Consolidating SUV practicality with luxury car comfortThere's a tremendous amount of practicality residing within the SUV crossover segment, and when the nameplate reads, "Lexus," plenty of
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
luxury as well; their new RX 350 is a shining example of that. In this car-based mid-size example of the ever-popular "crossover" segment, Lexus has consolidated the utility and functionality of four-wheel-drive (FWD) with the comfort and opulence of a premium sedan. Life for the Lexus enigma began in 1998 with the launch of the RX 300. In 2005 both its V6 engine and nomenclature grew as it became the RX 330. For 2007 history repeats itself as the RX 330 morphs into the mightier and more refined RX 350. Stylistically, the RX series underwent a major makeover with the release of the 330 generation. The 350 version retains the 330's sharply cut lines, which makes it one of the sleekest-looking crossovers on the road, or off.
However without a ladder-style frame, serious ground clearance and low-range gearing, spotting an RX 350 rock crawling along side Land
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
Rover's new LR3 is unlikely. Nonetheless, Lexus does boast about a 4WD system that splits torque evenly front-to-rear until slippage is detected, at which time the oomph goes to where the traction is. In my view, such a system is light years more advanced than systems that feed the front wheels while only shifting power rearward once forward traction goes AWOL. Although this week's road test didn't force the RX 350 to prove its mettle off-road, I can assure readers that on gravel-laden hills, wheelspin is non-existent as all four wheels are constantly engaged in propelling the rig. I never encountered momentary front-wheel spin prior to the rear wheels hooking up, as you might expect in a car-based crossover SUV. Also I never encountered torque steer, the automotive equivalent of Lucifer that sometimes accompanies AWD systems biased toward the front wheels.
What I did encounter behind the wheel was a tremendously well-behaved SUV that treated me as if I were important; which according to my consort,
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
I am not. Erroneous perceptions of my prominence aside, the RX 350 is more about getting to the ski hill in comfort and safety than climbing widow-maker's peak. And with 270 horsepower doing the pulling, the trip to the lodge just got easier. As its revised numeric identifier suggests, the RX 350 is now powered by a 3.5 litre V6 featuring Dual Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVT-i), which optimizes torque for impressive results at all engine speeds. A maximum of 251 foot-pounds arrives at 4,700 rpm, yet there is plenty of low-end grunt readily available. This nicely muted mill is a polished performer, capable of strong acceleration out of the blocks or on the highway. Power is fed through a 5-speed autobox that shifts with the deftness expected in a premium luxury car. Although an electronic manual-mode is absent, a sharply gated shift pattern assists the driver in working through the gears. In fact, I have always preferred a properly gated shifter to an obfuscated, electronic manual-mode arrangement- please don't go changin it!
