On Monday night I managed to hit two awful pot holes consecutively (THANK YOU ATLANTA! ) and knocked my car out of alignment pretty badly. I called my service advisor and dropped the car off yesterday, and he hooked me up with a 2010 RX 350 loaner. There has been a lot of talk about the new RX and I know that many others have shared their insight, but I figured that I would throw my two cents in as well.

Interior

The first thing that struck me was how large the cabin feels in relation to the 2RX. It feels much wider and far more expansive. I feel like the dash might sit lower in the new model, or the windshield is larger...not sure what. I am a bigger guy - 6ft/200 lbs- and felt quite small in the drivers seat. It's a lot like sitting in a minivan where there is that airy, open feeling everywhere in the cockpit.

While I was openly critical of the interior design at first, within 10 minutes of driving the car you quickly learn to love it. From the driver's point of view, the center stack is well placed and easy to reach, and also has that unique design that I am actually really liking now. I also like the new steering wheel as it seems like you can do nearly everything from there without much need to reach for the console. This car does not have nav/remote touch so I cannot really comment on that, though I loved it at the RX preview event that I went to previously. The seats are very comfortable and materials are a solid step above the 2RX.

I wish Lexus had done something more with the door panels because they're horribly flat and boring, but none the less the interior is a very pleasant place to be. The nicest thing is how much quieter it is than the old RX. It's nearly silent in all driving situations, while the old RX could get rhaspy at times. This interior feels, sounds, and seems much more "Lexus" than the 2RX.

On the Road

The first thing you notice is how much smoother the 3RX is than the 2nd generation. While a large part of this is the weight gain, the entire operation of the vehicle is smoother: accelerating, braking, steering, cruising, turning...everything. The 2RX felt a bit quicker on it's feet because it was so much lighter, but the new one feels more confident to me. It feels more solid and more "bolted together" than the previous model ever did. When I drove an RX 350 for part of the summer two years ago, it felt somewhat ponderous on the highway and did not cruise as quietly or smoothly as the new one. There are some points where this RX almost feels LS 460-like in operation.

Overall, driving this car is a significant step above the 2RX and they have (FINALLY) done a good job with electronic power steering and gotten the tension and weight right, at the right points. It no longer feels like you're in a dead zone when on-center like some other Lexus products. Turn the wheel and there is a nice, linear response as weight builds as you rotate the wheel. It feels very natural and also very reassuring. While the 2010 RX has gained some weight, it's not necessarily a bad thing- it cruises silently and effortlessly, is much quieter overall, and feels like a more substantial vehicle than the one it replaces. Not to mention that piloting the 'ute feels better to the driver and it is also more efficient- On the highway I was averaging 30.8MPG, and in mixed city I averaged 24. Those are impressive numbers.

Overall I would say that the best way to sum up the 2010 RX is that it simply feels "more like a Lexus". The cabin is higher quality, quieter, and more intuitive where it counts, and the driving experience is more pleasant as you pilot a vehicle that feels significantly more substantial and better-built than the one it replaces. It's just too bad that it still looks swollen from certain (most) angles on the outside because that is one place where the 2RX was better, IMO...

 

I haven't driven the new RX but I know what you mean about the old RX not really feeling completely Lexus-like. It was similar to the ES (not hard to imagine why since they share so much of their design) in that they both just didn't have that tight vault-like solid feeling to the way they drove. They both had a slight bit of a cheap/hollow feeling to them... the kind of thing you'd expect and accept from a Highlander or Camry but wonder why it was still there in the RX.

I was always amazed how much more solid my 99 GS400 felt when I got back in it after driving the ES and RX loaners.

 

I agree, the 3RX feels more like a Lexus. It is less entry-level and more benchmark-refined IMO. From the new technology to the softer leather and the unique design. Possibly this has to do with the discontinuation of the Harrier and the vehicle's transition to a full Lexus model worldwide.

