2016 Lexus RX 350 - First Drive Review

With a far more aggressive exterior, technology packed interior and better mechanics, the 2016 Lexus RX has been upgraded enough to remain relevant while not deviating from its winning formula. Full story and photo gallery here: www.autoguide.com/manufacturer...
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AutoGuide reviews the latest new cars with test drives, car comparisons and shootouts plus coverage of breaking auto industry news, auto shows, rumors and spy photos. Help shop for your new car with informative car buying tips and car recall news, and be entertained with feature stories, Top 10s and car review videos.

[@jotyers7845]

My Dream car currently I love this new RX - it's so awesome

[@dominicancash]

U have achievable dreams my friend, thats a 50k car .

[@bighands69]

You should be aiming for an achievable lifestyle including a good paying job/business and a plan for the future. If you achieve this then you can have the RX and several other things as well.

[@ACEcolorado1]

Lexus debatably has the nicest interior design for a upscale vehicle. Restrained yet sporty enough and not overtly complicated

[@yellowhammer3]

I love the red interior

[@KCMrecordings]

+matt k Me too!....aaaaaannnndd thats about it,... about the whole car....

[@NileshR12]

@@KCMrecordings Same!

[@MrLathor]

I drive and RX300, has 192k miles. Comfortable and completely reliable, still drives great. The 330 felt like they cut costs and the 350 had an unsettled ride at low speed. Hopefully this one gets it right. Reliability can only take you so far when it drives like a highlander.

[@rishinarang9966]

How is that RX?

[@douayang4life]

this Lexus gonna sale like crazy. I would love to have one. Nice job Lexus.

[@LacoteCohen]

Lexus did a great job!

[@golfbuddy1969]

I really like the spindle grill. Lexus build quality is legendary, combined with slightly edgier design, is a recipe for success.

[@planetlexicon]

I love how this car looks compared to other crossovers.

[@spencerbibb897]

Best mom car ever made

[@mrbriceno3949]

Great review!! Subbed

[@firasalwakeel5365]

Finally! Panoramic sunroof to a Lexus vehicle... Great review...

[@vlad1889]

Looks very similar to my gs 350, glad they keeping the same interior for few more years.

[@godfatherNYC]

He's right about having a corporate identity across a brand's lineup, but IMHO Mercedes' designs are all over the place, no cohesive design language whatsoever, particularly on the exteriors. In the old days, a MB was positively *unmistakable.*

[@docluv14]

I just traded my 2012 Rx450h in for one of these. It’s been a great car so far! 😀

[@donkeydicked]

wow ...looks fantastic

[@zhengfeng9050]

Where are you take the test drive?

[@Toyota4Life]

First off this looks AWESOME. Do you see that interior and steering wheel? Lord have mercy could sit in that all day long. Talk about 360 this thing looks the business. Very edgy/modern looking. Also the exterior design comes off very Japanese to me I like that. I feel like the review was rushed and he doesn't give much detail about the RX just specs and obvious observations. Another home room for Lexus.. this thing is gonna sell like hotcakes.

[@jeremiahanthony5521]

it it's but Lexus should fix the horsepower and the torque but other than that this car is magnificent

[@Toyota4Life]

+Jeremiah Anthony why does 300hp need fixing ? Yes I kno other cars in the class have a lil more power but adults buys these cars no one is going to race them 300 is more then enough for daily use. I read elsewhere that this car can get to 60 in 6.5

[@jeremiahanthony5521]

auto guide said in 0/60 in a 8 secs

[@kirbyswarp]

+Toyota4Life How much does Toyota pay your stupid ass?

[@jeremiahanthony5521]

really Kirby that fucking rude for real like chill out

[@ronspec2770]

2:19 how about you just move the seat back a little ?? give your legs some space lol

[@HK.Builds]

i love this car :0

[@mrdre9241]

when is the release date for NYC for consumers?

[@roselineota910]

My dream car... perfect for me n my kids

[@syahrilrahman3676]

Damn this is beast !!

[@EvanderSmart]

The F-Sport model goes too far. The standard RX hits the styling just right. But this will attract a much younger buyer, which is the main goal, and this makes the revised Mercedes GLE look 5 years old even as it launches now.

[@emeyer6963]

Would be nice if they could extend the grille up to the windshield!Suddenly the Pontiac Aztec doesn't look so weird.

