2018 3-Row RXL Makes It Official at the LA Auto Show
Like the RX but need more room in your choice of vehicle? Lexus has got you covered with the new crossover RXL.
The crossover that we've been waiting for
The stretched out RX has finally been unveiled at the LA Auto Show and added another prong to the lance that is the segment-leading crossover. The extended RX now boasts more than 4 inches to the rear in order satisfy those who need more space and would like more headroom in the rear. “It’s an obvious extension for the Lexus lineup,” IHS Markit senior analyst Stephanie Brinley said. “Consumers respond to three-row SUVs. It gives Lexus a competitor for the Audi Q7."
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It's come a long way
The RX was first introduced 20 years ago and went on to become the top choice for folks who wanted SUV like space with the handling capabilities of a car. Now two decades later the RX L will come in the packages of a conventional gas model, the 350L, and a hybrid 450hL. The gas model uses a 3.5-liter V6 putting out 290 horsepower while the hybrid counterpart will produce 308 horsepower.
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Versatility
The styling of the RXL stays true to the design language of the normal RX in the front while the rear of the crossover gets a blacked-out C-pillar to create a "floating roof" effect. On the interior, the new third row passengers will now receive the "same level of comfort and luxury as in the middle row" by mounting the second row higher than the third so that the rearmost occupants have more legroom. That third row can disappear with the touch of a button allowing significantly more cargo room should the situation call for it.
>>Join the conversation on the New RXL right here in the Club Lexus forum!
Catering to everyone
To save those who are in the rear of the vehicle from feeling miles from the air or heat, the third row is equipped with vents and climate control in a tri-zone config that is standard. All RX models will now offer Enform Safety Connect and Enform Service Connect free for the first ten years of the vehicle's ownership. Previously, both of these services were offered with just a one year trial. Base models get an eight-inch infotainment display but if you check off the box for the Navigation package then you'll be rewarded with a 12.3-inch hi-res system and a 12 speaker premium sound system. To push things further for the audiophiles there is an option for an 835-watt 15-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround system.
>>Join the conversation on the New RXL right here in the Club Lexus forum!
Will it be a hit?
The 2018 RX L should see dealerships at the end of the year as a 2018 with a starting price of $47,670 for the FWD models and $49,070 for the AWD models. Prices haven't been announced yet for the hybrid versions but will be revealed closer to the due date for the models. If the price difference for the standard RX models is to be a guide then the 450hL should go for $10,000 more than the standard 350.
Click here to see Minnie Driver reveal what you can do with the RXL.
>>Join the conversation on the New RXL right here in the Club Lexus forum!
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