2019 Lexus RX 350

Starting at an MSRP of $43,820, it is priced at the segment that gives it ample competition in the form of the Acura MDX, Land Rover Discovery, and Ford Explorer. All of these have enjoyed a fair share of the market and continue to do so. Lets us see what everyone else around the block has to offer, and how the Lexus fares in the competition. 

The SUV comes in two trim levels, RX 350 and RX 350 F Sport which as you all know is the sportier variant of the vehicle. The base itself is equipped with 18-inch wheels, automatic LED headlights, rear privacy glass, powered liftgate, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, and so on and is not an imagination of a bare-bones car. For the F Sport trim, the features list stays the same but as it is a sports variant, the SUV gets a sport-tuned suspension, 20-inch wheels, and some special exterior styling elements. 

Which trim should you buy?

There isn’t a lot of choices offered in terms of trims alone because the difference between the two trims is quite narrow unless you want a sporty driving experience. Since one of the highest selling points of the Lexus RX 350 is that it is priced at the lower range than its rivals, we would stick with the base trim itself. And if buyers want more we would recommend them to get the Premium Package which adds a lot of convenience features that make the car quite plush.

The 2019 Lexus RX 350 comes with a 3.5 L V-6 engine that produces 308 295 hp & 267 lb-ft of torque. The power figures are more than adequate for everyday driving and even some vocational spirited driving. It does not have much towing capacity, which is not something buyers in the segment are exactly keen on.

 The drivetrain is front-wheel-drive while all-wheel-drive is available as well and transmission is a CVT unit. Speaking about outright acceleration, the SUV does really well, stomp on the pedal and it goes from 0 to 60 in just 6.6 seconds and goes on to complete the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds. Overall we have felt that the powertrain is gently impressive. 

Considering all its rivals, the Lexus has a decently powered unit here but the Land Rover sets the benchmark in the segment in terms of power figures. However, one thing we have to note is that the Land Rover costs a fair bit extra and also does not show anything close to the figures on paper when it comes to putting down power on the road. The Acura MDX has brutish power and manages to accelerate the fastest. The Ford Explorer is much cheaper but has a similar deficiency in terms of performance.

How well does the 2019 Lexus RX 350 handle?

When it comes to handling, the Lexus RX 350 does not have too much to offer. The F sports variant does liven things up a bit but does not expect sports car handling from luxury crossover SUVs. The adaptive dampers on the F Sport variant will make your life much easier but the highlight of this car is just too plush the ride. 

The steering on the RX 350 is very lightweight; it almost feels like you are driving a much smaller vehicle. The cabin is very quiet and extremely relaxing to be inside. No external noises deep inside the cabin and one feel very peaceful inside it. Not even if you hit a bump at moderate speeds do you feel that the car is unsettled for the purpose that it aims to fulfill, this car is more than enough. 

2019 Lexus RX 350 Braking Performance

The Lexus RX 350 does have an adequate amount of stopping power and braking performance is confidence-inspiring. The rotor size is on par with the competition and surprisingly the braking performance on this Lexus is great. It has 13.3-inch rotors in the front and 12.9-inch rotors in the rear which help bring this rather heavy SUV to a stop from 60 mph in just 117 feet.

Considering all that heft and size, the Ford Explorer is the best performer in the braking department. If we put it aside just for a second to make a fair comparison between the RX 350 and the rest of the competition, the Acura MDX is the second-best performer. The Lexus follows it and the Land Rover has the least braking performance in the segment despite the extra power.

Being equipped with 3.5 L V6 engines and so on one does not expect a lot of fuel efficiency from the cars in the segment. The RX 350 however manages to exceed all expectations and has a stellar fuel economy of 30 MPG combined. Even the city’s fuel efficiency is much better compared to the competition. The 17.2-gallon fuel tank gives it a best-combined traveling range overall.

The Lexus manages to better the fuel efficiency ratings of its competitors by a very fair amount. So much so that it’s almost beyond comparison to pitch it against some of its rivals. The Land Rover suffers greatly here returning combined fuel efficiency of only 18 MPG while the Lexus returns 30 MPG. All of its competitors have larger fuel tanks but the Lexus still has a much better range due to its supremely fuel-efficient engine.

The interior of the Lexus RX 350 is true to the Lexus philosophy, very elegant and classy. Most of the body panels are covered in faux leather or genuine leather depending on trim level. The design is not funky but has a subtle modernist touch to it. The subtle accent lines and wooden inlays make sure the cabin does look like a luxurious one. Overall, it is one of the best-looking cabins in the segment. 

