2014 LEXUS RX 350: A comfortable friend

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This article was published 20/03/2014 (4428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lexus seems well on the way to completing its image makeover, adding sharply designed, high-performance sports cars to its line of dependable and luxurious — yet emotionless — sedans.

It started with the IS F a half-dozen years ago, continued with the LFA and culminated in January with the unveiling of the RC F at the Detroit auto show.

That’s the car side, however. Things remain very much traditional Lexus with its sport-ute lineup, especially the upscale brand’s most popular-selling model, the mid-size RX.

This has been the case ever since the original RX (the 300) set the tone for luxury-oriented crossovers back in 1998. Even the addition of the somewhat ambitiously named F Sport version of the RX 350 last year hasn’t much altered the fact the vehicle has an old-school vibe to it, with comfort and amenities taking precedence over sparkling handling and pavement-scorching acceleration.

On top of this, the Canadian-built RX 350 is — how shall I put it — mature; this third-generation edition has been plying its trade for five years.

So why am I not yet willing to shove it aside in favour of hipper and sportier models, notably the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3 and a few others? It’s because the RX feels like an old friend, one you’re always glad to see and can always count on to have your back, no matter the situation. And that situation, at least in my corner of Shangri-La, is ever-increasing traffic congestion along with ruder and more distracted drivers.

I don’t really need a super-fast, jacked-up, all-wheel-drive crossover like the Audi SQ5 to take me hither and yon no matter the weather (though there are days when I want one). Most days, something that oozes serenity and good karma, relieves stress and puts me in a happy place is what I crave. And there are precious few all-season, ready-to-take-on-whatever-life-throws-at-you vehicles as capable of these functions as the RX 350.

Plus, it’s not as though the RX 350, especially the F Sport, is totally bereft of fun. Externally, the Lexus signature spindle grille — the only aspect of last year’s makeover that leaves me cold — gets a distinctive mesh finish, a revised front-bumper design and cool-looking 19-inch wheels. The touches enhance a clear-cut design that, even after its many years on the market, is easy to pick out in a crowded parking lot.

Lexus’ ubiquitous 3.5-litre V-6 resides under the hood and punches out a totally acceptable 270 horsepower. This will push the 2,050-kilogram SUV to 100 kilometres an hour in less than eight seconds, certainly quick enough to get out of its own way, especially off the line. (Throttle tip-in can be a little abrupt if you’re not easy on the gas pedal when pulling away.)

The V-6 is a quiet engine and mostly unobtrusive — there is some induction noise under load — when in F Sport form, mated to an eight-speed manumatic with paddle shifters (regular RX 350s make do with a six-speed autobox). So automatic upshifts are all but imperceptible as you go about your business, albeit electronically configured to enhance fuel economy rather than sportiness.

As for the paddles and the whole self-shifting gig, they seem rather superfluous, given the RX’s luxury focus. (If fuel economy is your thing and you don’t mind dishing out the extra coin, there’s always the hybrid RX 450h.)

F Sport models are also fitted with front and rear lateral dampers on a sport-tuned suspension, a nice tweak. Lexus’ Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system, which uses a network of sensors that monitors speed, steering and braking to anticipate traction loss and then works to correct it before it happens, tunes the RX’s chassis just that much more. In fact, ride and stability are the Lexus’ most pleasant dynamic elements, a well-engineered blend of comfort and sport.

That said, the electric power steering takes some of the shine off what is otherwise a decent-handling vehicle; it’s a little numb when reacting to driver input.

I’ve driven a number of RXs over the years. What has particularly struck me as smart on Toyota’s part is it designed the RX’s cabin to accommodate five adults in comfort, with no attempt to cram in a third row to create a sardine-like seven-seater. Those in either row are treated to a quiet and cosy environment with the customary modern conveniences and upscale touches that befit a luxury vehicle.

Standing apart from regular RX models, the F Sport interior comes with black leather accented by contrasting silver stitching, ebony bird’s-eye maple wood trim, black headliner and aluminum pedals and footrest, along with F Sport steering wheel, shift knob and scuff plates. It’s a little dark for my taste and slightly retro in comparison to some of the newer crossovers out there, with their flashy driver-interactive services.

Still, Lexus’ Remote Touch controller on the centre console, which changes/controls functions such as navigation, climate and audio via the display screen, is pretty much frustration-free, which is more than can be said for any number of competitive systems.

Already generously equipped at $55,400, the tester was further enhanced with the $3,450 Series 2 package, which adds an eclectic bunch of features, starting with the impressive 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system, plus blind-spot monitor and intuitive parking-assist and a head-up display. There’s enough meat there to make the package a worthy consideration.

That previous sentence, in fact, sums up the RX 350 F Sport — there’s enough there to keep it on the shopping list. It’s not the fastest, not the flashiest, not the newest, but as it has for the past 15 years, it continues to offer honest luxury in a very relaxing, user-friendly package.

— Postmedia Network Inc. 2014