2015 Lexus Rx 350 Awd Sportdesign Edition Review
Reader Review: 2015 Lexus RX350 Sportdesign
Brad Lindeburgh seeks a realiable, all-bicycle drive highway cruiser
Moving out of the city often means enough of highway driving.
One year ago, Brad Lindeburgh and partner Gary Coombe left Calgary behind. They relocated to their recreational belongings well-nigh Sundre, a community approximately 116 kilometres northwest of the metropolis.
Now, more than ever, they require a reliable, all-bicycle bulldoze highway cruiser.
That should put the five-passenger 2015 Lexus RX350 on their shopping listing, and to gauge Lindeburgh'southward reaction to the freshened vehicle, nosotros put him behind the wheel for a calendar week.
Lexus, the luxury arm of Toyota, get-go introduced the RX in 1998 equally a motorcar-based utility vehicle. The offset generation lasted until 2003, while the 2nd generation was sold from 2004 to 2008. A hybrid model, the 400h, was added to the range at that time.
Third-generation vehicles were introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Prove in 2008, and the range was refreshed in 2012, and again for the 2015 model year.
In Canada, the RX is offered in three models, the RX350 Sportdesign, the RX350 F Sport and the RX450h. All of these models are produced in Canada.
A 3.5-litre V6 engine powers the RX350 Sportdesign, and it's mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. All of the RX models are equipped with all-wheel drive.
We put Lindeburgh in the RX350 Sportdesign. According to Lexus, the newest version of the model has been enhanced with perforated leather seat surfaces, heated and ventilated front seats, a ability moonroof and nineteen-inch blend wheels together with machine-leveling HID headlamps.
The RX350 comes well equipped with a 12-speaker audio system and USB input, integrated XM satellite radio and steering wheel-mounted sound controls. A myriad of safety assist systems, such as stability command, traction control, ABS and electronic restriction force distribution are included, forth with ten airbags and a back-up camera.
Two packages are available to upgrade the RX350 Sportdesign, including the Touring packet and the Applied science package.
Lindeburgh'southward RX350 was kitted out with the $5,150 Touring option, and it added features such as a heated wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel, in-dash DVD role player, blind spot monitor and parking assist.
Lindeburgh was born and raised in Regina, and his beginning car was a 1969 Chevrolet Bel Air. After completing academy in Manitoba, Lindeburgh endemic a succession of Mazdas, plus a Volkswagen Passat.
Most recently, the family sold their Volvo XC90 to purchase a 2011 Ford F150 to pull their holiday trailer. Lindeburgh still has a Volvo C30, and says while the auto is fun to drive it meets only i of his top three purchasing considerations.
Beginning, he likes a vehicle with AWD. Second, he likes a comfortable highway vehicle (the C30 slots in here). Third, he favours the SUV format for carrying baggage and groceries.
Lindeburgh approached the RX350 with no preconceived notions. He'd never driven ane before, and he didn't do whatsoever enquiry about the vehicle.
"The forepart end has quite a chip of line and style," he said, and added, "the grille and headlamps are sporting the latest Lexus image, merely I thought the back end was looking a little dated. I did like the deep, sparkly cherry-red paint, and thought information technology suited the RX350."
Inside, Lindeburgh was caught off-guard by the calorie-free-coloured upholstery. It's a hue Lexus calls 'parchment'.
"I would find that a very difficult color to proceed clean," he said.
Beyond the colour, notwithstanding, Lindeburgh was impressed with the overall pattern.
"It was a very attractive, modern nuance," he said. "The shifter is upwards on the dash, which made the console that much more than open – information technology was very sleek and make clean. There were plenty of little cubbies for storage, and the leather was pleasant to the touch."
At v'4", Lindeburgh said he felt 'tiny' sitting on the driver's seat, merely he was able to adjust the steering wheel and the chair to give him a comfortable driving position.
He challenged himself to see if he could work his style through the Lexus systems without resorting to the manual, and felt the sound system, navigation and climate control were all intuitive to operate.
"There's a control knob to navigate the computer, and it seemed really sensitive," Lindeburgh said. "I'd e'er go past the point where I wanted to exist – there might accept been a way to change that sensitivity, but then once again, I don't know because I didn't read the manual."
It didn't take long for Lindeburgh to find his biggest pet peeve about the RX350.
