2009 Lexus RX350 Reviews

Lexus RX has been a huge success for the upmarket Japanese marque since its launch in Australia in April 2003. More a high riding station wagon than a 4WD it has mild to medium off-road ability in its AWD versions, though very few owners ever take advantage of it. The introduction of the fourth generation RX series in

...and what to watch for when you are buying it.Lexus cars are about comfort and refinement and the Lexus RX SUV leans very much in that direction and well away from the rugged off-road nature of its big brother the LandCruiser-based Lexus LX Series.The Lexus RX350 has significantly less ground clearance than the typical crossover. Which gives it road holding almost on par with that of a sedan or station wagon. While the Lexus RX350 does have all-wheel drive and can travel on dirt roads, forest trails and the like, taking it to the beach could leave it beached on its belly.Interior room is good for two adults and three junior travellers, but three adults in the back seats starts to stretch their friendship. It goes without saying that the choice of materials and the quality of fit and finish of cabin is immaculate in all models, and has been taken to even higher levels over the years. Boot space is reasonable considering the steep slope of the rear window, but most SUVs of this size give you more versatility when it comes to carrying boxy items. The rear seat has a handy 40/20/40 split to give you loading options.Australian buyers weren’t offered the chance to buy the first-generation Lexus RX300 as it was only sold in the USA. The second generation went on sale in this country in April 2003 as the RX330 (the numbers refer to the engine size in decilitres in most models, more about that later) and was a hit pretty well from the start.The third generation Lexus was introduced in February 2009 and, with a moderate facelift and the introduction of several new variants remains on sale today. The gen-three was virtually all-new, being longer and wider in the body than its predecessors and sitting on a longer wheelbase and wider track. The new model was designed to provide more interior space and even higher levels of interior comfort than before. It truly is a luxury wagon and the great majority of buyers use it that way.The twin-cam petrol engine V6 has a capacity of 3.0 litres in the 330 and 3.5 litres in the RX350. The third generation cars have noticeably lower fuel consumption without any loss of performance. The petrol engine was mated to a five-speed automatic transmission until the arrival of the all-new 2009 model saw it lifted to six-speed unit, which partly explains its lower fuel use.An interesting model is the petrol-electric hybrid RX. Sold since October 2006, it uses a 3.3-litre engine and an electric motor in combination. The hybrid’s model name breaks with convention by being tagged RX400h, that’s because Lexus reckons it has the performance that would be offered by a 4.0-litre petrol engine.A mid-life upgrade in July 2012 saw the introduction of an RX 2WD, four-cylinder model badged RX 270. Until then all RXs used 4WD and a V6 engine. The lighter weight of the 2WD model (which drives through the front wheels) means there is less loss in performance than you might expect. Naturally, it’s still a rarity on the used market but if you never plan any unsealed road driving its lower price may make it worth a wait.Lexus dealers are mainly in metropolitan areas of capital cities and major regional and country locations. Should you need work done in other areas some top Toyota mechanics have been trained in Lexus work. Service and repair costs are about average for an SUV in this upmarket class and we have heard of no real complaints about cost or availability of routine spare parts. Insurance charges don’t seem to vary significantly between major companies, but it may be worth shopping around.WHAT TO LOOK FORVery high build quality means that troubles are rare, but these are relatively complex machines and we highly recommend a professional inspection after you've completed yours to the best of your ability. If you find body damage indicating off-road use, a rarity, it’s most likely to be on the bumper corners, under the sill panels and in the form of scratches on the doors. Unless the price is right we suggest going for another RX instead.Look for a smoking exhaust on a high-mileage engine. It will be at its worst when the engine is worked hard. Check the automatic transmission is all but unnoticed in its actions unless you’re accelerating hard. Look over the interior and boot carefully because the RX is popular in the Mums’ taxi cohort.CAR BUYING TIPFaded paint on any vehicle, particularly those with strong colours, is likely to indicate it hasn’t been garaged very often. This can be hard on the interior as well as the body. 

