I previously owned a 2013 RX450h. After 35 months I felt that the hybrid was getting boring to drive as the CVT was rather loud upon heavy acceleration. However I did get great gas mileage; approx 23-24 MPG with the required 91 octane gasoline. When I test drove the 2016 RX 350 and the RX 450h last Fall I was extremely impressed with not only the radical looks but the ride quality of each due to the increased wheelbase. The 2016 RX looked and drove like a different vehicle then the 2013 and I knew I had to have one once the smoke cleared from the lack of good pricing when it was first released.

So I made a decision that instead of a hybrid I would change and get the RX 350 with its new 8 speed transmission. My Wife preferred another hybrid but since I primarily drive it she said it was my decision. I felt the RX 350 would be more enjoyable and sporty with gears that actually shifted and the Drive Mode Select as well as the looks of the rear tailpipes looked more sporty. Additionally the idea of using 87 octane gasoline was also appealing since in the Northern Virginia area where I live there's a 60 cent per gallon difference between regular and premium grades.

So I took possession of a 2016 Caviar with Black RX 350 in late March loaded with the Luxury Package/20 inch wheels/ML stereo with Nav/Surround view monitor/Triple beam LED headlights with the Safety System +/panoramic sunroof and HUD, just to mention the main options.

And now in Early June after 2 months of driving the new RX I have some comments that I hope are useful to other forum members:

- The eight speed transmission is not what I expected. Even driving in Sport mode the shift points at low speeds are not ideal and can feel jerky. The only way to try and avoid this is to always drive in Sport mode and always have the brake Hold button engaged (nice new feature) so that when you accelerate from a dead stop it is smoother since you don't have to worry about your foot being on the
brake and then the accelerator.
- The gas mileage on the RX 350 around town is only 15-16 MPG! So even though I pay less per gallon I visit the gas station more often.
- The ride quality with this 2016 is far superior to the 2013 and the 20 inch Michelin Premier LTX tires are awesome in wet weather. I'm glad I insisted on those as the 2016s are also coming with Bridgestone tires in the 20 inch size.
- The ML sound system, which I also had in my 2013, is far superior. The systems ability to uncompress music that is compressed is simply amazing. Additionally the new 835 watt amplifiers really makes the quality of all the music much better.
- the 4 position lumbar on the Luxury package makes the seats much more supportive for your back vs the 2 position lumbar on the RX without the Luxury package.
- The surround view monitor is wonderful as is the Rear Cross traffic alert (only Blind Spot monitor on the 2013).
- As another forum user pointed out the Lane Keep Assist function on the Safety System can be annoying if you're driving in town and don't use your turn signal each and every time you change a lane. So I keep it turned off unless I'm on a highway.
- The triple beam LED headlights are incredible in both looks and illumination.

In conclusion this is a fantastic upgrade from the 3RX and I am extremely happy with almost every feature. In the looks department it's a home run! However in hindsight maybe I should have listened to my Wife and bought the hybrid as I'm not sure the 8 speed transmission is ready for primetime. Like one of the other forum members mentioned one really needs to live with a test drive for a few days rather then 15 minutes.

I hope these comments are helpful to users who are still deciding whether to get the new RX..

 

With all due respect to the designers and engineers who created this incredible vehicle I have to agree with you that the 8-speed transmission is not ready for primetime (as it's currently configured). I find it lacks smoothness and is jerky when starting off from a standing start. As a remedy I'm using S-mode more or less exclusively and this greatly helps with smoothing out the drivability. I normally start out in S2 or S3 and upshift accordingly, typically when I reach around 2000 - 2500 rpm. I haven't tried using the Hold feature yet but will shortly and thanks for the tip.

 

PCW, Thanks for your post which I checked out after driving the new LS and a first drive in this generation of the RX.

After more time of ownership, more suggestions? Did you get the transmission service bulletin update to help shifting? If you had it to do over, would you stick with hybrid, or go gas? Not caring personally so much about mileage or cost, but the better ride. I'm trying to find 'cushy and ultra quiet' over sporting. Nothing about an LS or RX is 'sporty' to me, except the looks are edgy, which I like. Thanks in advance!

 

Sounds to me like you answered your own question.

 

i am sure you have seen this kellens
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-to-drive.html

 

We have a 2015 RX450h after owning a 2010 RX350. Wife and I said would never go back to a non hybrid. In her 450h, we average 28 mpg and in the 350 we averaged 20 mpg. The hybrid is quieter due to more insulation and of course the engine and has more horsepower. The octane requirement has been debated on these forums many times. I have used regular 87 octane in vehicles requiring premium for well over a million miles between our many vehicles. Have never ever noticed a difference in gas mileage or performance and have never had one engine problem.

I always leave it to the experts however. A previous post of mine on the subject.
I always revert back to two MIT graduates that are car mechanics who had a syndicated radio show called Car Talk for 35 years.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/premi...egular-0#myth4

From the USA Today:
The only modern engines that should really need premium are those with superchargers, which force-feed fuel into the cylinders. "You're driving along and just tramp the gas and the knock sensor cannot sense the knock fast enough in some cases," because the supercharger boosts pressure so fast, says Bob Furey, chemist and fuels specialist at General Motors.

Burning regular when the owner's manual specifies premium won't void the warranty, nor damage the engine, even the most finicky automakers say. "You're giving up perhaps just a little bit of performance that a customer wouldn't really even notice, it's so slight," says Furey.

All this being said to each his own.