The Lexus RX 350 has been redesigned completely for the year 2023.
Refined comfort and light handling.
A three-row variant is still awaited.
The powertrain lineup receives a refresh with the inclusion of a new advanced hybrid variant.
Intuitive car technology.
The RX 500h and RX 350h comes with an AWD drivetrain as standard.
Specs & Features
$47,800
price
275 hp @ 6000 rpm
horsepower
317 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm
torque
8-Speed Automatic w/od
transmission
3.5L 6cyl FWD 8A
engine
-
basic warranty
Overview
The Lexus RX has been redesigned for the year 2023, RX has introduced a new advanced hybrid powertrain in the RX F Sport Performance which makes it the quickest RX ever. Along with that, the new Lexus RX comes with the Lexus driving signature at its base the RX features a refined driving demeanor not achieved by any of its predecessors. It comes along with different models which are RX 350 hybrid, RX 450h+, and RX 500h performance, however, we will be covering the base RX 350 in this article rest are covered separately on our website. Interestingly, the new Lexus 350 price hasn’t been listed on its website we believe that it will start at around $49,000 MSRP. In its segment, the 2023 Lexus RX will continue to compete against the likes of the BMW X5, the Acura MDX, and the Lincoln Nautilus.
Buying Advice
The 2023 Lexus RX 350 hasn’t revealed price information for any of its different trims, however, some features have been provided. In out opinion, taking into consideration how last year’s RX 350 was priced, we would recommend the Premium Plus variant. Pricing is expected to be in the range of $50k to $60k, putting the Premium Plus at around the $56K mark. The variety of comfort features it provides, along with beautiful interiors will make it worth its price.
Enthroned for its luxurious style, sleek design, uncompromising engine performance, and technology among its rivals makes it a preferable choice for the top 10 SUVs for the year 2023. The all-new redesigned Lexus SUV rolls into its fifth generation and it embraces modernity in its finest form that brings an element of comfort, standard amenities, and an undemanding ride quality that raises it to the bar in the midsize crossover SUVs.
Features
8.0/10
The 2023 Lexus RX 350 can be differentiated on the features offered in the RX, Premium, Premium Plus, and Luxury variants. The base model comes equipped with Lexus Nuluxe which is a high-quality synthetic leather material that provides a smooth finish, lighter weight, and rich colors when compared to leather. Along with that, it rides on a 2.36 inches longer wheelbase that increases the interior space for people and their stuff to fit in easily.
The base RX 350 offers a potent list of standard specifications which are heated front seats, interior ambient illumination, 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, 7.0-inch multi-information display, Lexus 12-speaker premium sound system, Lexus Interface with 9.8-inch touchscreen display, Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, and Lexus app. It also comes with some optional features which are a power tilt-and-slide moonroof, intuitive parking assist, and rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking.
Trims
RX 350
Premium
Premium Plus
Luxury
MSRP
(FWD)
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
MSRP (AWD)
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Features
19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels
Add to or upgrade from RX 350 trim
Heated wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel
Add to or upgrade from Premium Plus trim
LED foglamps
Power tilt-and-slide moonroof
Leather-trimmed interior
21-inch 20-spoke alloy wheels with dark metallic finishÂ
Fuel Economy
6.8/10
The 2023 LX RX 350 is expected to have a better fuel economy than most of its predecessors, however, the numbers related to fuel efficiency aren’t known yet. On the other hand, the Lexus SUV 2022 had a fuel economy of 20 MPG in the city, 27 MPG on the highway, and 23 MPG combined. It also offered a fuel tank capacity of 19.2 gallons, however, we expect that its fuel efficiency and fuel tank capacity will be much better this year.
Model
2023 Lexus RX 350
2022 BMW X5
2022 Acura MDX
2022 Lincoln Nautilus
MPG
(City)
NA
21 MPG
19 MPG
21 MPG
MPG (Highway)
NA
26 MPG
26 MPG
26 MPG
MPG (Combined)
NA
23 MPG
22 MPG
23 MPG
Fuel Tank Capacity
(Gallons)
NA
21.9 gallons
18.5 gallons
18 gallons
Range, City/Highway/ Combined
(Miles)
NA
459.9 / 569.4 / 503.7
351.5 / 481 / 407
378 / 468 / 414
The 2022 BMW X5 and the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offer an equivalent mileage of 21 MPG in the city, and 23 MPG combined. On the other hand, the 2022 BMW X5, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, and the 2022 Acura MDX offer an equivalent mileage of 26 MPG on the highway. The BMW X5 provides an exceptional range with a maximum of 570 miles on the highway and it also offers a much better fuel tank capacity of 21.9 gallons than most of its competitors.
Interior
9.0/10
The outgoing Lexus RX 350 model was offered in both two-row and three-row configurations, however, the three-row configuration is still awaited and the two-row SUV can boast a total of five passengers. The new Lexus RX 350 has been designed while keeping the driver-in-focused interior that creates an open, inviting, and distraction-free space. Front seats offer a blend of comfort of support which is made of Nuluxe interior trim, along with that it comes with intuitive controls that are easy to detect and use for the driver. To provide extra inside space, Lexus reduced the rear overhang by 2.4 inches and increased the wheelbase by the same amount to 112.2 inches. Some standard specifications include textured fabric sections on the upper door panels, rich-looking ambient lighting, and open-pore wood trim on RX350 models.