"I got out onto the highway, and I immediately pulled over. I idea I had a window or the sunroof open, and walked around to see if the tailgate was open up – in that location was some serious air current or tire noise," he said. "Different tires might aid change that, but the noise would have been a deal breaker for me correct there."
The 3.5L V6 was peppy and responsive, and Lindebergh said it wasn't the powerplant making all of the noise to which he took offense. At no time did the six-speed automatic manual search or hunt for gears, and the shift points were smooth and almost undetectable.
Handling, Lindeburgh said, was crisp and light and he felt confident cornering in the RX350. The ride, while pleasant in town, was a piddling also firm for Lindeburgh'due south liking on some of the bumpy and rippled sections of the rural roads.
Utility was given ii thumbs upwardly.
"It would swallow a lot of baggage, and it had the cargo comprehend, which is nice," he said.
When asked who would best suit the RX350, Lindeburgh said, "It would be platonic for people like united states – except I couldn't do the road noise, and I thought it was a bit too firm in the pause department.
"I'd recommend it, though, equally a city driver-type vehicle for a family with a couple of kids considering of its utility, and it truly handles much smaller than it is."
The Specs
Type of vehicle Mid-size luxury crossover
Engine 3.5L half dozen-cylinder
Ability 270 hp @6,200 rpm, 248 lb.-ft. torque @ 4,700 rpm
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Brakes Iv-wheel disc w/ABS
Tires P235/55R19 Mud+Snow
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy ratings (L/100 km) 13.3 city, ix.8 highway
Price (base/as tested) $50,600/$57,873.15 incl. freight and PDI
Destination charge $i,995
Standard features AWD w/active torque command system, A/C with dual zone auto climate control, electronically controlled brake organisation w/ABS, power tilt/scope steering bicycle, push button start/stop, power moonroof, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front end seats due west/driver seat memory, 12-speaker Lexus audio arrangement, Bluetooth
Options Touring Bundle includes single in-dash DVD, voice activated navigation, heated leather and wood steering wheel, intuitive parking assist, blind spot monitor
Driver'Due south JOURNAL
Mean solar day One: Starting time bulldoze, up QE2 at high speed, off onto 582 over to 22 and into Sundre. First impressions, nice pigment, pretty colour. High seating and good forwards visibility, despite long A-pillars. Interesting exterior shape merely a bit blobbish. People look. Information technology grows on y'all. Had all the electronic doodads I expected. Heart dashboard shifter makes room in console but feels very cheap to the paw and when shifting. Nav system is straightforward to utilize just joystick volition take some practise (jumping too far each time). Very noisy on the highway! Route/tire noise and wind noise (around side mirrors?) seems very excessive at highway speeds and tire noise even in town. Handles nicely, lightly and tightly, nicely balanced in town in corners. Practiced power on demand from engine.
My 2nd bulldoze, Sundre to Calgary and back in the evening. Still can't believe how noisy it is on the highway. Sound organisation is easy to apply once the interface is improve understood. Lights are very constructive. Good ability for passing on the highways. Ride is a chip over-house over bumpy roads.
Interior materials and pattern is very nice: good leather, well thought out ergonomics, understated just elegant.
Days Two and Iii: Few errands in boondocks. More appreciation for all the little doodads and compartments, storage areas. Grocery shopping easy with automatic tailgate. Nice in-boondocks ride with lots of zip and good visibility. Side mirrors aim down when in reverse, nice characteristic.
Day Four: Drive out to an acreage on gravel roads. Handles okay on gravel but a bit jittery at higher speeds. Filled upwards with gas $60 – not great but great considering the kind of driving I've been doing.
Day Five: Sundre to Calgary and return, including some errands in city. Nice to bulldoze in stop and go traffic and quick lane changes.
Day Six: Collection out to a friend'southward acreage in the evening, the low beams with horizontal cutting off are quite bright and amazingly clear. Loftier beams allow you to see through fourth dimension!
Day Vii: Returned the car, institute it simply wasn't a cracking highway car for noise or ride.
Summary: This is a urban center automobile, not a land car! It has nice finishes and all the amenities, including air conditioned seats. In the metropolis it has lots of pep, corners well, and has a nice elevated driving position with good forward visibility. On the highway information technology is excessively loud with route and air current noise and the ride is also firm on rough pavement. On gravel it is a flake jittery. It is a handy vehicle with lots of storage nooks and an easy-to-apply dorsum gate.
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Source: https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/reader-review-2015-lexus-rx350
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