2020 Lexus RX 350

The 2020 Lexus RX 350 SUV can be had primarily in three trims RX 350, RX 350L, and F Sport. The F Sport trim as the name suggests is the sporty version of the regular RX 350, so we have covered it separately. The base RX 350 starts at $44,150 and charges $45,550 to replaces the FWD with AWD. While the RX 350L is the long wheelbase and three-row version of the base RX 350 which starts at $47,300 for the FWD model and goes up to $48,700 for the AWD one. That being said, except for the extra row of seats there is hardly any difference between the two trims. 

Apart from the standard features listed below Lexus offer a few packages for the RX 350, a couple of those worth looking at is the Premium and Luxury package. The packages when had adds features like adaptive LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, heated steering wheel, head-up display,20-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, 360-degree surround-view camera system, driver's seat memory function, panoramic sunroof, real leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, etc. 

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The base trim is well-equipped with features and the ones not on the standard list can be had via the optional package. So unless you need the extra third-row seat which is nevertheless cramped we suggest going for the base trim.

Even though the engine is a big V6, the RX 350 turns out to be quite a fuel-efficient car when compared to the V6 powered Acura MDX. Under regular city conditions, the RX 350 will get you 20 miles for a gallon of gas. The figure goes up to 27 miles when cruising on the highway. The combined fuel economy figure of the Lexus RX 350 is 23 mpg, which is decent, but not the best in the segment. While the bigger 19.25-gallon fuel tank comes in handy in covering long stretches without needing many fuel breaks.

The turbo-four powered Q5 and the GLC 300 surely lead the pack when it comes to gas mileage figures. Driving around town both the SUV return 2 mpg more than the RX 350 while on the highway the GLC 300 returns 2 mpg more while the Q5 returns only 1 mpg more than the RX 350. Having said that, the Acura MDX with the V6 and an extra set of seats in the third row remains the least efficient among all the SUVs here.

"Lexus has chosen fine materials for the RX's interior, including soft leather, textured metallic or wood trims, and soft-touch plastics." -Car and Driver

The Lexus RX 350 gets a well-crafted cabin, which offers not only a comfortable and luxurious feel but also shields out the road and wind noise. The quiet cabin is nicely complemented by a great fit and finish level. Seats are well cushioned and comfy, both in the front and rear, and the space inside is extremely generous. Coupled with easy ingress and egress, the RX 350 SUV races ahead in terms of seating and comfort. The suspension only accentuates the premium feel and comfort of this luxury SUV. Except for the minor grouse of not so ergonomic placement of a couple of switches and knobs the cabin is among the best you can get under fifty grands.

The 2020 Lexus RX 350 offers an all-new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch display as standard. You have the option to upgrade to a better, wider 12.3-inch display too, which is much easier to use and delivers crisp picture quality even under direct sunlight. You also get Voice Command, Lexus Enform Remote Smartphone integration, HD Radio, navigation, satellite radio, and Bluetooth for connectivity. However, the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto this year remains the talking point. Coming to the audio part you get a 9-speaker setup as standard while the bigger screen gets a 12-speaker set up both of which can be upgraded to a premium 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system.

Cargo capacity in the Lexus RX 350 is pretty great, with 18.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Fold the rear passenger seats though, and you will be greeted by an amazing capacity of 56.3 cubic feet. You can carry pretty much everything in the trunk, and if your family loves weekend excursions, you can also pack enough luggage for everyone. 

The high seats make for a very commanding driving position and a good view of the road. There are also enough adjustments to find the perfect seating position aided by the available memory settings. The front seats are also heated and ventilated for added comfort and convenience. The cabin space inside the RX 350 is also among the best in the class while the MDX is the only exception here that offers seating for seven as standard. However, all other rivals except for the MDX offer a larger cargo capacity than the Lexus RX 350, with the Q5 leading the pack with a cargo capacity of 25.1 cubic feet and followed closely by the GLC 300 with 19.4 cubic feet of cargo space. 