[@kimaya29]

Funny reading all the negative comments about the RX and now 2016 sales have only increased over last year for a vehicle that is already #1 in its class.

[@kaseywhidden870]

Lexus has always had its own look

[@pinkipipe]

This is absolutely beautiful RX !! But I am worried if this car is not that responsive when needed it... I love Lexus, I have had lexus but we need better numbers please ! Lexus has it all to make this car a real winner

[@kdsewell01]

Good review! Quick question, did you say the hybrid can go 20 miles on EV only at 25 MPH? That seems pretty far... Did you mean 2 miles or did I mis-hear you?

[@AutoGuide]

+Kevin Sewell Around 20 miles is what Lexus is claiming, but speeds can only go up to 25 mph

[@kdsewell01]

+AutoGuide.com Thanks for the quick response! :-)

[@zkambov]

its downhill

[@cwqrpportable]

What an awesomely beautiful vehicle! Love it.......

[@loveMcJinc]

such a nice car

[@oceanzhu1002]

Alex on Autos tested the rx 350 to 60 in 6.5 second, i think i trust him more

[@booomingmtt3r832]

How much is this cost

[@dozluktv8085]

thats my dream car

[@Devantey]

Mine to 😎😎

[@RealtimeReviews613]

Wow that thing looks amazing! Rather have a lex than an unreliable german pos

[@cristiandemirel1918]

+DoubleD 613 Lexus is very reliable! :))) I hope the accelerator pedal doesn't jam on you, when you drive your "reliable" Lexus!

[@HipHopCantSaveMe]

+cristiandemirel1918 That was like 6 years ago.

[@gt2phantom]

The music from the beginning as it is called?

[@lil-hawk3]

Justin Bieber - baby

[@JamaicanMeCrazy]

playing it safe with the 2016 redesign? is this guy blind? it's polarizing, and I'm not sure on a good way. but I'm in love with the new Volvo xc90 though. a different class of vehicle, yes, but I'd get it over this any day.

[@HipHopCantSaveMe]

He was joking.

[@dacoffeecup7416]

Jamaican Me Crazy I think he means playing it safe by the power train and driving mechanics. Still basically the same thing but with a new outside

[@abcdLeeXY]

Interior looks good but that f sport fascia reminds me of predator

[@AdrianC12345]

LoLed my way all the way back to my Volvo when I saw Lexus managed to make a 300HP crossover slower than Volvo sedans from the 1980's.

[@sharkeisha2225]

Lexus won't go out of date with their design it's so ahead of its time very weird yet different it doesn't basic like all the other basic cars who are trying to be all the same

[@dunggg]

Location of the review?

[@AutoGuide]

+dung nguyen This was shot in Portland, OR

[@giorgiobolashvili5511]

I thought it was Vancouver Canada

[@Barobran92]

How is the styling of this "playing it safe", it looks just like the NX.

[@expressivepets1]

It looks like the storm trooper of suvs

[@jz1838]

I really want to know which one is better, Infinity QX70 or Rx 350, can anyone tell me? Thanks in advance!

[@andrewyang9095]

If you want a totally sporty car without the German price, QX70. If you want a luxurious car, that can sometimes do a mix of both, definitely the RX.

[@rdg091]

+Andrew Yang I definitely know from a reliability stand point Lexus will be better.

[@andrewyang9095]

Yeah definitely

[@jz1838]

Thanks for all of your answers. One bad point of RX350 is , the pillar C is too weak, it seems like just made of resin glass. I am worried about the safety.

[@andrewyang9095]

+Zhang Josh Don't know about that. The glass seems fine to me. If you are so concerned, check the safety ratings.

[@ernestemesiri9638]

My next car

[@freddieslaughter1107]

One thing I don't like is the two-tone interior

[@ganapatihegde1024]

Good review .The front grill looks horrible.

[@JJJosh949]

How in the world is this redesign "playing it safe" I think they completely lost the elegant understated charm the RX had. I def think the 2010-2011 RX was the one that looked the best. I think using the design cues of the LX would've helped a lot to create a sleek and luxurious look. This just looks like a scaled up NX and that its my a good thing

[@csxdjxmax]

the front grill kind of like Starcraft Protoss...

[@67tomcat]

Knowing that Lexus will sell everyone it makes, and people seem to be gaga right now for "crossovers", but this thing doesn't have any cohesive lines in the design. Maybe as long as there's enough tech inside, people ignore the way it'll looks?

