Short Take Road Test
From somewhere west of swank and south of sumptuous comes the "S" in this SUV. Lexus doesn't do sinew and sweat, if that's what you're thinking a sport-ute ought to be. This is "sport" as in something off the Ralph Lauren rack.
Call it supple and silky. Call it silent and soothing. If you're seeking a serene and swift transporter for up to five persons, this is your SUV.
The "swift" part is new this year, as Lexus turned the knob up on the RX330 to produce this RX350 - more power mostly. That past model, fresh for 2004, with its rakishly swept-back windshield and coupe-like roof angles, was a hit with affluent buyers. It sold about 108,000 copies each year since, which is roughly three times the volume of the BMW X5 and the Mercedes M-class SUVs, and four times that of the Lincoln Navigator.
Turning the knob boosted horsepower to 270, up 47 from the 2006 model, owing to a V-6 upsized to 3.5 liters from 3.3 and variable valve timing on the intake and exhaust cams (only the intakes had it before). Acceleration is energetic, hitting 60 mph from a standing start in 6.8 seconds, a full second quicker than the RX330. Quarter-mile ET and speed, at 91 mph and 15.4 seconds, improved by 5 mph and 0.8 second, showing the pay-off from a much fuller torque curve.
Packaged only with a five-speed automatic, this Lexus can cut and thrust with the best of them. The go pedal is calibrated just right, requiring only a small motion of your foot to bring on the rush, yet there's no overly eager jumpiness when you're squeezing into tight parking confines. Lexus manners are impeccable. At 4248 pounds, the weight of our all-wheel-drive test car (front drive is standard) is unchanged from before, but it feels lighter and more lively in traffic, thanks to the extra torque, of course, but also to the low efforts required for Lexus steering and braking.
Remarkably, the fuel economy is improved, too - 19 city, 24 highway, according to EPA ratings, and that compares with 18 and 24 before. But it didn't improve for us, likely because enthusiastic helpings of the extra torque brought the C/D-observed mileage down to 15 mpg.
For 2007, all-wheel-drive versions get a viscous limited slip in the center differential instead of the old open diff. Most other improvements were aimed at the Ralph Lauren set. More sound insulation has been added to the doors, dash, and floor. A sound barrier, tuned to frequencies in the conversation range, has been sandwiched between the glass plies of the laminated windshield, and subtle fairings reduce air-rush noises around the high-level air intakes. Call this a superbly quiet place to watch DVDs. The screen, which drops from the center of the ceiling between the front seats, has been upsized to nine inches from seven last year.
The RX is a nimble sort of SUV, light on its feet and quite compact, more like a tall station wagon that's five inches shorter than a Honda Accord. Who should buy it? Sensualists with upwards of $40,000 to spend who want a plush, all-weather wagon for those perilous treks to Saks.