Interior Features:

• Power adjustable steering column
• Simulated leather-trimmed seats
• 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats
• Dual-zone auto climate control
• Available leather upholstery
• Available heated and ventilated front seats
• Available three-zone automatic climate control
• Available head-up display

"Lexus has moved away from its plain early styling and switched to shapes that are daring, dynamic and routinely complemented by a bold spindle-shaped grille." -Kelly Blue Book

Gone are the days when the Lexus cars used to be conservatively styled. Come 2020 and Lexus cars have more shapes and curves than most of the cars in their segment. The design philosophy of the 2020 RX 350 is extremely daring and, sadly, polarizing. The hourglass front grill and the sharp side profile are an eyeball magnet, and if you love attention, this one will bring you a lot. For 2020, the RX 350 has undergone some minor nips and tucks on the exterior and mostly to the front fascia.

For 2020, RX 350 model carries the same dimensions as the 2018 Lexus RX 350 and falls under the mid-size SUV category. It is well under 200 inches in length, and almost 75 inches wide. The wheelbase is also quite compact, just under 110 inches. The weight, however, is a bit too much. The base model (FWD) is 4,222 pounds, and the others weigh in at a slightly higher 4,387 pounds. 

In this comparison, the Acura MDX is the longest SUV among all and thus can accommodate the third-row seats. Although you would be surprised to note that the GLC 300 even though being the smallest in length has the longest wheelbase of approximately 113-inches among all. While the Lexus RX 350 is no doubt the tallest SUV with the highest 8.2-inches of ground clearance. The Q5 also boasts a similar ground clearance and a slightly bigger wheelbase compared to the RX 350 yet the Lexus remains the most spacious on the inside.

External Features:

• Bi-LED headlamps
• LED DRLs and foglamps
• Rain sensing wipers
• Power adjustable and heated outside mirrors
• Power rear door
• Keyless entry

The all-new Lexus RX 350 is a pretty safe car. It performed well in both the crash tests, conducted by IIHS and NHTSA. In the IIHS crash tests, it received the highest rating of 'Good' in most of the categories while in the NHTSA crash tests, it received an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety Features:

• Backup camera with dynamic gridlines
• Pre-collision warning w/ automatic emergency braking
• Automatic rain-sensing wipers
• Lane-keeping assist w/ lane departure warning
• Automatic high-beam headlights
• Adaptive cruise control

2020 Lexus RX 350 vs 2020 Acura MDX

If you're looking for an SUV with a V6 and a luxury badge under fifty grands, then these two should be on the top of your list. Both these models bring to the table a lot of safety equipment and other features and offer an ample amount of power and torque. The fuel economy numbers for both of these cars aren't too bad either.

To match the MDX you will have to upgrade to the RX 350L as the RX 350 only gets two-row seats. Even then the MDX has more usable third-row seats and a comparatively more fun-to-drive than the Lexus, especially when had in the SH-AWD configuration. Thus between the two, the Acura MDX is more bang for the bucks.

2020 Lexus RX 350 vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

While some would argue that a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class is the organic competitor to the RX 350 going by the opulent interior and plush ride quality. But both the SUVs are poles apart in terms of size and dimensions the RX 350 is surely bigger than the GLC-Class but the latter is wider and offers a longer wheelbase.

While the GLC-Class gets better performance and you'd be better off with it in most of the driving conditions as it is also fuel-efficient over the RX 350. Ride and handling are kind of similar in both SUVs but the Mercedes-Benz offers a range of options in its GLC-Class catalog which can go from being a comfortable cruiser to a performance-packed SUV (AMG GLC-Class).

With a brilliant combination of performance and luxury, the 2020 Lexus RX 350 SUV is a desirable vehicle. What the SUV misses in terms of handling and driver involvement, you gain in terms of ride comfort. Your family will love the SUV as Lexus's cabin quality is its forte. The decent fuel-economy figures also make this SUV a great daily driver and an easy on-pocket mile-muncher. Hence, if you do not want to take the usual road that leads to one of the German car dealerships, the 2020 Lexus RX 350 is a great alternative and you should one a serious look.