[@cruisyguy]

Beautiful, edgy yes, but beautiful. While so many diss this vehicle us Lexus owners laugh all the way past the repair shop while the MB, BMW and Volvo owners and others spend more time than an elderly person in a nursing home at the repair shop.

[@tuolumne9]

Your an idiot. I have a lexus but I don't need to tell self these fairy tales to sleep at night. Europeans make some great cars too.

[@HipHopCantSaveMe]

+n777ua I think you're missing the point. All he's saying is that Toyota/Lexus is far more reliable than BMW/Audi/Mercedes

[@cruisyguy]

Bingo and the prize goes to HipHopCantSaveMe. Takes special intelligence to read the obvious versus spewing kindergarten rants like n777ua. Oh BTW your is spelled you're.

[@tuolumne9]

+cruisyguy kinder garden and correcting spelling I wrote on my iphone. I'll be sure to have your golden star for your truly amazing contribution to mankind, er, youtube. And no, Lexus isn't "far more" reliable than an European car by default. In sum, sure, but this black and white certainty being painted here is detached from reality.

[@akig6506]

cool

[@cloroxbleach2079]

this car is sick fuck

[@mcool93]

I find Lexus' new grill really ugly. Doesn't fit this suv at all. I also don't like the general new polarizing looks of the RX. RX has always been more popular among ladies and the new looks don't suit well for its customer base. I much prefer the looks of MDx, xc90, q7, etc.

[@musamusa2961]

Thank You Almighty God for showing me that I will buy one for myself

[@mbahadig99]

i love the looks but i wish 0-60 was 6 sec or below

[@swanblake]

Couldn't agree more

[@curtis74guy]

agreed, this thing looks like an x5m or ml63 competitor but its really just a pussy

[@drinkingthatkool-aid3193]

+curtis dougan You can't compare base model RX to top model ML or X5.

[@curtis74guy]

+Moaiz Shahzad I'm saying it LOOKS like a competitor to those vehicles

[@mbahadig99]

they just need to echo boost it 2 small turbos increase the torque and it will get in the 5 -6 sec range like the Germans

[@jvlixn]

hmm... RX or X3?

[@nabbunsechkie]

"playing it safe with the 2016 redesign" Did you mean the 2013 refresh? Take a look at the 2016 and the 2015 models and tell me again that they "played it safe". You probably don't remember what the last RX looked like if u think they "played it safe because the last generation WAS playing it safe.

[@nabbunsechkie]

but then u say it looks modern.

[@peterlau9506]

I am glad i got my 2015 RX350. This one i would not buy: the front looks intimidating!

[@Sophos1964]

That’s its appeal.

[@thebunnis]

The design language itself is very sharp and the overall form is nice, but the design elements are just not handled well. It's overdone and comes off as trying too hard. A lot of car companies are doing this these days. Trust me, understated designs that focus on what matters and don't shout at you look more confident and thus cooler.

[@mrlim282]

Gee. . .What happen to the Toyota/Lexus styling. Too over designed!

[@crazyone1067]

That's playing it safe????

[@OfficialMINIm]

they need to put the 5 liter V8 in this thing and sell it as RX-F. Maybe supercharge it too since its a lot heavier than the RC F unless you do something hideous like that you cant really go face to face with german rivals

[@Dervraka]

OMG! Is that a snowplow coming at me! No it's just a Lexus RX....But seriously, I love the interior, but that front grill is just a bit....large.

[@swanblake]

beautiful but way underpowered given the class it competes in

[@Toyota4Life]

+Blake Swan The amont of power this thing has is more then enough for everyday driving. No one is racing any of these cars 300hp is more then enough.

[@swanblake]

Toyota4Life but look at the competition at this price point. They do have power. It will sell no doubt but disappointed in Lexus for not offering an engine with more power

[@Toyota4Life]

+Blake Swan I understand that but your not understand having the most powerful engine is not whats gonna get sales. The RX never had the most powerful engine and it doesnt need it the engine it has is more then enough most people dont need 300hp. People who are buying this car arent looking at the Competition RX buyers are loyal and benefits of the RX you dont get with the competition. Not to mention the RX is the top selling car in its class now it has more power more luxury and better looks... do you honestly think their worried about the competition ? RX has this class in the bag it doesnt need 400hp just to make a point.

