2020 Lexus RX 350L

Lexus is to Toyota what Acura is to Honda; a luxury brand subsidiary. Also, like Acura, Lexus is the best of what the Japanese have on offer. Extremely luxurious, comfortable, practical, reliable, and available at a smarter price tag than the German rivals, Lexus cars have always been the smarter, albeit a little boring, choice.

Lexus is to Toyota what Acura is to Honda; a luxury brand subsidiary. Also, like Acura, Lexus is the best of what the Japanese have on offer. Extremely luxurious, comfortable, practical, reliable, and available at a smarter price tag than the German rivals, Lexus cars have always been the smarter, albeit a little boring, choice.

The 2020 Lexus RX350L is what you get when you want more out of your regular luxury soft-roader; a 7-seater luxury soft-roader. There isn't much to complain about, but there isn't much to be excited about either. So, should you put your money on this car?

Trims and Pricing

The 2020 Lexus RX350L is offered in only one trim but Lexus has a bunch of paid options on offer.

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Owing to the lack of trim choices, you will have to buy the only one that's available. However, there are plenty of options available that will make your RX 350L a little more personalized.

The mechanical substance of the RX350L hardly differs from that of the regular RX350. That means it's powered by the same 3.5-liter V-6 found in many Toyota and Lexus models.-The Car Connection

Engine and Transmission

The 2020 Lexus RX 350L offers a lovely V6 engine, which churns out 295 horsepower. Although the power output is plenty, the engine itself isn't as exciting. You get fine performance, but none of the drama associated with a V6. Put your foot hard down on the throttle, and the car quietly starts building speed.

The F Sport trim offers a bit more flair, with synthesized engine noise playing in the cabin via the speakers, BMW style. Horsepower figures remain the same, which is quite disappointing. Transmission duties are handled by 8-speed automatic transmission coupled with either a Front or an All-wheel drive system. To aid with the sporty feel, the F Sport gets paddle shifters behind the wheel as well.

Most of the competition offers 6 cylinder mills. With a naturally aspirated V6, the Lexus SUV offers a much better response from the engine. The BMW X5 punches out the most power at 335 hp whereas the Acura MDX comes last with 290 hp. The Lexus, Land Rover and the BMW are offered with an 8-speed automatic transmission whereas the Acura MDX houses a 9-speed automatic unit. The Infiniti QX60 has a CVT transmission which might take the fun out of your driving experience. 

Acceleration

While Lexus may look quite sporty, that isn't really the case here. The car isn't particularly fast but does well for itself, the exact figures haven't been tested yet, so the final comments will rest until then. The 2018 Lexus RX AWD took under 7 seconds to go from 0-60 and considering that this uses the same engine, drivetrain, etc., the figures will probably remain the same. The naturally aspirated V6 though has quite a lot of power, which helps move the two-ton-plus SUV.

Braking

Braking is quite nice as well, mainly due to the pair of 13.3-inch disc brakes in the front, and a pair of 12.9 in the rear. The curb weight of the car is quite generous in numbers, well over 2 tons, but it is well masked and does not hinder the braking at all.

Ride and Handling

Lexus RX is laid back, luxurious car. Its primary job description is to ensure a smooth and comfy ride, and as such does not really pay much attention to the handling. The body roll isn't well contained, and spirited cornering is sure to unsettle your nerves more than the car. The steering has next to no feedback, and even in Sport and Sport+ modes, things don't get much better. Still, due to the light steering, leisure driving is this car's forte. The AWD version has better traction, though the FWD isn't too bad either.

Even with the added bulk and the big V6, the RX 350L turns out to be quite an efficient car. It isn't the tree-hugger like hybrid version, the 450hL, but it's quite impressive nonetheless.

The 2018 RX 350L is essentially a carbon copy of its two-row sibling, with almost all of the same standard and optional equipment and with many of the same virtues. That means high-quality materials, a quiet interior and excellent build quality. The main difference is the additional third-row seat.-Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

The 2020 model has had no changes over the 2018 one, but that may not necessarily be a bad thing. The car has a brilliantly insulated cabin, which shields out the road and wind noise. The quiet cabin is complemented by great fit and finish as well. Seats are well cushioned and comfy, both in the front and rear, and the space inside is extremely generous as well. Coupled with easy ingress and egress, this SUV races ahead in terms of seating and comfort.

