But a shifter doesn't define a luxury SUV; build quality, operational refinement and comfort do. In the RX 350's case, the definition properly
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
applies thanks to its Lexus lineage. Climbing aboard the RX 350 imparts a strong sense of quality, making the upscale cabin unmistakably "Lexus." But as Lexus-like as the attractive cabin in my tester was, a couple of minor irritants would have me racing back to the dealer for quick fixes if I had just shelled-out the $51,550 needed to legally acquire an entry-level unit. An annoying "creaking" sound emanated from somewhere around the rear hatch - most likely from its seals - and a loosely fitted interior dome-light fixture vibrated when any of the RX's four doors thumped shut. In spite of these paltry vexations, occupancy in the RX 350 is most pleasurable. Plenty of head and legroom abound in all five seating positions while woodgrain accents add a touch of elegance to the RX 350's fully loaded, leather-clad interior. My tester's power operated, multi-adjustable heated Captains' chairs provided plenty of support, keeping my back in proper alignment however I would've preferred a longer seat cushion to keep my thighs more effectively supported. But hey, I'm willing to acknowledge that my femurs are un-humanly long.
Speaking of length, Lexus has gone the extra distance to reduce operational noise by further soundproofing the RX 350 for 2007. Three
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
layers of sound-absorbing film have been applied to the windscreen and more sound insulation is now in place around the floor and dash, further reducing unwanted engine and mechanical noises. Except for slightly more road noise than I expect from this class of vehicle, the RX 350 is a very quiet SUV indeed. Due to its crossover nature, the RX 350 rides on a suspension setup that is more car-like than SUV-like. The fully independent arrangement utilizes MacPherson struts and an anti-vibration subframe along with gas-charged shock absorbers and a pair of stabilizer bars to accomplish the task of coddling occupants while delivering composed, reassured handling dynamics. Should the forces of nature assert themselves undesirably, the RX 350 is equipped with an advanced Vehicle Stability Control system (VSC), including traction control (TRAC), to prevent a lateral loss of traction during cornering. Powerful, four-wheel antilock disc brakes do the stopping, aided by Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist for those occasions when maximum braking is urgently needed.
On those hapless occasions when throwing out the anchor fails to stave-off impending doom, the RX 350 is well equipped to protect its occupants. Standard protection includes multi-stage frontal airbags for the
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
driver and front passenger, a knee airbag for the driver and large side airbags in the front seats to protect the torso, abdomen and pelvis of the driver and front seat passenger. Roll-sensing front and rear head/side curtain airbags provide additional crash protection for both front and rear seat passengers. Along with a comprehensive array of protection technology, the RX 350 is equipped with a plentitude of standard equipment, including a 6-disc in-dash 8-speaker audio system, dual-zone climate control, power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, auto-dimming mirrors, rain sensing wipers, headlamp washers and much, more. If the list of standard goodies isn't enough to satiate one's need for luxury, several option packages are available, which include spoils such as a navigation system with voice recognition, Mark Levinson audio, DVD rear seat entertainment, Bluetooth compatibility and a rear-facing back-up camera.