[@swanblake]

+Toyota4Life When a F150 and Toyota Camry are what sell the most I don't care about what sells. Clearly tall appliances sell the best so Lexus hit a home run to your point

[@Toyota4Life]

Sales are what keeps are car company in business what are you talking about? how could you not care about that. Just because a car sells alot doesn't mean its an appliance that's ignorant thinking on your part. Its just a damn good product that people trust.

[@azhariqbal1212]

love this RX all the way. People stop buying the same old shit from Germany. I have to buy this.

[@CoolHemal]

where is back wiper

[@ishaqthkr]

Hidden on top side for cleaner look

[@omgitsme435]

Ton of modern OPTIONAL tech.. Leather isn't even standard with a base MSRP of 41k

[@jasonng6771]

Kinda like a lot of luxury rivals out there as well lol

[@swsschz]

8 seconds to 60... wow

[@gmman010983]

The previous Gen is faster despite it not having direct injection & fewer HP...

[@notdacoolest007]

+Ronald Suizo tech specs says 7. he might've got it wrong.

[@vinceluu5421]

23:45am 7.9

[@HackerFish21]

Those seats look pink

[@AdvancedEliteGaming]

That interior turns me on. Why can't I find more Vehicles with exciting interior? How comes everything is black?

[@KCMrecordings]

It's like the designers were just running out of ideas, and paper after paper was being crumpled up and thrown out. Then walked in the CEO and slapped them with a deadline. So they went back to the garbage to rehash some ideas, but instead grabbed one of the balls of crumpled paper and said "ehhhh fuck it, this is our prototype model". Basically what I am saying is, they got the design idea from the garbage and it should go back there.

[@KCMrecordings]

+Freeda Birda thank you for your words of wisdom old man

[@lotterynj]

Hope Cadillac was taking spy pics...

[@KCMrecordings]

+Dario Molina Hopefully not, Cadillac has been on a good design spree. The last thing they need is influence from this literal crumpled up piece of paper.

[@lotterynj]

+Karun Chendrimada Cadillac allowed the SRX to get old and sales started to slip. Once the segment leader it now must fight its way back to the top. looking from released picks this is not gonna bold well. Loyal customers won't be enough to get it back to the leader board. This crumbled vehicle you state has a better fit and finish than the SRX.

[@KCMrecordings]

Stating that a car you've never driven has better qualities than a car that hasn't been released yet? You, sir, know how to base your points on fact! I'll concede the old thing, but lexus was the same way from 2009-2015, just a face lift. Plus, Cadi isn't trying to just keep old customers, they're moving up in the Automotive world.Even then, this discussion was about design, and you had to bring in other factors just so your RX had a crumpled leg to stand on. Buy what you want. Just don't drive by me, I don't like hurting my eyes.

[@lotterynj]

Karun Chendrimada Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Current vehicles from Lexus do have better fit and finish. Reliability Cadillac is right there. Sales say other wise. Cadillac is the only Luxury Maker to be down compared to the rest of the Luxury Market. With sales up only in China. Also I'm a Cadillac Heritage owner currently driving a Cadillac. Marketing suck with Cadillac and outside of the ATS and Escalade sales Cadillac needs new leadership. Current GM left from Infiniti and look their sales have increased since he left. While there they were in a downward trend.

[@KCMrecordings]

I agree that the CEO is an ass hat based on track record and nomenclature ideas. My point is that Cadillac's design has been doing a stellar job compared to Lexus, which went from boring to offensive in a downward spiral. I'm not talking about sales, because good sales number arent the final judgement of what makes a good car. For one, you have to be able to approach the car without throwing up, as that would become a daily problem.

[@kirbyswarp]

I think the body needs a few more creases and angles. And maybe make the grille a little bigger. What a complete and utter styling disaster. It's offensive to the eyes.

[@kirbyswarp]

+kirbyswarp It looks like a crosseyed kid with a massive underbite. That's the nicest thing I could say about it.

[@tuolumne9]

amen....preach it brother

[@KCMrecordings]

+kirbyswarp The 2016 Toyota line up: s1236.photobucket.com/user/larryburton/media/BigGrille.jpg.html

[@zagemike]

are u blind?

[@KCMrecordings]

mike zage after seeing this thing in real life, yes

[@lokorambo]

Rust? 0:24

[@dereknyc4402]

How is this a "crossover"? This car is bigger than the X5 and people call that an SUV

[@jasona7029]

I can get a subaru with the same features for lesser price. Except the interior doesnt look luxury

[@johnk12345100]

i went with the Lincoln MKX, really.....no touch screen .....DOA

[@murphman76]

The MKX is Frank Loyd Wright's Fallingwater, compared to the "styling" of this Lexus.

