2014 Lexus SUV Series: RX350 F SPORT

Most people recall how the first LS400 shocked the luxury-car world back in 1989, and how the LFA demonstrated Lexus’ ability in building a supercar, but not too many realize the impact of the introduction of the RX300 back in 1999. SUV popularity was booming at the time and everyone in the luxury segment was trying to take a bite. BMW was scrambling on the X5 and Mercedes just came out with the ML the year before. Lexus had the LX450, but the price premium made it less desirable.

Lexus made a brilliant move by utilizing the Toyota lineup and derived a crossover type vehicle from the best-selling Camry platform.  With great build quality, tons of luxurious features, decent size, and very affordable price tag, the Lexus RX was born.  Simply put, the RX killed the market with very strong sales throughout the years and it has since become one of the bread and butter models for Lexus.

15 years later, in its third generation, the RX is facing a very different game now.  While still holding great sales numbers, the segment is flooded with all kinds of SUVs now.  How is the RX holding up and what’s the future for this vehicle?  Let’s find out.

Exterior and Interior

Ever since the debut in 2010, the RX exterior and interior designs have stayed pretty much the same.  On the 2014 RX F Sport, the main difference falls on the front bumper design, featuring a larger lower front grille.  Together with the new spindle grille treatment, the overall front-end presentation is actually greatly improved.  The more muscular look gives the RX F Sport a more aggressive stance and is a better execution compared with the regular design which has a more “pointed” front-end as the lower bumper slopes up towards the front.

The interior is relatively simple and somewhat plain by today’s standards.  The seats are very comfortable even for long trips and the second row is surprisingly spacious in the far-back position. The second-row seats can also be adjusted forward for more cargo room, and if necessary, folded flat to maximize the storage space. Just like the first and second generations though, the RX has a raked tailgate design which reduces storage space when you are trying to carry large boxes.

The 8″ navigation screen sits at the top of the dash with the remote touch module right by the armrest, which is very readily accessible.  The Mark Levinson audio system though is quite a disappointment on the RX.  The system is very weak overall with very mellow base, and the overall clarity of the system is simply not on par with other premium factory audio system upgrades.

Drivetrain and Suspension

On paper, the RX F sport comes with standard AWD, a sport-tuned suspension, and also 8-speed transmission with paddle shift. The engine is still the same 270hp V6 that you find in the regular RX.  In reality though, this overall combination delivers a less than impressive performance and driving experience.

With the car weighing close to 4,200lbs, the 270-hp and 248 lb-ft engine already has to work pretty hard, but the 8-speed transmission makes gearing even more confusing.  It seems like the car is very eager to get into higher gears for fuel efficiency, only to find out that the power delivery is not enough and has to downshift again, and the routine repeats.  The paddle shifters do not help at all either with very slow / lagging upshifts and downshifts.

The AWD system and sport-tuned suspension are supposed to help with handling performance, but again I couldn’t really feel the improvement over the regular RX with the FWD setup.  The suspensions are still overly soft in terms of sportiness, and on any quick turns the tires give up long before the AWD and suspension systems are put to the test.

In the end, one simply should not expect any performance excitement from the RX F Sport. It is not fast and it doesn’t handle very well.  Personally I would rather have just the regular drivetrain setup with the F Sport cosmetic improvements and save some money.

Understanding the RX

But it’s more important to look at what the RX is for and how it’s being positioned in the market right now, in order to truly understand its value and potential.

Unlike 15 years ago when it simply ruled the segment by being the best value, the RX is facing a fierce market now. The BMW X1 and X3 are working hard to gain market share and the Mercedes GLA is entering the picture too.  At the same time, we have other compact luxury SUVs and crossovers saturating the market, pushing for the $30k range.

All these are putting tremendous pressure on the RX, both in terms of size and cost.  Size wise, it’s hard for the RX to get smaller (from its predecessors) to cater to new owners who focus on styling over utility.  On the cost aspect, with the RX starting at over $40k, it’s a huge challenge for Lexus to keep the cost down to be competitive, and this is shown in the lower grade of materials being used and lack of design details in the car. There is a reason why throughout history, the Harrier in Japan and the RX had always been the same car, but starting with the third-generation RX, they parted ways. The Harrier is sold separately under Toyota in Japan, and the RX is sold under Lexus.

Therefore, the RX has been stretched in too many directions over the years and Lexus has had to make huge compromises everywhere. Still, arguably the RX is one of the best crossover daily drivers you can find out there. It goes from point A to point B reliably, it has decent passenger and cargo space, and while it doesn’t do hardcore off-roading, it does pretty well in all-weather climates (either FWD or AWD). This explains the huge sales numbers on the RX year after year.

But consumers always ask for more. One side wants a third row option, more cargo room, and more luxury features. The other side wants something smaller, more stylish and refreshing, and cheaper, all of which are pretty impossible with the current structure.

Time to Grow

With all the above challenges Lexus made a big, but smart move – the introduction of the NX. The NX is smaller and is perfect to please the latest crowd who is more into styling. Its targeted low $30k starting price allows Lexus to be in a great position to go against competitors. It is also going to set the new baseline for entry-level luxury SUV / crossovers for Lexus.

It gives Lexus all the freedom they need for the next generation RX.  It can finally grow in size to accommodate the potential third row option and more cargo space.  Its styling can take on a more drastic change compared to the previous generations.  It will have the excuse to use higher end materials and more design details at the expense of higher price tag.  Lexus no longer has to focus on its sales numbers as much as they are now.  Basically the RX can finally grow out of its current boundaries.

The next generation RX is probably a year or two away, but with the NX starting to take on the market at the end of this year, it’s very exciting to see how the RX will evolve after that into an even more attractive option.

In the meantime, at $53k, this 2014 RX F Sport is quite an expensive option especially given its performance. A regular RX with decent options in the mid to high $40k range seems to be a much better choice.

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