NEW - The rise of the SUV has been remarkable. It's not that long ago that families were given little choice in what they drove, it basically came down to a large sedan or an even larger station wagon.Today there is an amazing choice with every carmaker jumping on the SUV bandwagon. The SUV craze started with an idea that you could have a station wagon that would be handy around town, but come into its own when the black top ran out. That idea soon faded, but the appeal of the SUV has boomed. Instead of beating around the bush, the vast majority of SUVs stay within the city limits, and that's just fine with their owners.They never really wanted to see the Outback anyway. What they did want was a wagon that afforded them a view of the road they got with an off-roader, and the safety they perceived they had with a large wagon. Enter the SUV. Today's SUV, such as the Lexus RX350, come with all the bells and whistles. There's nothing you can't have with them.The RX350 was a heavily revamped version of the RX launched back in 2003, and was conceived to rival the likes of the BMW X5, Mercedes-  Benz ML350, and the Audi Q7. It begins with a reasonably attractive wagon with slick lines and smooth shapes, with the choice of three levels of equipment starting with the Prestige and climbing through the Sports to the ultimate Sports Luxury.The 3.5-litre V6 engine was improved and now put out 204 kW and 346 Nm, and was linked to a new six-speed auto with sequential shifting. Overall the RX350 used a little less fuel, a good thing because it used the more expensive Premium Unleaded.Final drive was an on-demand all-wheel drive system, which means it was a front-driver most of the time, until it felt the front wheels slipping when drive was dispatched rearward to correct the situation. While all that's comforting SUVs are more about comfort and convenience, and the level of clever gear they pack is as important to buyers as anything else.Comfort is well taken care of with power seats, a folding rear seat, and a power tailgate takes care of the convenience. As for equipment there isn't much that the RX350 doesn't have, if there's anything at all. On the road the RX350 drives much like a car, it handles well, rides comfortably and boasts plenty of zip when the right pedal is depressed.NOWWith the RX350 being launched just three years ago the earliest will be showing around 50,000 km on the odometer, which makes it an ideal choice for those buyers who are happy to buy second hand and avoid the depreciation that comes with a new car. Those early RX350s will be coming off lease around now, which adds to the attraction of buying now.We have had virtually no reports from owners with any complaints about the car, which suggests they are a contented lot. That's good news for those about to step into RX ownership. Look for a service record, which shouldn't be an issue on such a new car.Also make the usual visual checks of the bodywork looking for any signs of a crunch that might detract from a car's appeal. Be aware that the RX350 requires Premium unleaded petrol, which will bump up running costs.SMITHY SAYSWell built, solid SUV with all the bells and whistles. Should be on your shopping list.Lexus RX350 2009-2010Price new: from $82,990Engine: 3.5-litre 6-cylinder, 204kW/346NmTransmission: 6-speed auto AWDEconomy: 10.8 L/100 km, CO2 254 g/kmBody: 5-door Variants: Prestige, Sport, Sport LuxurySafety: 4-star ANCAP

Lexus has won a place alongside the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz in the minds of prestige car buyers who believe it to be a worthy alternative to the European establishment.The RX was an important plank in the Lexus platform given the growing popularity of crossover wagons in this country. It began with the five-seater RX330 in 2003, and stepped up with the RX350 in 2006.The changes made to the RX in 2006 made it better placed to attack the Mercedes-Benz ML and the BMW X5, regarded as its main rivals. For starters the V6 engine was increased in capacity from 3.3 to 3.5 litres, the outcome being 18 percent more power and four percent more torque. In a nutshell, that means more get up and go when needed, and better towing performance.Backing up to the V6 was a five-speed auto with touch-change manual shifting feeding into the permanent all-wheel drive system. Underneath it had full independent suspension and disc brakes all round. Even in base form the RX350 had a swag of standard gear, pretty much everything could want or expect in a car of its standing.Inside there was leather trim, heated front seats, auto climate controlled air-con, cruise, power windows and mirrors, a six-speaker CD sound system, and blue-tooth phone connection. Outside it had alloy wheels, fog lights, roof racks, and a rear spoiler.The RX350 is not the vehicle you'd choose if you wanted to go bush in a big way, but it is the sort of wagon you'd be happy to drive around town and on the odd excursion beyond the city limits.Its uprated engine gave it noticeably better performance without sacrificing any of the smoothness for which it had been renowned.Some thought the suspension too soft and less responsive than its rivals, but its ride was comfortable and it handled well enough.IN THE SHOPReliability in service is largely determined by the initial design work and the build precision, and in those areas Toyota has excelled. There's no question that the RX350 is well designed and put together, and as a result, little appears to go wrong with them. The most important thing is to ensure any prospective purchase has been serviced correctly, so check for a service record. Make the usual visual checks for crash repairs and walk away if it's suspected a car has been in a crash.IN A CRASHANCAP doesn't have a rating for the RX350, but its almost identical predecessor was rated at four stars out of five. There was a comprehensive array of safety gear in the RX350. It began with front, head and side airbags, and continued with ABS braking, and electronic stability and traction control systems.UNDER THE PUMPBig, heavy, all-wheel drive; they're not the ingredients to deliver fuel economy. Toyota claimed the RX350 would do 10.8 L/100 km, meanwhile CarsGuide's road tester returned 11.1 L/100 km.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $74,800 to $84,100Engine: 3.5-litre V6; 203 kW/342 NmTransmission: 5-speed auto, AWDEconomy: 10.8 L/100 kmBody: 4-door wagonVariants: Sports, LuxurySafety: 4-star ANCAP.VERDICTA great choice when you want a wagon that looks down on its neighbours.