[@CamberRockerCamber]

well under $45,000 as in $44,500?

[@Hansel121]

+VpY22 starting at $41.900 in US if i remember it correctly

[@CamberRockerCamber]

+Giovanni Sergio oohh. not bad.

[@mikewangg]

but then dealers will load up the RX with options making it to be more like 50k

[@elmalloc]

why it look strange

[@BigBoss-ps6vk]

This car is almost $70,000 here in Canada when well equipped. It's slower and shit engine, has shitty awd system. For the same price you can get a Mercedes glc 43 AMG fully loaded.

[@tboone4179]

Big Boss 0

[@solomons5669]

You don't know shit about cars

[@ishaqthkr]

Man said SHIT engine 😂

[@aayonce4]

Why is it so slow to 69?

[@wesmann8598]

evoque is a better buy

[@andrewyang9095]

No it isn't

[@juju10683]

very attractive car but Range Rovers are not nearly as reliable.

[@teerexness]

Toyota's long continuing failed execution of touring car inspired ground-effect styling on vehicles with too much ground clearance, combined with too much fender well gap, too much body overhanging the track width and too small tires and wheels to even begin to pull it off. It gives their vehicles a sort of a "Transformer" stuck halfway through the process look. I think the domestics are certainly winning the styling battle at this point.

[@rickyroan3419]

Only...60 thousands US dollars.........

[@chonaV]

What? It’s not performance oriented? So disappointing. Guess we won’t see any SUV’s in the grand prix this year.

[@jadenhorne9362]

The outside is really ugly, but I do like the interior.

[@antsala9983]

7.9sec to 60 doesn't seem right

[@215GeeBaby]

Still blah to me ....but that Nx200 wit the 2.0 turbo engine like all the other crossover have hmmmm

[@Ubon94]

so ugly from the outside but inside looks attractive.. xc60 should take a note

[@nanusiri9189]

The new Volvo or this?

[@kirbyswarp]

+Nanu Siri Volvo by a long shot.

[@mrmzr-ek9hs]

+Nanu Siri definitly LEX, it all you can drive buffet LOL... lex is love lex is life :)

[@kirbyswarp]

mr.mzr IT's like a really shitty, tasteless buffet.

[@mrmzr-ek9hs]

kirbyswarp you mean volvo ?

[@kirbyswarp]

mr.mzr Have you ever had Swedish meatballs?

[@yokokimura2482]

The best things in our world come from Japan.

[@travisspencer4788]

BMW X5 is much better. That's all I have to say.

[@wdpm6424]

first

[@Kevin-finity]

I have a 2013 Lexus RX 350. Very happy with this car. The main reason that I bought 2013 RX350 is I like its front look very much. Very beautiful design for the front light and the grille, they have a very outstanding combination. But now, this 2016 RX 350 just like a completely different design. I really have to say the design on 2016 is too much.... They put too much design on the new one and lost the balance actually. In my point of view, 2013-2015 model is acceptable for a wide range of people. But 2016 looks too aggressive, too modern, just fit for younger people.RX350 lost its original characteristic... I don't like RX 2016, looks cheap but not like a luxury car anymore. If I am going to buy a new luxury SUV car, I won't consider Lexus RX 350 anymore.

[@kimaya29]

+Kevin Xu So older people can't like new and innovative design? Guess you prefer an old dinosaur flip phone over a new modern touchscreen?

[@raphjern]

Looks too sporty that doesn't look that luxurious anymore

[@notdacoolest007]

Blind* spot.

[@Aigberaedion_Samson]

$50,000 mahpfight car

[@steve-wu7jp]

blacked ouuuuut

[@infiltr80r]

So ugly and I actually loved the 2000s models. Looks like a car for anime loving kids, not something you want to drive around for years.

[@juju10683]

the interior is unbeatable. Go sit in one.

[@infiltr80r]

GlockLord Absolutely, good taste doesn't matter any more. I actually liked BMW's modern understated grills, it looks expensive.

[@dagnisruiz3186]

musical

[@Silverdeamon92]

THe interior looks really nice and the rear legroom is pretty decent but man what an ugly looking car. Looks like a Cylon from Battlestar or the face of the Predator.