Folding all the rear seatbacks opens 84.7 cubic feet of cargo space in both the RX 350 and RX 400h. The substantial battery pack in the hybrid model does not encroach on cargo capacity. Further, there’s more cargo room in the RX than in the BMW X5, Mercedes M-Class or Infiniti FX, and more than that available in the larger, heavier Lexus GX 470. The rear seats don’t fold completely flat, but compartments cleverly hidden under the load floor offer some additional storage. The cargo cover automatically retracts when the rear hatch is opened, which is handy when your arms are full and you don’t want to put things down on the wet pavement.

The Lexus RX 350 is smooth in just about any situation. It travels over rough, broken, pavement without jostling whoever is inside, but it does not float. Its fully independent suspension is well damped, helping keep the tires pressed to the pavement, so the driver feels confidant that the RX will respond properly to quick turns on the steering wheel. The steering is light and accurate and the RX feels poised when cornering.

The 3.5-liter V6 takes the RX beyond snappy to a feeling of real power without sacrificing the trademark smoothness. Indeed, this V6 is so powerful that it responds aggressively, even abruptly, to anything more than a bit of gas. It takes a bit of practice to adjust to the throttle response. The aluminum V6 features the latest control technology, including Lexus’s Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence system (VVT-i), which balances high-rev horsepower with good torque at all engine speeds and low emissions.

The five-speed automatic makes good use of the power from the RX 350’s engine. It quickly kicks down a gear or two when the driver dips the accelerator, and holds that gear all the way to the redline when the pedal is floored, before shifting up smoothly and smartly. With more gears than a traditional four-speed automatic, the five-speed keeps the engine purring in the fat part of the power band. A low first gear offers quicker response off the line, useful when you need to merge into traffic from a standing start. Fifth gear, meanwhile, provides lower engine speeds when cruising, which translates into less engine noise and better gas mileage.

In terms of acceleration performance, the RX 350 and RX 400h are closely matched. The RX 350 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds with front-wheel drive, or 7.4 seconds with all-wheel drive. The RX 400h does 0-60 in 7.5 seconds with front-wheel drive, 7.3 seconds for all-wheel drive.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10