Three decades ago the townfolk would have piled kindling in the town square in preparation for burning the heretic who forecast 4WDs with airconditioning.Twenty years ago the same grilling would be applied at the mention of automatic transmission and even a few years ago dark clouds would form above the person uttering leather upholstery.The fact is that the 4WD as we once knew it is gradually being morphed into a station wagon, with all the comforts of a sedan and all the appearance of a go-anywhere leisure machine.Take all that to the ultimate stage and you will have a vehicle that looks tough but has a soft centre. In case you missed it, that stage has already arrived. The Lexus RX350 is one of the latest SUVs to lavish features and comfort on its occupants.It would be staggering for a 1970s Land Rover owner to even contemplate what's inside this wagon. But just to make you jealous, here's some of the features: Radar cruise control with a pre-collision warning system; swivelling xenon headlights; rear-view camera with clearance and parking sensors; and head-up display of vehicle speed.Thankfully, none of this requires much input from the driver. Though it looks a lot like last year's RX350, this one is bigger, lower and more powerful.It is a beautiful drive — a machine that will just eat the kilometres. Lexus has successfully endeavoured to rid the wagon of almost all noise and the result is a bit numbing.The wagon is as quiet as a mouse and is almost un-nerving in the way it isolates the outside world. This will suit some owners who will then bask in the feature list. There's plenty of thrills when the accelerator is prodded but it doesn't transfer to the occupants. The RX350 could just as easily be electric.The test vehicle showed that SUVs can make sense in the country thanks to Lexus neatly incorporating a full-size spare wheel. Too often carmakers talk safety and then fit a space-saver spare wheel that is, at best, dangerous as an alternative tyre in the country. At least Lexus gives you the choice.In the Sport Luxury tested, that list extends to more things that you'd probably have time to play with. But play you will. The cameras will alert you what's behind the wagon will give you a sense of security and the 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio system will wrap you in its warm sound.The leather front seats have heaters and ventilation and almost infinite electric adjustment. Lexus made a change this model that, while logical, took away one of the wagon's best features — a touch screen. Now there's a mouse-like controller on the centre console that accesses everything from the sat-nav to the radio from the big screen.Owners of the previous model complained about glare _ and fingerprints _ on the screen so Lexus lifted the screen higher, placed a hood to shield light, and fitted a computer mouse to access all the data. Shame, because it's now easy to see, but not as easy (or as quick) to get information.This is an impressive vehicle. It's a solid alternative to a conventional sedan but its appeal lies more in its quality and features than any driving pleasure.

Few and far between they may be but the sheer joy and, sometimes, childlike delight they elicit make so much of the rest of it worthwhile.The great thing is that they need not be earth-shattering — nor even particularly practical — they are just memorable for being what they are.The first experience of Saab's delightful dancing cup holder that, when freed from the dash, pirouetted and opened with all the grace of a prima ballerina is just one example.A more recent — and practical — example is the joystick control centre in the new.Tagged the Remote Touch system, the control toggle for what were previously touch screen functions is intuitive, elegant and a no-brainer for anyone who has ever used a mouse.It uses the principle of physical feedback through the toggle to alert the user when the cursor has moved over an active command area of the screen.The strength of the clunky feel and audible click — a combination known as Haptic feedback and used by gamers, mobile phone manufacturers and surgeons operating by remote — can be adjusted for sensitivity.So ergonomic and just plain touchy-feely is the toggle and mouse button arrangement that it is hard not to play with it just for the fun of it.There are lots of other nice things about the upgraded RX350 — standard satellite navigation, reversing camera, side view camera (mounted in the passenger side door mirror), adaptive headlights, a heads-up display for speed and navigation controls — but the headline act is the toggle and mouse show.Improvements to the RX350's 3.5-litre V6 have lifted its output to 204kW and 346Nm, with the engine now coupled to a sequential-shift six-speed transmission replacing the five-speed shifter from the previous model.Those engine tweaks and the extra ratio, according to Lexus, are more than enough to offset extra weight from extra equipment, giving the RX350 an official fuel economy rating of 10.8L/100km, down from 11.2L/100km.Unfortunately we didn't see anything like that during the test run with an average north of 12.5L/100km closer to the mark, although that was predominantly in city traffic.AWD for the RX350 is a full-time active torque control system with drive to the front wheels until wheel slip is detected then torque is delivered to the appropriate corners.While the car is almost exclusively going to spend its life ferrying the well-heeled