 

I agree and am happy to say that the new RX definitely feels more on the "Lexus" side of the equation, than "Toyota". If you drove an LS and then a new RX back to back, you would still feel the same type of smoothness, silent operation, high quality, and overall balance...it finally has that "feeling" that the old one lacked.

 

I will finally get to drive a new RX next Monday for a loaner ... at least I was promised one ...

 

Nice mini review. I agree the car feels substantially better built than the 2RX.

 

Driving this car has made me wonder how Motor Trend and Car & Driver have deemed the handling and steering to be dead, lifeless, and practically on life support.

Let me clarify something:

In terms of driving dynamics, there is a marked difference between "sporty" and "athletic", and things like "confident", "willing", and "capable". The latter adjectives are not synonymous with things like "dead" or "lifeless" either.

The RX feels very solid, very confident and capable, and extremely willing. Willing to be thrown through a mountain pass like an IS F? No. Willing to tackle your average mountain road with ease, composure, and no drama? Definitely. Even more willing and capable of carrying you, your kids, and your stuff around on a daily basis in luxury and serenity.

I feel like there is this mindset among the automotive press and enthusiasts that if a vehicle does not communicate what is happening at every crack and imperfection of the pavement then it must inherently be DEAD and LIFELESS and a LAND YACHT that is WORTHLESS. Not so. Cars can be set up to drive and handle any different number of ways, and just because it doesn't talk to you like Miss Cleo does NOT mean it's not worthy of production.

Personally...I prefer something that is solid, balanced, composed, confident and smooth. That is how most Lexus products drive, obviously. The new RX is no exception.

 

Are you kidding me? I don't even drive the current LS, but my 430 would beat the current RX easily. We recently drove the new RX as a loaner and it was not TOTL of course, but come on. Driving an LS and RX back-to-back would reveal all the faults of the RX even more.

The only thing this RX has over the 2nd gen RX is a more modern interior with flush buttons and fancier look. The material is only on par, not better. I've had one too many 2nd gen loaners by getting my 1st gen RX maintained, but the 3rd gen is not that much better.

Improvements:
*Cabin quietness (but still loud)
*Power delivery feels better
*Better buttons and texture
*Headliner is very smooth and nice to the touch

Negatives:
*Why does the smartaccess only access from the front doors? Where are the "buttons" for the rear door?
*The flipdown eyeglass holder is straight from a Chinese toy factory, cheapo plastic
*Latches to fold the rear seat down are terrible cheap
*Hood clunks like a tin can, might bend just closing it

The car is just quirky enough that it's not good for us. We hope the new GX doesn't end up being a clunker too. Sorry, but the RX to me has failed to win.

 

Nice write-up, MPLexus301.

I hope the potholes didn't do your car any other damage besides just camber/toe-in on the alignment. While your car is in the shop, up on the rack, I'd have them check for tire/wheel damage and any bent steering or suspension parts as well, just to be on the safe side. Usually, though, bent suspension parts will show up in the wheel alignment. And, if you are charged for repairs, try and take a photo of the potholes, if possible......you might have a legal claim against the city or state for a reimbursment of what you paid.

I reviewed a new RX350 myself last Feburary, and found it a superb vehicle inside and out, though I wasn't particularly impressed with the mouse-console. The butter-smooth drivetrain and tomb-quiet noise isolation was like whipped cream, though the ride quality was slightly firmer than the old model, even with the higher-profile 60-series tires this year. Chalk that up to the new suspension this year.....an all-new double wishbone design. For those who still don't think it is stiff enough, a Sport Package is available (I'd pass on that.....I prefer the ride comfort).

 

Nice concise writeup, just the right length since techincal specs and instrumented testing data is not included. Similar to my findings when driving the new RX earlier this year.

 

If ride comfort is top priority, then the RX remains at the top of the luxury midsize SUV segment. It is the best point A to point B luxury SUV on the market right now.