2017 Lexus RX 350

Lexus never shies away from technology, and the RX 350 doesn’t deviate from this convention- CarGurus

The 2017 Lexus RX 350 has a starting price of $43,220 for the FWD drivetrain while the AWD models add an extra $1,400. A separate destination charge of $975 is applicable. This SUV comes with niceties such as dual-zone automatic climate control, power front leatherette seats, a dual-pane sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen with an 8-speaker sound system, and many more. The RX 350 is also available with the $6,000 F-Sport package that adds a mesh grille, 20-inch aluminum wheels, leather seats, a 3-spoke sport steering wheel, a few aluminum bits, and F-Sport badging throughout. 

Also, the F-Sport's meaningful upgrade is an adaptive suspension. One of the greatest joy of buying a luxury vehicle splurging on options. On that end, the option sheet includes a 15-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system, a rear-seat entertainment system with 11.6-inch displays, a panoramic roof, a 360-degree camera, and a super-wide 12.3-inch navigation display controlled by a Lexus' mouse-like remote controller. In view of safety, Lexus has made its Safety Plus package as standard which includes top driver-assist features such as Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, etc.

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The Lexus RX 350 is a complete package of comfort and technology. The optional Panoramic View Monitor with Blind Spot Monitor package should be on your shopping list as it adds more driver-assist features to the list. We also suggest you go for the Navigation System with Mark Levinson package that adds a navigation system with voice commands, a 15-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system, and a remote touch navigation controller for $2,770. 

The RX 350 achieves decent enough fuel economy- The Car Connection

The Lexus RX 350 is one of the frugal SUVs in its segment. The absence of a turbocharger helps it to gain good numbers. The FWD models manage to return 20 MPG in the city, 27 MPG on a highway, and 23 MPG combined. On the other hand, the AWD models drop down the mileage by just 1 MPG, which is still good. 

A 19.2-gallon fuel tank capacity is fitted in the RX 350, which is decently sized for a midsize SUV. When filled with regular unleaded gas, this SUV boasts an impressive combined range of 451 miles while the AWD models deliver 432 miles. Therefore, this is a perfect car for those who wish to take long trips regularly. 

The RX 350 is the most efficient car followed by the Acura RDX whose efficiency and driving range are almost close to the RX 350. The BMW X5's MPG figures are less than the RX 350 but the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has the worst fuel ratings in this segment. However, thanks to its large fuel tank, it delivers the best range in this competition.

This easy-to-master cockpit is a spacious and comfy place to pass the miles - Edmunds

2017 Lexus RX 350 Seating and Comfort

The interior of the Lexus RX 350 looks modern and filled with high-quality materials. The dashboard has hand-stitched materials and gives out a sporty flair. All five seats are covered in leatherette upholstery. The front seat comfort as a whole is good as the seats are comfortable and the armrests are well-padded. The lumbar support is a little hard while the side bolstering is good. They are 10-way power-adjustable and the steering wheel is power-adjustbale too.

The passengers should find it a little more comfortable as there is plenty of head and legroom in both rows. Even though the seating position at the back is a little bit lower than you might expect in some other SUVs, it's not so low that you feel unnatural. Even the rear seats are comfortable and supportive as the front ones. They do slide and have recline adjustment but the only standout is no heated seats. Overall, the cabin is spacious and feature-filled.

The Acura MDX stands out as it is a 7-seater. However, its third row cannot accommodate adults and is only suitable for small kids. The rear legroom in the BMW X5 is really compared to the RX 350. On the other hand, the headroom offered in the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is less in both rows which can be unsuitable for taller passengers. 

2017 Lexus RX 350  Interior Features

The Lexus RX 350 hosts a lot of standard comfort and technological features. Some of them are:

• Power tilt & telescopic multi-function leather steering wheel
• 10-way power front seats with power lumbar support
• Leatherette upholstery
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Footwell lights
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Push-button start
• Power liftgate
• 8-inch touchscreen display
• 8-speaker sound system
• SiriusXM
• Voice recognition audio system

2017 Lexus RX 350  Infotainment System

An 8-inch touchscreen display is standard in the Lexus RX 350 that functions on the Enform infotainment system but it can be upgraded to a 12.3-inch high-resolution display. The larger screen has a split-screen function that allows you to see your navigation map alongside your information screen. The standard 8 speakers do a decent job but the optional 15-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system is one of the best in the business. To keep the rear passengers amused, there is an optional dual 11.6-inch video screen. 

The only thing that may slow you down is the remote controller in the center console which requires more precision than you would expect. The menu layout is simple and well laid out. Simple controls such as volume and climate tuning are all backed up by hard controls below the screen. however, this interface is starting to show its age in a few key areas. It doesn't have some of the latest connectivity functions which are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Overall though, it is still one of the best systems in the business when it comes to ease of use. 

2017 Lexus RX 350 Cargo Storage

In terms of cargo capacity, the Lexus RX 350 does not impress much. It only offers 18.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats, which is below average in its segment as most of the SUVs offer more than 35 cubic feet. The rear seats do fold down in a 40/20/40 split, giving access to 56.3 cubic feet of maximum cargo storage. 