around town, the clever torque-shift system is certainly capable of some light off-road work and adds a layer of control on wet tarmac surfaces.That is on top of a safety package that includes a fully integrated stability control system (vehicle dynamic integrated management), pre-collision system — which tightens the seat belts and adds urgency to the brakes when a bank of sensors determine a crash is imminent — and 10 airbags.Trim levels are what we have come to expect from Lexus. There are swaths of nice leather, some shiny plastic wood bits and a generally refined and whisper-quiet environment in which to move from point A to point B.The lightly bolstered seats are comfortable, both heated and cooled and have 10-way electronic adjustment with memory function.Front passenger space feels generous but that impression slips when you move to the rear seats. The main offender is head room, where the price is paid for the styling of the roofline which makes the car look less boxy than some key rivals. There is reasonable space in the boot with no pretence to a third row of seats Dynamically the RX350 can hold its own with most of its SUV competitors.The ride is comfortable without being plush and stable enough to handle some enthusiastic driving.While the suspension keeps the RX350 from being roly-poly the steering is a little too ‘playstation’ and rather devoid of feedback.The engine delivers good power and urge without hunting up and down the ratios, making for a fairly relaxed drive experience.The Bottom line: If you must have an SUV you may as well have one with a really cool feature.

...but they haven’t forgotten that people are looking for safety and comfort as well.Lexus claims credit for having pioneered the luxury SUV category with the first RX, which arrived here in 2003 and became a best-seller.“RX is the core of the Lexus family and has not only defined the segment but established what a luxury SUV should be,” says the vehicle’s chief assistant engineer Takeaki Kato.Going on sale in March, this is the first all-new RX in five years, but even in that relatively short time the market has changed hugely and other brands are clawing at the pie.To fight back, Lexus has given the new vehicle a better body, more space and comfort, and crammed it with a host of high-tech features.Exterior Built of 42 per cent high-tensile steel, the RX 350’s stronger, more rigid body sits lower, longer and wider, with 55mm added to the front track and 65mm to the rear, on a wheelbase that has grown 25mm – giving it a larger footprint and lower centre of gravity to make it more stable, helped by the undertray channelling air for downforce. However all this strength comes with a weight penalty of about 130kg, bringing the total to around two tonnes.The body design — which reduces drag to a low 0.33COD to improve economy – streamlines the Lexus face into sharpened lines that fold along the bonnet and flanks to the fastbacked rear, with flared arches, chiselled doors and pronounced character lines along the sides adding impact.Chrome accents, slanted three-dimensional light clusters and spoked alloys – 18” on the Prestige model and 19” on the Sports and Sports Luxury – complete the look.Even the odd little signature black touch button has vanished from the door handles, and now just the lightest touch anywhere on the handles themselves unlocks the vehicle.Interior and equipmentDividing the redesigned cabin into what Lexus refers to as a `crossover cockpit’, with its strong swoop line across the dash, is a large centre console for storage and the `remote touch’ controls, the relocating of which has allowed the nav screen to be deeper recessed away from light for a clearer image.This works a bit like the `knob’ systems seen in the German prestige brands, but uses a central control more similar to a mouse — plus menu and map buttons – that apparently reduces the time your eyes are off the road by up to 30 per cent. In addition to the usual nav and other controls, the system allows you to change things like the exterior light unlock sequence, and height of the heads-up display system.Furthering the safety aspect on the Sports Luxury grade are adaptive high-intensity headlights that twist around corners, and the standard reversing camera being joined by a wide-view side one.All levels get hill-start assist and parking sensors and the Sports and Sports Luxury levels also get the pre-crash system that prepares you and the car for impact.And to guide more economical driving, an `eco’ indicator reads your speed, revs, pedal angle, shift position and range, coupled with the selected mode, and lets you know when you’re in the `zone’ ... although on the test drive this curiously proved to be anything up to 30l/100km.There are three memory settings for the driver’s seat and steering column, and a range of settings on the programmable smart cardThe 12-speaker in-dash six-stacker CD/DVD system seems to be compatible with every format available, but also has a jack for auxiliary music players, and the Sports Luxury level gets the brilliant 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system with optional 7.1 channel Dolby digital ability.There are storage nooks all through the cabin, including some confidence-building sturdy cupholders, large bottle spaces and a hollow under the centre console for handbags and the like. Luggage capacity is 446 litres but taking up the full-size spare wheel option eats about 22 litres of that.To improve