2008 Lexus RX 350
The first time I drove a Lexus SUV, I was so excited that I decided to put on red lipstick at a stoplight. A mistake, for sure. The light changed and I got the lipstick smudged on the visor. At that point I decided to calm down…after all it was just an SUV. But, not just any SUV.
I still got that rush when I took out the 2008 Lexus RX 350 the other day. I was test-driving it with my toy poodle, Jack, a very discerning dog, riding shotgun. Pricing in at $47,395.00 this vehicle was more than a few hp higher than the last model I had driven. In 07 the RX 350 introduced a 270-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine with 270 horsepower and 251 lb.-ft. of torque in both front and all wheel drive. The FWD RX 350 does zero to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds; the AWD model in 7.4 seconds with fuel economy rating for the RX 350 FWD of 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway for the AWD model.
Bottom line: the RX 350 had enough juice to get me anywhere I wanted to go and was nimble enough to pull in and out of parking spots and heavy traffic. Another nice note: the RX 350 was engineered at the outset to accommodate a hybrid powertrain, and shares its platform with its hybrid counterpart, the RX 400h.
But what I noticed most was that car-like and quiet feeling when driving the RX 350. So, I asked one of the Lexus execs, “Why does it feel so light to drive? And he answered, “Because it's a Lexus. Smoothness is the brand's forte.”
Ok, I hear you. And it also helps to introduce additions like an acoustic glass windshield and supplementary sound insulation in the door panels, instrument panel, and floor mats. And although it has more than 84.7 cu.ft of storage with the rear seats down and 38.3 cu ft rear cargo capacity (with a power liftgate!), the RX 350's 106.9-inch wheelbase and 186.2-inch length make for a reasonably sized vehicle.
The interior of my car had blonde woods and gold-toned chrome. I loved the stand-alone center stack and the wooden and telescoping/tilting leather and wood steering had a nice heft. Little details like an adjustable light in the visor vanity mirrors, illuminated front cup holders and a wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel panels and rear seats that can slide or recline.
Cool options: a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, with a large nine-inch screen; a Tire Pressure Monitor system to alert the driver by a warning light on the instrument panel if a significant drop in tire pressure is detected; air-suspension system with four height levels; adaptive front lighting system for illuminating curves; illuminated entry system that lights the door handles, scuff plates, and front footwells and an 11-speaker Mark Levinson® Premium Audio System.
- Posted by
- Holly Reich July 27, 2007, 12:29 PM
- Permalink
- Categories:
What I said about the the acura tl goes here also...I fear for the redesign!! Now it seems so perfect and has no short comings other than no 3rd row seat. Thats OK!! Maybe the ES350 is a good place to start thinking about the RX.
Regaurdless, lexus needs new models. The GX470 wass too similar to the LX470 but not the GX is too old. The 3rd row has hernia and go, its crampted and it sits on the floor. Hopefully the next GX is sequoia based instead of 4runner based.
NICE POODLE and RX. Hopefully its not in my favorite color (flint mica) or else you dog and it would be the same color!!
-Cj
Interesting dash. I think the inside of a car is more important than the outside, because THAT'S the part you have to live in for the duration of your trip. I love the wood, but that metallic/spaceage treatment is a turn-off. I do hope to have a Lex someday, even though it probably won't be an SUV.
Holly, you're so lucky to get to take these cars home with you!