,100
Infiniti QX 60
AWD: $45,100
Volvo XC90 T6
Inscription: $54,350
Source:
Autotrader
Outstanding
features
The RX 350L’s
greatest strength is its cost, which is lower than many of its
larger and roomier competitors. Modifying an existing vehicle costs
less than developing an all new SUV with three rows, as all the
competitors did.
It also has
Lexus’ usual premium materials and good interior fit and finish.
The RX is a
quiet, comfortable vehicle for long trips or quick jaunts about
town, as long as nobody’s in the third row of seats. Those rear
seats were raised and lowered by electric motors in my test car. The
middle row slides fore and aft, increasing third-row legroom at the
middle row’s expense.
The RX’s
driver assistance features include adaptive cruise control, lane
keeping assist, blind spot alert, collision alert with pedestrian
detection and autonomous emergency braking.
The RX 350L
AWD scored 18 mpg in city driving, 25 on the highway and 21 combined
in EPA tests. The key combined rating is pretty much in the middle
of its competitive set, trailing MDX, Q7 and XC90, matching the Q7
and topping the Acadia and Enclave.
The RX got its
EPA score with regular gasoline, but needs premium to generate its
rated horsepower. The drop-off using regular isn’t likely to be
enough for most drivers to notice, though. Performance isn’t one
of the top reasons anybody buys Lexus’ popular SUV.
The downside
The third row
of seats is the 350L’s whole reason for existing, but legroom and
headroom are severely limited. It’s best reserved for small
children or "maybe a 10-minute ride," to quote my
15-year-old and 5’7" tall assistant Owen.
The L’s
controls are outdated, with slow voice recognition for navigation
and other features and a joy stick that’s no picnic to use in a
moving vehicle.
Specifications
as tested
Engine: 3.5L
24-valve V6.
Power: 290 hp
@ 6,300 hp rpm; 263 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
Transmission:
Eight-speed automatic
Wheelbase:
109.8 inches
Length: 196.9
inches
Width: 74.5
inches
Height: 67.3
inches
Curb Weight:
4,619 lbs.
Where
assembled: Cambridge, Ontario
Competitive
EPA fuel economy ratings
(All-wheel-drive
models; V6 where available.)
Lexus RX 350L
Premium AWD: 18 mpg city/25 highway/21 combined. Regular gasoline.
Acura MDX
SH-AWD with Tech packages: 19/26/22. Premium.
Audi Q7 3.0
TFSI Premium Plus: 19/25/21. Premium/
Buick Enclave
Essence AWD: 17/25/20. Regular.
GMC Acadia
Denali AWD: 17/25/20. Regular.
Infiniti QX60
AWD: 19/26/22. Premium.
Volvo XC90 T6
Inscription: 20/27/23. Premium.
Source:
