New cars: Lexus RX350

What the critics say about the $39,000 Lexus RX350

The New York Times

This plush “isolation chamber” for the cosseted class is Lexus’ best-selling model, so great care was taken with this year’s redesign. The bulked-up exterior has a more masculine look, the V6 engine has been tweaked to increase horsepower to 275, and the headlights now swivel in the direction of a turn. While on cruise control, the new six-speed transmission seamlessly resumes speeds after braking or accelerating.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

When it debuted 10 years ago, the RX had all the excitement of “buttered noodles.” This new edition is still based on the Toyota Camry, though leather-lined and refined. Still, “no one will mistake the RX for a Hummer H1.” Fuel economy has been increased to 26 mpg highway.

Motor Trend

How do you improve an icon? For starters, add lots of “interior tech tidbits,” including a rearview mirror with camera display, XM NavTraffic and Weather, intuitive parking assistance, and a Smart Key access system, “to name a few.” To name a few more: a 15-speaker Levinson audio system, standard Bluetooth, and plenty of rear-seat entertainment. But styling is still conservative compared with rivals Mercedes-Benz GLK and Volvo XC60.