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2018 Lexus RX 350L, RX450hL are here to fill your 7-seat needs
The Lexus RX is the Japanese automaker's best-selling model, moving nearly twice as many units so far this year as the runner-up, the Lexus NX. Considering the state of the crossover-crazed market, that should be a surprise to absolutely no one. Still, customers demands more, and automakers are happy to deliver. Currently, Lexus has a three-row crossover-shaped hole in its lineup. Soon, that gap will be filled by the new seven-passenger 2018 RX 350L and RX 450hL.
Sure, you can get three rows in the GX and LX, but traditional SUVs like that aren't selling nearly as well as more fuel efficient and more affordable car-based crossovers. The RX 350L and RX 450hL are based on the standard and hybrid RX variants. The pair have been extended by 4.3 inches to help accommodate an extra pair of seats. The angle of the rear window has also been changed to make sure third-row occupants have a reasonable amount of headroom.
The RX's second row folds in a 40/20/40 split. Access to the third row is granted with a lever that slides the second row up and forward. The second row also sits slightly higher than the third, creating some much needed footroom. Tri-zone climate control is available, and gives those in steerage control of their own ventilation. A pair of cup holders keeps drinks from ending up in the hair of those sitting up front. The third row folds flat when not in use.
Like the standard RX 350, the RX 350L is powered by a 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and is available in both front- and all-wheel drive. The RX 450hL comes standard with all-wheel drive. It's powered by a 3.5-liter V6 and two electric drive motors. Total power output is 308 horsepower. An EV mode allows the hybrid to run on pure electricity for a short amount of time. The models go on sale early next year.
Was always kinda cool that the RX was a 5 seat SUV. This third is just to make people think they can use it. Can't imagine there will be any room for cargo with 7 people aboard.
the third row seats look very similar to the third row seats on our '13 honda pilot touring (minus the cup holders in the middle). It's typically folded down and when used reserved for my daughter and nieces and nephews < the age of 8 I'm glad to see the RX finally have that option
So they didn't facelift it. Interesting. It appears this will be the lame duck model, with only a year or two on the market before the short wheelbase model gets facelifted. Not a good return on the tooling dollar. Or, they will stretch out the timeframe for both. Poor timing in my opinion. This should have been released either when the current RX debuted or when the facelift debuts.
And check out the prison cell interior compartment back there. This is the fallout of over-styling the exterior and having a beltline that is too high.
Can't imagine there will be any room for cargo with 7 people aboard.
Looking at the picture, you're definitely right. Looks like they barely stretched the body at all (just over 4 inches according to the article), and more or less just stuffed the 3rd row in the existing cargo area. With the seats up, the headrests are practically touching the rear windshield. My guess is you could probably fit 3 backpacks behind it side by side, standing upright--provided they weren't too full.
Was always kinda cool that the RX was a 5 seat SUV. This third is just to make people think they can use it. Can't imagine there will be any room for cargo with 7 people aboard.
Did you really expect there to be? It's not breaking chains, it's going to have the same problem the QX60, MDX, and everyone else in this class have with their third rows when fully occupied.
Like the standard-length RX, two powertrains will be offered including a 3.5-liter V-6 with 290 hp and a 263 lb-ft of torque in the RX 350L and a hybrid powertrain that combines the 3.5-liter V-6 with two electric motors and a nickel-metal hybrid with a total output of 308 hp in the RX 450hL. An eight-speed automatic transmission comes standard on the RX 350L, but the RX 450hL comes with a CVT. Front-wheel drive comes standard on the RX 350L, and all-wheel drive is optional. All RX 450hL models come standard with all-wheel drive. The RX 350L comes with drive modes—Normal, Sport, and Eco—and the RX 450hL adds a fourth, EV mode.
To make the RX L more family-friendly, the seven-seat variant features standard 40/20/40 split-folding second-row seats. It also features a single lever to move the seat out of the way for access to the third row. Six-passenger variants with the second-row captain’s chairs have a large separation between the seats to allow third-row passengers to enter without needing to the move the seat out of the way. Lexus raised the second row to add more foot space for third-row passengers and to give it the same level of comfort as other seats in the car.Standard features in the base 2018 Lexus RX 350L include leather upholstery, three-zone climate control, power-folding third-row seats, a power tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry/start, a rearview camera, and LED headlights.
All RX Ls come standard with the Lexus Safety System+ suite, which bundles together lane keep assist with steering assist, automatic high-beams, adaptive cruise control, and the Pre-Collision System (forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking) with pedestrian detection. Optional features include a head-up display, a Mark Levinson premium audio system, navigation with a 12.3-inch screen and Lexus’ touchpad/mouselike controls, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree camera system, and 20-inch alloy wheels.
Expect the 2018 Lexus RX L to go on sale early next year, slotting between the two-row RX and the larger GX.
The real weakness here, at least to me, is the rear cargo space with the seats up.
One of my few complaints with my Highlander is how little cargo room there is left when all seats are up. This new RX, at 7 cu ft, has about half of what my Highlander has back there (13.8 cu ft).
This was way overdue and I think it's going to sell like crazy.
11-29-17, 10:41 AM
2018 Lexus RX 350L, RX450hL are here to fill your 7-seat needs
I'm glad to see the RX finally have that option
