Everyone's personal tastes are different, I suppose. We just traded our '15 NX for a new '19 RX and we both absolutely love it. No issues with engine/transmission at all. Drives like you said, "a dream".

 

there is a reason some go with the rx450

 

Try Sport mode. Ours is a 17 and the shift points are just fine. Hybrid? Nah.

 

Why not try resetting the transmission ECU?

 

I have a '17 350 f-sport with 15k miles. I really like car, more today than when I bought it. The TSB helped enormously in that regard. I am very happy with my purchase.
The following is a quote from an edmunds review and I found it to be the best description of the transmission and it's problems. Many owners do not have or don't notice these problems. The link to the full review is below.
"The 8-speed transmission regularly upshifts when it can't maintain speed and shifts back down within four seconds, then repeats. It is the constant attempt to keep engine revs under 1,800 rpm for fuel economy that causes the groaning and very slight vibration. The engine is laboring, even under the light throttle of a gentle driver, the revs are so low. Downshifting manually a gear or two completely eliminates it, making the engine very smooth and quiet. The transmission is reluctant to downshift when speed drops on a hill with throttle still applied. When climbing a steep hill into our neighborhood, I must make a sharp turn. I feather the throttle to time my speed reduction to reach 6 or 7 mph as I reach the sharp corner, still climbing steeply. As I turn it gets steeper and I add throttle. The speed drops further because it's still in third gear. The torque converter sounds like it is being abused. The car slows to about two mph, slower than I want to go before dropping to second, but if I add enough throttle to make it downshift when it should it would surge ahead too strongly for the turn. It never selects first, which is what is needed. I now shift manually every time I climb any hill to prevent these problems. When I do, the engine is quiet, smooth, sounds happy at 2,000-2,500 rpm and of course there is no hunting."
https://www.edmunds.com/lexus/rx-350...0849329070080/

 

I have an '18 and have no issues with the shift points. Even when I floor it to pass the shifts are quick and smooth.
When the car was new, I did find eco mode very unresponsive, but I tried it again recently (after about 5K km) and it downshifts quite readily now. I assume it has adjusted to my heavy foot and/or loosened up mechanically.

 

 

This is one of many reasons we bought a RX450h. The transmission could not be smoother. Used the hybrid was $1,500 more than the RX 350's on the Lexus lot. A true no brainer. Had ten Acura's before coming over to Lexus six years ago. Acura's used to be as dependable as Lexus but no more. J D Power ranks them well below average. They rank the RX the most dependable in the mid size premium SUV category. For the same reason would never touch a German SUV.

 

I believe you can accomplish that by disconnecting the battery for about 30 min or so.

 

There are many posts about this on here. My 2019 RX hesitates badly with acceleration. Many think it is the ECU that needs to be reset to re-learn your driving habits. During the initial break-in of 1,000 miles, most of us are taking it easy. The recommendation is that you do not any fast starts until after that period. I drive much more aggressively now than I did during break-in. Some people were able to get a reset. I asked my dealer and he said they never heard of it. I still have the problem and am keeping it in sport mode and using premium Shell gas to minimize the annoyance.

-lj

 

I have to say that's crap - that person you spoke to obviously doesn't know. Did you ask them to check with someone else, did you push the matter? There is so much written about this over many websites not just this forum, many different Lexus models too.

Contact them again OR go to another dealer, the RX350 transmission can be reset, my dealer did it without me asking, I only mentioned the hesitation, they found nothing wrong and said they reset the transmission memory.

 

I have a 2017 RX350 for one week now. Driving on interstate highway the transmission doesn't sound right at 55-65 but sounds smooth and quiet once i'm above 65mph.
It is an 8 speed so maybe what i'm hearing is the shifting to another gear between 55-65mph.

Otherwise the car is great.

Thoughts? Thanks.

 

What do you hear? Its probably not quite in 8 at 55 but that doesnt mean there should be a noise. Our 17 is buttery smooth every step of the way in particular on the highway.

 

I am in ECO mode. Could it be the transmission is slower to respond in ECO therefore causing the hesitation?

 

Forget eco. Try normal or sport.