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Lexus RX 350 2018 review: snapshot

Lexus Lexus RX Lexus RX 2018 Lexus RX350 Lexus RX350 2018 SUV Best SUV Cars Lexus SUV Range Luxury
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The RX 350’s six-cylinder petrol engine is good for 221kW/370Nm.
EXPERT RATING
8.0

Likes

Effortless power
Smooth eight-speed auto
Huge standard inclusions list

Dislikes

Supple ride, but not too sporty
Multimedia feeling dated
No Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Photo of Andrew Chesterton
Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

2 min read

The Lexus RX 350 unlocks the a punchy V6 engine (the RX 300 makes do with a turbocharged four-cylinder unit), which goes some way to justifying a bigger price tag.

That tag, by the way, is $81,421, which will nab you the Luxury trim. The F Sport-flavoured version is $93,721, while the top-spec Sport Luxury is $99,871.

The Luxury cars arrive with 20-inch alloy wheels, a powered tailgate, LED headlights and fog lights (with daytime running lights), keyless entry, roof rails and rain-sensing wipers. While inside, expect dual-zone climate control, sat nav, push-button start and leather trim.

Step up to the F Sport and you’ll add a bigger, 12.3-inch infotainment screen that adds a CD player and DVD player and pairs with a better Mark Levinson sound system complete with 15 speakers (including a subwoofer). Finally, the Sport Luxury adds soft leather trim elements, heated seats in the second row and a power folding function for the backseat. 

RX 350’s six-cylinder petrol engine is good for 221kW/370Nm, sending that power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, with fuel economy pegged at 9.6L/100km and 223g/km on the claimed/combined cycle. 

Even the cheapest RX (which, admittedly, isn’t all that cheap) arrives with a long list of standard safety features, including a reversing camera, blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, AEB, lane assist and parking sensors (but no park assist). You’ll also find 10 airbags, and twin ISOFIX mountings for your baby car seat, too, as well as cruise control and usual suite of braking and traction control systems.

Lexus RX350 2018: Luxury

Engine Type V6, 3.5L
Fuel Type Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency 9.6L/100km (combined)
Seating 5
Price From $34,760 - $41,360
Safety Rating

Pricing Guides

$41,798
Based on 8 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months.
LOWEST PRICE
$29,989
HIGHEST PRICE
$54,966
Photo of Andrew Chesterton
Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold. But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul. And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard. When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House. But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others. More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will. Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.

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