Review: 2010 Lexus RX350

[bradyholt]

Some car guys see cars like the strong-selling Lexus RX350 midsize SUV – freshly redesigned for 2010 – as overpriced mediocrity peddled to unsuspecting brand snobs. After all, they would note, the RX350 is mechanically very close to the Toyota Venza (read full review), which has a base price that’s more than $10,000 less than the Lexus’s.

Looking at the car on paper, it doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense why someone would spend nearly $48,000 for the near-loaded 2010 RX350 driven for this review.

But the RX350 is more than a specifications list...

Continued at:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Ca...2009m3d22-test


That page also has links to a couple dozen other reviews I've done; check out the box of links along the right side of the page.

[Neanderthal]

Hmmm.

Too bad Lexus Luther didn't steal some stylin cues from the Sorento...

[mgescuro]

Yes. The RX coddles you.
Yes. The RX has nice materials.

But it is really quite an uninspirational car. It is so overpriced. But for what you get, Americans see some value there. And we're the only ones in the world to see it that way.
Strangely enough, it is the standard in this mid-luxury CUV segment.

A half decent, better designed CUV should be able to unseat it.

But all car companies that try always forget one thing. The RX sells on image. It's difficult to change an image that is firmly established as Lexus.

[Neanderthal]

See Sam Adams, below, regarding rational vs. emotional decision-making amongst the hominids.

We paid $16,000 for a new 2008 Sorento LX 3.3/5-speed including stability control and abs.

For another 50 bucks, we could put Lexus or Cadillac tags on it, and 98% of the folks on the street would be none the wiser.

I'll take one Sorento, and the 32 grand left over, thank you.

[F14CRAZY]

Enclave > RX, and like $10k less

[Htay7500]

Thats no fun. Why does it look like I wanna throw an axe at that front end? The rear looks like a mazda likewise.

Hey are you gonna check out the spring meet @ Maryland?

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Yes. The RX coddles you.
Yes. The RX has nice materials.

But it is really quite an uninspirational car. It is so overpriced. But for what you get, Americans see some value there. And we're the only ones in the world to see it that way.
Strangely enough, it is the standard in this mid-luxury CUV segment.

A half decent, better designed CUV should be able to unseat it.

But all car companies that try always forget one thing. The RX sells on image. It's difficult to change an image that is firmly established as Lexus.

It's not just the image. It is the coddling. It may seem trivial to some, but the RX does that better than anything else in its class.

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by Htay7500

Hey are you gonna check out the spring meet @ Maryland?

I doubt I could make it, but when/where?