Model
2023 Lexus RX 350
2022 BMW X5
2022 Acura MDX
2022 Lincoln Nautilus
Passenger Capacity
5
5
7
5
First Row (Head/ Shoulder/ Legroom)
(inches)
NA
40.8 / 60 / 39.8
38.5 / 61.9 / 41.6
39.9 / 58.9 / 42.8
Second Row (Head/ Shoulder/ Legroom)
(inches)
NA
38.7 / 58.1 / 37.4
38.1 / 60.3 / 38.5
39.2 / 59 / 39.6
Third Row (Head/ Shoulder/ Legroom)
(inches)
NA
NA
36.2 / 55.1 / 29
NA
Cargo capacity to the third row (cu-ft)
NA
33.9 cu-ft
18.1 cu-ft
37.2 cu-ft
Cargo capacity to the second row (cu-ft)
NA
33.9 cu-ft
48.4 cu-ft
37.2 cu-ft
Cargo capacity to the first row (cu-ft)
NA
72.3 cu-ft
95 cu-ft
68.8 cu-ft
In terms of luxury and comfort, each SUV is a delight. The 2022 Acura MDX has the highest amount of rear-seat space, making it a purely chauffeur-driven vehicle. It also sports the highest cargo capacity of 95 cu-ft. Additionally, it offers up to a total of seven passengers in its seating capacity. On the other hand, the 2023 Lexus RX 350 doesn’t offer details regarding the interior statistics, however, it is speculated that it will be better than its previous build.
Some salient interior features include
Interior ambient illumination.
NuLuxe interior trim.
Multi-zone climate control.
Heated front seats.
8-way power-adjustable driver’s and front passenger’s seats.
Power tilt-and-telescopic steering column.
How intuitive is the 2023 Lexus RX 350 Infotainment system?
The new Lexus RX 350 comes equipped with a highly intuitive Lexus interface that connects you better, along with it offering a new multimedia touchscreen and voice commands that intuitively connect the human and the machine. Lexus has removed the chunked controller which made the user interface seem clunky and difficult to interact which was present in the previous build. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto features are available as standard, however, an intelligent assistant, cloud-based navigation, head-up display, and Mark Levison audio features are present as an option.
Some salient key infotainment features are
7.0-inch multi-information display.
Lexus Interface with 9.8-inches touchscreen display.
Lexus 12-speaker Premium Sound System.
Wireless Apple CarPlay integration.
Wireless Android Auto compatibility.
Bluetooth connectivity.
Exterior
7.0/10
The 2023 Lexus RX 350 comes with a bold appearance and powerful stance this SUV demands your attention, seductive surfaces create a spindle body, and new optimized proportions and seamless grille reflect an engaging driving experience. It also offers a pair of exquisite headlamps, along with which its body has been elegantly shaped to evoke grace and power together. The roofline curves down into a blacked-out rear pillar, and a body line swoops up from the door rockers into the rear fenders both features aim to give it an appealing appearance. On the rear side, it features a unique Lexus badging and LED blade taillamps that ensure it will leave an unforgettable impression.
Model
2023 Lexus RX 350
2022 BMW X5
2022 Acura MDX
2022 Lincoln Nautilus
Curb Weight (lbs)
NA
4,828 lbs
4,271 lbs
4,165 lbs
Length (inches)
192.5 inches
194.3 inches
198.4 inches
190-inch
Width, with mirrors
(inches)
75.6 inches
78.9 inches
78.7 inches
86.1 inches
Height
(inches)
67.3 inches
68.7 inches
67.1 inches
66.2 inches
Ground Clearance (inches)
NA
8.7 inches
7.3 inches
7.9 inches
Wheelbase (inches)
112.2 inches
117.1 inches
113.8 inches
112.2 inches
Front Track Width (inches)
NA
66.1 inches
67.7 inches
64.8 inches
Rear Track Width (inches)
NA
66.9 inches
67.7 inches
64.7 inches
The highest ground clearance can be seen in the 2022 BMW X5 that measures 8.7 inches instills to provide a better drive performance and makes it easier to drive on rough and uphill terrain. On the other hand, the 2022 Acura MDX falls at the bottom with 7.3 inches of ground clearance. However, it compensates with the highest wheelbase of 113.8 inches and pair of front and rear track widths that measures 67.7 inches each. On the other hand, the 2023 Lexus RX 350 offers competitive exterior dimensions that are likely similar to its adversaries.
Safety
8.0/10
The new Lexus 350 offers varied features in the safety, the Lexus Safety System + 3.0 offers a pre-collision system with intersection support technology and slows the vehicle while automatically detecting a pedestrian. It also offers a digital latch with a safe exit assist that prevents the door from opening in traffic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have not yet given any rating for the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover.
Some salient safety features include
Lane-departure warning
Lane-keeping assist.
Adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature.
Safety System + 3.0.
Digital latch with safe exit assist.
Lexus app.
Competition
2023 Lexus RX 350 vs 2022 BMW X5
A fantastic premium midsize SUV, the 2022 BMW X5 outperforms the 2023 Lexus RX 350 in certain respects but falls short in others. The 2022 BMW X5 has more precise handling and a wider selection of engines that provide more powerful engine performance and torque. On the other hand, the Lexus RX 350 comes with a set of new intuitive technology, improved safety features, and a bespoke design making it a better fit to select from.
2023 Lexus RX 350 vs 2022 Acura MDX
The 2022 Acura MDX boasts a much better cargo space and interior space that matches its elegant styling and better exterior dimensions. On the other hand, the 2023 Lexus RX 350 has a better driver-focused interior and exuberant exterior styling that matches with an intuitive infotainment system.
2023 Lexus RX 350 vs 2022 Lincoln Nautilus
Compared to the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus the 2023 Lexus RX 350 offers a better engine performance and torque, additionally it offers better exterior dimensions and handling, and greater comfort making it a clear winner over its rival.
Final Verdict
Yes, we recommend the 2023 Lexus RX 350 as it boasts a luxurious and comfortable cabin, calm styling, intuitive infotainment, advanced safety features, solid engine performance, and high-scale quality materials that make it hard to match against other competitors.