2010 Lexus RX 350

Competitors and press reviews

"Yet the V6 features fairly significant changes, including new intake and exhaust manifolds, a new cylinder head design and revisions to its variable valve timing, which operates on both the intake and exhaust valves. More help comes from the adoption of Toyota’s excellent six-speed automatic transmission, which offers shifts that are as quick as they are smooth. Compared to the old five-speed, it adds an additional overdrive gear, of course, but has a shorter overall ratio thanks to an aggressive 4.398:1 final drive." (InsideLine)

"We drove a front-wheel-drive RX350 and came away impressed with the power delivery—if not the sound quality—of the 275-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 engine, which comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. The steering has excellent weight to it, but the handling presents a predictable amount of understeer and body lean, and the traction control is incredibly aggressive. Our meager attempts at sliding around a bit were greeted with an incessant duet of tire squeal and stability control beeps." (CarAndDriver)

"Our time behind the wheel primarily consisted of suburban jaunts and the occasional Northern California back-road, where both the RX350 and RX450h proved to be competent, compliant day-to-day cruisers. Power delivery is a staid affair on both the standard and hybrid model, with few peaks and fewer valleys. When things turned twisty, the RX did little more than hold it’s own, but with a suspension tuned for effortless wafting, we weren’t expecting our neurons to be set ablaze. Braking and bends are dealt with ease, but the added mass and Lexus’ tradition of creating a reasonable facsimile of steering feel is obvious the moment you turn the wheel." (AutoBlog)

Competitors

Acura MDX

The 2010 MDX is powered by a 3.7-liter V-6 engine that delivers a total output of 300 hp and 270 lbs-ft of torque and has a fuel consumption of 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway. Prices will start at $42,230 for the MDX version and will go up to $53,755 for the MDX Advance & Entertainment Packages.

Audi Q5

The 2010 Audi Q5 is offered with a 3.2 V6 FSI direct injection engine that delivers a total of 270hp @ 6500 rpm and a peak torque of 243 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm, quattro all wheel drive, and six-speed Tiptronic transmission. Prices start at $37,350.

Lincoln MKX

The Lincoln MKX features a 3.5L Duratec V6 engine that delivers a total of 265 hp and 250 lb. ft. of torque, and an impressive 25 mpg highway. The engine is mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission that uses a wide 6.04:1 gear ratio. Prices for the MKX start at $38,345 for the FDW version and at $40,195 for the AWD version.

Mercedes-Benz GLK-class

The GLK 350 is powered by a 3.5 Liter V6 sending 268 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque straight to the rear wheels through a seven speed automatic transmission allows the GLK to accelerate smoothly and get an estimated 16 MPG in the city and as much as 22 MPG on the highway. Prices start at $35,900.

Conclusion

Ever since 1998 when it made its public debut, the Lexus RX has been the best-selling luxury SUV on the market. Of course things change a bit when Audi brought the Q5 and Mercedes the GLK. So it was Lexus’ turn to move, and they brought the third generation RX in 2008, with a new design and new powertrain. But is this enough to over-sale models like Q5 and GLK?

Of course the German crossover are far better than the new RX350, but Lexus developed the new generation RX having in mind only the pleasure of being inside the car and not the driving itself. So, we guess the RX will still be the car for those going for luxury and entertainment.

gallery: 2010 Lexus RX 350

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Previous page

1 2 3  4 

Prices and options