Premium Midsize Cushy Crossover
The 2019 Lexus RX 350 F Sport is what you will want if driving in comfort, with a cushy ride, is on your wish list. Sandwiched in size between the Lexus NX and Lexus GX, the RX 350 offers good fuel economy in a stylish design.
Getting There
Clean Fleet Report drove the 2019 RX 350 F Sport for a week throughout Southern California. The 3.5-liter V6 engine produced 295 horsepower and 267 pounds-feet of torque, driving the front wheels through an eight-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.
Fuel economy for the 2019 RX 350 is rated at 20 city/27 highway/23 combined miles per gallon (mpg). Running on 87 octane and driving 637 mostly highway miles, we averaged 26.1 mpg. But on an all-freeway run with the dynamic radar cruise control set to 65 miles per hour, we averaged 31.6 mpg over 265 miles. This last number should be of interest if you will be hitting the open road in your RX 350.
Driving Experience: On the Road
At 4,220 pounds, the five-passenger RX 350 was planted to the road. The F Sport adaptive variable suspension, which automatically adjusts the damping force based on road conditions, was maximized by utilizing the five driver-selectable drive modes. The RX 350 F Sport has Normal, Eco, Custom, Sport and Sport+, so it was possible to find a performance and fuel saving mode for all types of driving.
Standard on the RX 350 F Sport are 20-inch aluminum chrome alloy wheels shod with Bridgestone Ecopia all-season tires. Spirited cornering revealed little understeer and moderate body lean, remembering this is not marketed as a sporty vehicle.
I found the 2019 Lexus RX 350 F Sport’s comfort zone going down the road, where the electronic power steering was neutral and had adequate road feedback. The cabin insulation was very good, with road imperfections and wind noise nearly non-existent. The low 0.34 coefficient of drag and exterior aerodynamic design elements played a major part in the hushed interior.
Using the Sport and Sport+ drive modes, we achieved zero-to-60 times around 7.9 seconds on a consistent basis. Acceleration was smooth and seamless, just like a non-turbo engine should be. But be forewarned that the aggressive styling of the RX 350 F Sport does not mean it is a sports car. The RX 350 was designed as a premium crossover where comfort, not over-the-top performance, takes the lead.
Driving Experience: Exterior
With a dramatic mix of sharp creases and curves, the 2019 RX 350 F Sport features the signature Lexus spindle grille, a focal point of all Lexus models. Over the last few years, the spindle grille has been massaged to the point that it looks quite good. The chrome-plated surrounds and triple beam Bi-LED auto-leveling headlights set the design concept of an elegant and premium SUV. The RX 350 features smooth surfaces with both soft lines and cut edges. The roofline, with a floating effect, had aluminum roof rails and a color-keyed antenna. It all ends with a spoiler over the rear hatch window and the touch-free power rear door. Clean Fleet Report’s RX 350 had the optional panoramic power moonroof, that really was panoramic.
There are very few chrome bits and pieces, found on the front grille, accenting the side windows, on the rear lower fascia and the dual rectangular exhaust tips. To know you are driving an F Sport, look for the subtle badges on the rear deck and the front fenders.
Driving Experience: Interior
If you can imagine an interior feature or treatment that should be on a premium car, then Lexus packed it into the posh and comfortable RX 350 F Sport. The F Sport brings an interior exclusive color, Rioja Red, where the leather seating is accented with aluminum pedals and shift knobs. The power, form-fitting front seats are heated and ventilated, and offer good thigh and lower back support. The second-row passengers get climate controls and a folding armrest in very comfortable seats. For more versatility, the rear seat splits 40/20/40, and slides, reclines and folds. USB ports for the rear-seat passengers would be a nice addition.
Gauges are in easy sight and the controls are in easy reach, including those for the dual-zone automatic climate control system. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel contains audio telephone and voice controls, and the full-color head-up display is very handy—a technology that should be standard on all cars.
The Lexus infotainment system includes the Enform service for the first 10 years. The 835-watt, 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provides excellent sound to deliver SiriusXM/FM/CD/HDAM with MP3 playback capability. Amazon Alexa, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay round out the connectivity. Music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology and hands-free phone capability complete the system. All this is viewed through a 12.3-inch, high-resolution split touchscreen. The sound system was easy to use as it thankfully had both volume and channel knobs.
Safety
The RX 350 comes with the Lexus Safety System which is well-equipped with active and passive safety features. Standard are 10 air bags, a tire pressure monitoring system, collapsible steering column, anti-theft alarm and an engine immobilizer. For vehicle detection, there is a rear view camera, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, a pre-collision system and steering and lane keep assist.
Pricing and Warranties
The 2019 Lexus RX 350 F Sport FWD has a MSRP of $49,220. Clean Fleet Report’s total price, including $7,505 in options, came to $58,575. Pricing excludes the $1,025 delivery fee.
The 2019 RX 350 comes with these warranties:
- Basic – Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain – Six yeasr/70,000 miles
- Maintenance – One year/10,000 miles
- Corrosion – Six years/Unlimited miles
- Roadside – Four years/Unlimited miles
The 2019 RX 350 has earned a US Government National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score, where 5 Stars is their highest safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has rated it at a Top Safety Pick.
Observations: 2019 Lexus RX 350 RX F Sport FWD
The Lexus RX created the luxury crossover segment in 1998 and continues to be the best-selling vehicle in that segment. The 2019 RX 350 F Sport should have no problem continuing this impressive sales streak.
The 2019 Lexus RX 350 F Sport comes nicely equipped for luxury driving in its base trim level. If you want to take it up a notch, it is easy to customize with options and packages. The fuel economy is surprisingly good, the warranty surpasses those in its class, and the performance is more than respectable, inviting you to gladly spend time in this comfortable SUV.
If you have wondered what it is like to drive a premium crossover SUV, the Lexus RX 350 F Sport is a good place to answer some of your questions. You will also enjoy your first experience at Lexus dealer, where their level of customer service is a clear step-up from a non-premium brand.
Whatever you end up buying, Happy Driving!
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Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
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