Car Review: Refreshed Lexus RX350 Ups the Sportiness Factor

by Zack Spencer on Thursday, March 13th, 2014

The Lexus RX350 F-Sport offers the same interior space as a mid-sized sedan but sits higher for greater outward viability, comes standard with all-wheel drive and has a high resale value… 

The 2014 Lexus RX F-Sport

The 2014 Lexus RX F-Sport

The 2014 Lexus RX F-Sport

The 2014 Lexus RX F-Sport

The 2014 Lexus RX F-Sport

The 2014 Lexus RX F-Sport

The 2014 Lexus RX F-Sport

The 2014 Lexus RX F-Sport

The 2014 Lexus RX F-Sport

 

 

2014 Lexus RX 350 F-Sport

Toyota is known for building high quality cars with fantastic resale value and has grabbed more Canadian Black Book “Best Retained Value” Awards than any other manufacturer.

In the Lexus line of cars and SUVs, the best seller by far is the RX 350 mid-sized SUV. Built using parts common to other Lexus and Toyota products, it represents a lot of what Toyota/Lexus is doing right. The engine is powerful but still thrifty enough for most families, the space is generous and the design is elegant. For buyers that are looking for a bit more performance from the RX, the F-Sport package adds visual and emotional punch.

Looks

Over the last several years, Lexus has taken a more aggressive design approach with its latest introductions. The front grille is more dynamic, designed to mimic a spindle used in a fabric loom. This is a tip of the hat to the origins of the Toyota Company as a textile maker. LED marker lights and a deeper chin spoiler frame the more aggressive grille. The larger 19-inch wheels come in a smoked satin finish and the suspension is tweaked for more performance. Around back, all RX 350 models come with a power rear lift gate. One of the reasons the RX is so popular is the aggressive starting price. The base model, with the same engine as this F-Sport, starts at $46,150 making it a very attractive alternative to buying a spendy German SUV. The F-Sport model is $55,400 but comes almost fully loaded, with only two options available, the Intuitive Parking Assist and Heads up Display, which brings the price to $58,850

Inside

The 2014 RX is a mid-cycle refresh of the model that was introduced in 2010. Unfortunately, Lexus didn’t refresh the inside of the cabin at all, keeping the updates to the exterior and driveline. Not to say that the inside is a disappointment, rather that some things could be tweaked. I’ll start with the positives.

The cabin has plenty of room for a family of four with a big back seat and lots of legroom. The materials used are of the highest order and the RX put together well. The controller for the communications and navigation system is unique in the industry, mimicking a computer mouse. It feels very natural and the driver rarely needs to take their eyes of the road.

The array of buttons and their less than logical layout could do with an update. The F-Sport comes which heated and cooled seats but it took me about five minutes to locate the switch in the centre armrest. The dial for the tuner is as far away from the driver as it could be and the seating position is very high.

Drive

At the heart of all RX 350 models is a very versatile 3.5L V6 engine with 270hp. The F-Sport is made sportier by the inclusion of an 8-speed automatic transmission instead of the regular 6-speed unit. By adding two more gears this new model really jumps away from a stop and pulls very well to highway speeds. Two extra gears make a world of difference, helping to bring the engine to life and improving fuel economy.

The suspension has also been modified to include a sport tuned dampers and springs. I could certainly tell this RX is different, in some city conditions, the ride can be very choppy and not what typical Lexus buyers would expect. The up side is that open road driving is much more sure-footed and dynamic. When the RX is thrown off-centre the top heavy nature of the RX shows its head, the centre of gravity feels much higher than some of the other sporty models in this class.

Verdict

The RX350 is the best seller in the Lexus line for good reason. It offers the same interior space as a mid-sized sedan but sits higher for greater outward viability, comes standard with all-wheel drive and has a high resale value. The RX 350 F-Sport takes all the goodness of the regular RX and makes it a bit more aggressive, especially in the acceleration front. Potential buyers would be well advised to drive both the regular model and this sportier version to see if you can live with the choppy ride, it really is dramatic.

Contact: zack [dot] spencer [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca 

The Lowdown

Power: 3.5L V6 with 270hp

Fill-up: 11.2L/7.7L/100km (city/highway)

Sticker price: $46,150-$55,400