You get a third row of seats as well, although it seats only children. You might not think much of it, but if you ever want to meet your parents, take your kids along, and then go for a short drive to some tourist spot, you'd find the inclusion of these extra seats a life saver. You get the option of real leather on the seats as well, in case you want complete luxury to surround you.

Infotainment

The 2020 Lexus RX 350L offers a slightly-difficult-to-learn 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 on the eyes as well. You also get 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 and Bluetooth for connectivity. However, the absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is bound to leave a sour taste in your mouth.  

You also get:

• 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

Optional equipment includes:

• Full-color heads-up display
• Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System
• Remote touch
• Lexus Enform location assist

Sadly, Lexus RX 350L gives a miss to both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, just like the regular RX 350.

Cargo

Cargo capacity is pretty decent with the second and third row up, but fold them down and it becomes amazing. You can carry pretty much everything in the trunk, and if your family loves weekend excursions, you can also pack enough luggage for everyone.

Gone are the egg-like Lexus RXs of yore, and here to stay is the angular, angry jet-like design with its intricate details. It remains unique, but not necessarily in a good way, as many of the older and more reserved buyers of former models have turned to competitors with subtler styling.-The Car Connection

Weight and Dimensions

The RX 350L model carries larger dimensions than the regular RX350, but the same as the 2018 Lexus RX 350L, and is a mid-size SUV. Even though the length is longer, wheelbase remains the same at a rather compact length of almost 110 inches. The weight, however, is a bit too much. The FWD model is 4,464 pounds, and the AWD is heavier at a 4,619 pounds.

Design and styling

Lexus used to be the most conservative styled, and if you are a Jeremy Clarkson fan, utterly boring cars as well. Gone are those days, and now Lexus cars have more shapes and curves than a children's coloring book. The design philosophy is extremely daring and, sadly, polarizing. You either like it, or downright hate it, but you can never ignore it. The hourglass front grill is an eyeball magnet, and the longer side profile carries the same sharpness as the shorter RX 350 but is better proportioned here. If you love attention, this one will bring you a lot.

2020 Lexus RX 350L also gets a slew of safety features in its arsenal. Standard features include the following:

• Lexus Enform Safety Connect
• 10 Airbags
• Smart/Stop Technology
• Backup camera with dynamic gridlines
• Vehicle Stability Control
• Rigid Body with crumple zones
• Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Brake assist and electronic brake force distribution
• Rain sensing wipers

Apart from all these, you get optional safety tech as well

• Windshield wiper de-icer (optional)
• Premium triple beam headlamps (optional)
• Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Braking (optional)
• LED cornering Foglamps
• Panoramic View Monitor

Lexus RX350L vs Lexus RX350

The only reason to buy the larger and more expensive' version is if you need the extra 2 seats in the trunk. So, before you go out and buy one, ask yourself; are the extra seats worth it? If you don't really need them, you'd be better off with the regular RX350, which easier to live with.

Lexus RX350L vs Acura MDX

Both the two brands, Lexus and Acura, are top Japanese luxury brands owned by top Japanese brands ( and arch-rivals) Toyota and Honda, respectively. Both the RX350L and the MDX offer a good amount of space inside. You get seating for seven, with the Lexus inching ahead of the Honda in terms of space offered. In terms of pricing though, the MDX wins hands down.

Lexus RX350L vs BMW X5

Japanese luxury against German luxury! Two heavy hitters of the Automobile world face-off against each other! The Lexus hits hard with its balanced approach to everything. It's priced lower, is cheaper to maintain, and offers plenty of features. The Beemer, on the other hand, offers uncompromised luxury and is not shy to ask you to pay more, both to buy and run. Unless you need to flaunt your purchase to your friends and family, get the Lexus and save a little money.

Final Verdict

With a brilliant combination of fuel efficiency and luxury, the 2019 Lexus RX SUV is a lovely passenger car. What the car misses in terms of handling and driver involvement, you gain in terms of ride comfort. Your family will love the car, especially the interior space in the first and second row. The third row may be cramped, but fold it down and you get even more cargo space! If only it looked better, this would have been a no-brainer. Still, it's a pretty solid package that doesn't cost a lot of money.