road manners the underpinnings have been redesigned and recalibrated, with a 30mm lower floor and a new trailing-arm double-wishbone independent rear suspension, coupled with a redesigned MacPherson strut independent front with improved geometry and damper rates.A torque sensor feeds data to the speed-sensitive steering for better response, while the new Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) includes integration of the anti-skid brake system plus brake-force distribution and brake assist, plus the usual traction control.Safety Lexus expects to get a crash rating of five stars here, after getting that result in US, Japan and Europe testing. And to this end they spent about $US30million on passive safety development, and on top of that crashed 233 cars in the testing phase.The fit-out includes ten airbags as standard, including first-in-class dual SRS front-seat knee airbags and new rear-seat SRS side (torso) airbags, plus new active front-seat head restraints, seat pre-tensioning seatbelts with force limiters.Pricing and salesThe price tags start at $81,900 for the Prestige – a new addition to the range – with the Sports level costing $88,900 and the top-spec Sports Luxury coming in at $97,900. Lexus expects to move about 230 a month. But where the previous model sales were 95 per cent top spec, they expect the extra features of the new entry level to see it claim 30 per cent of sales, with 45 per cent going to Sports and just 25 for the Sports Luxury.Drivetrain and economyAll levels get the same improved 3.5-litre dual VVT-i petrol V6 engine, with slightly increased outputs and improved economy. The engine now develops 204kW (up one kW) of power at 6200rpm and 346Nm (up four Nm) of torque at 4700rpm, with 90 per cent of that being available in a flatter curve between 2300-6100rpm.Lexus claims a 3.5 per cent improvement in economy with an official figure of 10.8L/100km, compared with 11.2 for the outgoing model. At the end of our run we were up into the 14l area, but we’d admittedly been pushing the limit a little.The RX 350 gets a new six-speed sequential transmission – gaining an extra slot over the previous one. It’s shorter (and also six kilograms lighter) which has allowed the engine to be set lower for a better centre of gravity.The box drives the front wheels under normal circumstances, with the on-demand all-wheel drive system – controlled by an electromagnetic coupling in the rear differential housing — cutting in when needed, but disengaging from the rear wheels when you’re braking so it doesn’t hinder the ant-skid and stability features. The all-wheel function can be locked in manually at speeds up to 40km/h, but over this level will automatically revert to the front axle only.Driving From most angles, the RX 350 is now a fairly good looking vehicle from inside and out. There’s still a bit of boxiness from the square-on view at the back, but the fastback rear has been calmed down and the folds of metal around the nose and creases down the sides give it a handsome presence.The cabin is spacious and well-fitted out, with the high console divider’s `double cockpit’ effect amplified by the smart layout of the centre stack. And where we’ve loathed most of the other knob-controlled nav systems, the mouse-driven remote touch was easy to use. You can adjust the settings to give more `feedback feel’ when it hits on a function, so that once your brain imprints the order they’re in, there’ll be almost no need to take your eyes off the road to adjust the nav, audio or any of the features.With the acoustic windscreen and the wiper mountings being optimised, there’s almost nothing in the way of wind rush from those areas, but you’ll still get quite a bit from the big wing mirrors. However apart from that the cabin is very quiet.At least, that is, until you stand on the pedal. When you push it hard, the engine is surprisingly vocal. And there were times we wanted to push it very hard indeed. There’s no doubt it’s well up to the job of hauling the SUV around once you get it going – even with the extra weight – but there’s no sense of urgency off the line.And despite the 90 per cent of torque being on tap at 2300rpm, and you really need to spur another 500 out of it to get the best response. The sequential shifter is easy to use, but with the focus on having so many other controls on the steering wheel, it’s a shame they couldn’t be joined by paddle shifters. However Lexus Australia says they asked the same question, and were told by Japan that research indicated that family buyers didn’t want them. Pity.The RX 350’s road manners are excellent, and most of the time it behaved similarly to a well-sorted big sedan. On damp mountain roads, at challenging speeds, it hung on well. But although it sat reasonably flat through the corners, this was where it reminded you that you were in a much larger lump of metal than the normal family car.However, that’s not the normal habitat of this SUV, which is likely to be relegated mostly to `leafy suburb’ treks with a load of kids lounging on the leather and bickering about what’s on the audio system. And for this kind of duty, if the price tag is no problem, the RX 350 is the right tool for the job.Engine: 3.5-litre V6Power: 204kW@6200rpmTorque: 346Nm@4700rpmTransmission: Six speed sequential automatic, low speed flex lock-up torque converterDrive: Active torque control all-wheel drive, electronic rear diff couplingEconomy: (official) 10.8l/100km (tested) 14.3l/100km