The switchgear is easy to access and the buttons are large and the labels are very clear. The contours on the seats are well thought out and support the body nicely. The seats are also extremely well-engineered and provide a lot of support and stay comfortable for long journeys. The second-row seats are comfortable and can house 3 people easily. Overall, the cabin of the Lexus RX 350 is one of its strongest points. 

We see that the Acura and the Ford Explorer offer seating for seven passengers while the Lexus and Land Rover offers seating only for five passengers. The cargo capacity of the RX 350 with the second row up is good enough and as always, the seats can be folded down which creates 32.6 cubic feet of overall cargo space. However, the Land Rover has the most amount of cargo space. Let’s see some of the interior highlights:

• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
• Powered front seats
• Interior Air Filtration
• Dual Zone Climate Control
• Ambient Interior Lighting
• Optional Luxury Package

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The RX 350 has got a weak point in terms of its infotainment system. The base infotainment system has an 8.0-inch touch screen & does not get Android Auto or Apple CarPlay as standard. The system can also be controlled via the trackpad which is a little annoying. The Navigation Package gets you a bigger 12.3-inch touch screen and a 12 speaker sound system. We felt that the optional touchscreen is much better. Some of the standard features of the infotainment system are:

• 8.0-inch Infotainment Screen
• Voice Command
• Lexus Enform Remote Smartphone integration
• Traffic and weather service via HD Radio
• Siri Eyes free system
• Scout GPS link navigation
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• HomeLink System
• SmartAccess key
• Bluetooth Technology

The Lexus RX 350 series is not exactly the best-looking car from Lexus but in its category, it is certainly the best design. There is a tightness to the design but also a lot of free-flowing curves that invoke an element of dynamism. The floating roofline design is also a very nice touch. Overall, the design language is one that is sure to attract buyers and certainly makes the car look more modern next to its competitors. 

Ford, being an American manufacturer, has designed a car that is much larger than its competitors. By dimensions, it is the widest, tallest and longest vehicle in the group today. The Lexus is a lot smaller in terms of sheer size but does not have anywhere close to the same compromise in terms of practicality. It also has excellent ground clearance. Some of the exterior highlights include:

• LED headlights & taillights
• Black grille & wheels (F Sport)
• Floating roof design 
• Hourglass grille
• Polished exhaust tips

The 2019 Lexus RX 350 has a solid safety arrangement in both trims, in terms of the features as well as in the crash tests results. In the IIHS testing, the SUV has scored a ‘Good’ rating in all the crash tests. The NHTSA crash tests give it a 4-star rating in overall safety and frontal crash tests. Lexus has no left no stone unturned in providing safety features to the RX CD’s including the blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alerts which are available as options.

• Lexus Enform Safety Connect
• 10 Airbags
• Lane-Departure Warning
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Forward-Collision Warning with Automatic Emergency Braking
• Brake assist and electronic brake force distribution

2019 Lexus RX 350 vs 2019 Land Rover Discovery

The Land Rover Discovery is a more expensive, more powerful, and more spacious counterpart to the Lexus. However, it does not accelerate as quickly or provide anything close to the fuel efficiency that the Lexus does. However, it manages to be a great handler and offers excellent interior quality. It is also the only SUV in the segment that can tow a considerable weight and go off-road. However, in most other regards, the Lexus is a better pick. 

2019 Lexus RX 350 vs 2019 Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer is a much cheaper alternative in the midsize crossover SUV segment. The Explorer as well is an immensely luxurious SUV but it is not as luxurious as the Lexus. It is much larger and has a very decent towing capacity but appeals to a more utilitarian buyer. In terms of convenience features, and luxury trails behind and leaves a lot to be desired.

2019 Lexus RX 350 vs 2019 Acura MDX

The Acura MDX is one of the strongest rivals to the Lexus. The interior is similar on both the SUVs, but the MDX offers an extra row of seating. While the Lexus offers an aggressive design, the Acura is more leaned towards traditional good looks. However, it suffers in terms of fuel efficiency while not offering a lot of extra performance. The Lexus seems to be the better pick between these two as well.

The 2019 Lexus RX 350 is a capable SUV that provides loads of luxury and enough power for an average user. It is offered at a cheaper price than rivals that are equal to it. It provides the best fuel efficiency numbers in this category and also a good amount of features. One of its only disadvantages is that it has outdated infotainment features but these can be fixed by opting for the optional infotainment system.