A power liftgate is standard on the RX 350 but a touch-free power liftgate is available for $200. Upon walking to the Lexus emblem and raising your hand or elbow, it will automatically open the tailgate. Of course, the tailgate can be opened manually too. The loading lip is a bit high so loading items into the trunk can be challenging.  

Among its rivals, the Acura MDX offers the most cargo volume in this competition. A total of 90.9 cubic feet is available in the MDX thanks to its lengthy body proportions. The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class' cargo volume is not that bad either and offers 80.3 cubic feet whereas only 76.7 cubic feet is offered in the BMW X5.

The Lexus RX is certainly controversial, but we have to admire Lexus for taking chances. -The Car Connection

2017 Lexus RX 350 Dimensions and Weight

 The styling of the Lexus RX 350 is a big departure from that of all the previous generations. Upfront, the RX 350 wears a large version of the bold spindle grille which sets inside a 3D outline. The LED headlights and arrowhead DRLs also have an aggressive look to them. While they are not separated like some recent Lexus cars, the design is angular and integrates nicely with the grille. The vehicle will also get standard LED fog lamps as well. 

The base wheels are 18 inches but 20-inch super chrome wheels are optional. The RX 350 has a ground clearance of 8.2 inches, which is perfect for riding over rough terrains. The rear pillar is blacked to give a floating roofline appearance. Heading around back, you'll notice the RX 350 has an aggressive look. The brake lights are LED and they have a design that looks a lot like the NX. The lower fascia is nicely accented by dual chrome-tipped exhausts. 

The wide wheelbase of the BMW X5 helps to offer better stability at higher speeds and a more comfortable ride. The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class sits 1.1 inches lower than the RX 350. This benefits to better handling and performance. With a curb weight of 4,001 lbs, the Acura RDX is the lightest vehicle here and its the sloe reason for its quick acceleration. 

2017 Lexus RX 350 Exterior Features

Some of the exterior features of the Lexus RX 350 are:

• LED headlights, taillights & DRLs
• Door courtesy lights
• Exterior entry lights
• Black grille with chrome surround
• Power & heated exterior mirrors
• 18 & 20-inch wheels
• Black fender lip moldings
• Chrome window trim
• Rear roofline spoiler
• Dual exhaust chrome tips

The 2017 Lexus RX receives the Lexus Safety System+ suite of active safety features as standard-  MotorTrend

NHTSA awarded the RX 350 with a 4-star overall safety rating, which is a decent score. It scored 4 stars for the rollover and frontal crash tests while the RX 350 managed to score 5 stars in the side-impact crash test. Had it scored 5 stars in the frontal crash test then the RX 350 would have definitely earned a 5-star overall rating. 

NHSTA Rating

Unlike NHTSA, IIHS honored the RX 350 with their highest accolade which is the 'Top Safety Pick+' award. That's because it had received 'Good' ratings in all the crash tests and a 'Superior' rating for its front crash prevention. The models with the Bi-LED headlamps also received the second-highest 'Acceptable' rating.

IIHS Rating

Therefore, it is evident to say that the RX 350 is indeed a safe vehicle. Lexus is more inclined towards the safety of its passengers and hence, it has provided a total of 10 airbags for the protection of front and rear passengers. Moreover, the Lexus Safety Plus package is now standard on the RX 350 which is a suite of top driver-assist features. 

If you are satisfied with the standard safety feature list, the optional Panoramic View Monitor with Blind Spot Monitor package bundles some additional features for $1,865. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Rearview Camera
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Auto High Beams
• Lane Departure Warning
• Forward Collision Warning
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Lane Change Assist
• Park Assist

2017 Lexus RX 350 vs 2017 Acura MDX 

The Acura MDX is slightly expensive than the RX 350. It boasts the best performance stats in this competition and the credit goes to its low curb weight. Both the SUVs have the same tow ratings and the MDX's fuel economy is almost similar to the RX 350. Unlike the RX 350, the MDX is a 7-seater but its third row is useless for adults. Its cargo volume is one of the best in the segment. Both SUVs have earned good safety ratings but the RX 350 offers more standard safety features.

2017 Lexus RX 350 vs 2017 BMW X5

With an initial price of $56,600, the BMW X5 is the most expensive car in this competition. Its athletic performance helps it to accelerate a bit faster than the RX 350.  Moreover, it can tow nearly 2,400 lbs more than the RX 350. The X5's cabin is more practical than the RX 350 but its rear legroom is the least in this competition. It also offers an array of advanced driver aids but it loses some points in terms of fuel economy.

2017 Lexus RX 350 vs 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

The price difference between the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class and the RX 350 is nearly $8,700. Although the power figures of the two SUVs slightly differ, the performance stats are more or less the same. But the GLE-Class takes a forward leap in terms of towing capacity. Its cabin is as spacious as the RX 350 but has more luxury features while the cargo capacity is almost the same. Its main downsides are less standard safety features and poor fuel economy. 

The RX350 is the cornerstone of the Lexus brand and outsells every other Lexus' by a decent margin. Last year's redesign was critical to get it right. It is a pretty good option in this segment, especially now that the Safety System Plus package has been made standard across the lineup. There are options for more space and power but for a total package, the Lexus RX 350 definitely delivers.