Daily Slideshow: Daring Design of the Lexus RX 350

Playing against type

Part of Lexus' claim to elegance has been in their designs being beautiful without attracting bold attention. In many ways, Lexus is the standard-bearer for good looking car design; it's because of that familiarity that they often blend in so well.  The notion of "avant-garde" may seem incompatible with Lexus. Their quality has made them the standard, and their success has made them a common sight on the road.

In its post-2016 layout, the RX (short for "Radiant Crossover" has had a low-key makeover; one part futuristic dream, one part raunchy attitude. This is still a Lexus we're talking about-- and a family crossover at that-- but the fresh incarnation of the RX 350 has a surprisingly avant-garde outlook on car design. It's worth taking a closer look.

Subtly aggressive

Without encroaching on its broad family appeal, there's nonetheless something about the RX 350 that could be described as "edgy." Where a typical family crossover would suffice with soft corners, the RX style is made up of sharp grooves and angularity. Needless to say, this clashes with the "soft" impression people have had of the brand in the past. In this way, it still succeeds in all the conventional ways a family crossover should, and it's modest enough not to attract unwanted attention, but the changes should be enough to arouse bystanders from their coma of familiarity and give this one a double-take.

>>Join the conversation about the RX right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Bark over bite

Whatever excitement hinted at by the design isn't put into practice. For all its flair, the RX 350 drives as predictably and casually as one would imagine from a family crossover-- not that that's a bad thing. While its 290 BHP is good, it takes 7.7 seconds to make the standard 0-60 test. The drive mode select (with its punchier "sport" setting) is a commendable effort on Lexus' part, but the difference is small fries. The RX is a car with a domestic skillset after all. It still boasts that all-wheel drive goodness and some would even say that's overkill.

>>Join the conversation about the RX right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Still soft on the inside

Lexus was only daring with the exterior design, and we're kind of glad they left it like that. While the interior design lends itself better to creative license than the drive experience, the RX stays true to the smooth, upholstered bliss Lexus has built their name upon. Reviews of the RX 350 have taken frequent note of the infotainment system, which comes across as a tad awkward and cumbersome. That is a relatively minor quibble compared to everything else the Lexus interior has to offer.

>>Join the conversation about the RX right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Is the edge out of place?

The RX 350 isn't a case of "style over substance"; it's just that the experience doesn't quite line up with what the edgy design seems to suggest.

Be that as it may, sharp and aggressive handling isn't near as appetizing for some as they think it will be. Just ask owners of the Honda S2000 roadster from the original AP1 era. New owners unfamiliar with that car's legendarily sharp handling may have been taken in by the promise of edge; more than a couple of them ended up with their car in a ditch thanks to a tightly responsive turn. Be careful what you wish for. Lexus cars aren't regularly used for high-speed pursuits and stuntwork; considering the professional commuter demographic the brand attracts, we think it best that Lexus offers a smooth and stressless driving experience, first and foremost.

>>Join the conversation about the RX right here in the ClubLexus forum.

It's got it where it counts

To be clear, there's nothing in the rulebook that says an angular, grooved appearance needs to correspond with an equally edgy performance. In the case of performance-centric vehicles, the visual design is informed by a concern for aerodynamics. The RX 350's eye-catching doodads are purely aesthetic. Even if there isn't much intensity going on under the hood, the RX is worth giving a second look.   

>>Join the conversation about the RX right here in the ClubLexus forum.

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