RX 2023

The Lexus RX 350 is a car that truly needs no introduction. Toyota's luxury division, all the way back in 1998, launched the very first RX 350, and nobody in the market was at all confident about the vehicle's success. Fast-forward 24 years and Lexus has sold nearly 3 million units of the RX 350. Of course, keeping up with the times, Lexus has constantly updated the RX 350 and kept it modern, luxurious, and relevant. The 2023 model year for the RX 350, too, is no exception.

The mid-sized luxury SUV is as comfortable as ever, with quality-of-life improvements, and a fantastic fuel economy to boast of. Well-equipped, elegant, and composed, the Lexus RX 350 definitely deserves one of the top spots on your wishlist from the segment, and here are 10 reasons why.

10/10 The Lexus RX 350 Receives A Complete Redesign For 2023

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While just a year apart, the 2023 Lexus RX 350 shares nothing in common with the 2022 RX SUV. With a brand-new design for the 2023 model year, the Lexus RX 350 is bolder than ever, and the new styling reaches inside the cabin as well.

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Lexus has also done away with the previous V6 engine and now fitted the RX 350 with a turbocharged inline-four-cylinder. One major gripe a lot of customers had with the previous model was the finicky touchpad, which is now thankfully gone, welcoming a new touch-screen infotainment system as well.

9/10 The 2023 Lexus RX 350 Remains Peppy With Its New Engine

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The 2023 Lexus RX marks the fifth generation of the iconic and legendary vehicle series from the Japanese automaker. This time around, the Lexus RX 350 no longer runs on a V6 engine, but rather a turbocharged inline-4 which makes healthy horsepower and torque, ensuring you never miss the V6.

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With 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, the Lexus RX 350 remains peppy as ever. As per Lexus' estimates, the RX 350 FWD variant will reach the 60 mph mark from naught in 7.5 seconds, while the AWD 350 should do the same in about 7.2 seconds. The inline-4 makes more power and torque than the RX 350h, the hybrid version of the SUV, which churns out 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque.

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Fuel economy is one aspect where vehicles in this highly-competitive luxury mid-sized SUV segment can gain the edge over the competition. Now that Lexus has thrown out the bigger V6 engine and replaced it with a four-cylinder unit, the fuel economy of the RX 350 gets pretty high and impressive estimates.

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The RX 350 should make an estimated 22 MPG in the city, and on the highway, that figure would go up to 29 MPG. Of course, on the AWD variant, those figures would go a single unit down each, which still makes for some great fuel efficiency in this class.

7/10 The Elegant Ride Quality Of The 2023 Lexus RX 350 Keeps Drivers And Occupants Happy

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The Lexus RX 350 has never been an SUV focused on enthusiasts, so the 2023 model doesn't need to be either. However, what it does excel at is giving the driver as well as the passengers a very cool and composed riding behavior, which makes for excellent ride quality even over fairly long distances.

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The fine-tuned suspension on the RX 350 eats bumps and dips without breaking a sweat, and body lean is not an issue as the SUV remains composed when turning. Over at the driver's side of things, the steering wheel is light and responsive, and the stopping power on the brakes is quite sufficient, even in the hybrid unit, where regenerative braking is usually a hit-or-miss deal.

6/10 The Upscale And Roomy Cabin Of The 2023 Lexus RX 350 Leaves Passengers Impressed

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Unlike the previous fourth generation of the RX 350, Lexus no longer offers a three-row variant. While larger families might strike the vehicle out now, the RX 350 is roomier than ever before, with ample headroom and legroom at the front even for taller occupants.

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The rear seats are quite well-cushioned and plush, and the legroom is aplenty. Add to that plenty of visibility through windows on all sides and the panoramic sunroof, and the luxury SUV has a cabin that isn't just comfortable, but quite airy. Lexus offers synthetic leather upholstery as standard on the RX 350, along with front heated seats.

5/10 2023 Lexus RX 350 Is One Of The Safest SUVs On The Market

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While neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have rated the 2023 Lexus RX 350, we expect the SUV to build upon its 4-out-of-5 star safety rating from 2022. Today, every vehicle, especially SUVs, needs to be as safe as possible, and Lexus would be remiss not to swing for the full five stars.

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With a plethora of standard safety features, though, we do fully expect the 2023 Lexus RX 350 to be one of the safest vehicles on the market. These standard safety features include collision warning systems that detect pedestrians and cyclists, automated emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-departure, and lane-keep assists, adaptive cruise control, and a whole host of other features.

4/10 The Infotainment Unit Of The 2023 Lexus RX 350 Is Intuitive And Functional As Ever

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One major gripe that many Lexus owners have had over the past couple of years is the dreadful trackpad that came in the brand's cars to navigate the infotainment system. It was finicky at best, and downright unresponsive at worst. Well, thankfully, Lexus has heard our calls and done away with it entirely, fitting the 2023 RX 350 with an all-new touchscreen infotainment system.

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A 9.8-inch display is standard, with the option of a 14-inch unit. Both displays are absolutely fantastic to look at and use, with crisp graphics. They are remarkably responsive, and we're happy to report that the infotainment unit on the 2023 Lexus RX 350 does come with a volume knob and two climate control knobs.

3/10 The Cockpit Of The Lexus RX 350 Remains Driver-Focused

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Lexus has designed the interior of the 2023 RX 350 to be connected to the driver. Sure, the steering wheel might not connect you to the road as much as you'd like, but the cockpit surely will. Buttons, knobs, and other features are placed at just the right angle to ensure ease of use even during driving.

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In fact, the RX 350's entire infotainment system is slightly angled towards the driver seat, which makes it easier to change any setting you'd need while never fully taking your attention away from the road ahead.

2/10 Sharp And Angular Styling Makes The 2023 Lexus RX 350 A Head Turner

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The 2023 Lexus RX 350 is a stunner to look at, and there's simply no other way to put it. Heralding in the next generation of the RX for Lexus, the front of the hood almost flows down into the signature spindle grille. Jewel-like headlamps flank the grille on either side, making for an extremely striking front fascia.

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Over on the rear, the two taillamps from older generations are replaced by a single, distinct LED 'Blade Taillamp', running along the rear of the SUV. The 2023 Lexus RX's angular edges exude elegance and power, and we'd definitely like to spot this vehicle in our mirrors.

1/10 Lexus Packs The Base RX 350 With Plenty Of Features As Standard

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Lexus has ensured that the base 2023 RX 350 isn't just a car you skip over as the first in the lineup which doesn't get many features. In fact, the RX 350 has us actively impressed with just how many standard tech and safety features it boasts of. The RX 350 comes with a 9.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD and satellite Radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 12-speaker stereo system as standard.

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A power liftgate and heated front seats, too, are standard on the 2023 Lexus RX 350. When it comes to safety, the RX 350 does come with a bevy of standard safety and assistance features, including but not limited to automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, hands-free parallel and perpendicular parking assist, a heads-up display, and traffic-jam assist.