Road Test: 2014 Lexus RX350 F Sport

The Lexus RX family of compact utility vehicles has been a huge success for Toyota’s luxury brand since its introduction over 15 years ago.

In fact, for the majority of this time period the RX has dominated its segment when it comes to sales.

The RX design is now well into its third generation, and there are three models in the lineup — RX350, RX350 F Sport, and RX450h.

The RX350 and RX350 F Sport share mechanicals and the majority of their equipment, although F Sport buyers will be attracted by the vehicle’s more aggressive bodywork, advanced aerodynamics, and more driver-oriented suspension.

The RX450h is the flagship, hybrid model, which has proven so popular that it is rare to see one available on the dealer lot.

The RX350 F Sport was introduced for 2013 in an effort to give the RX a mid-cycle refresh and introduce the company’s new sport-inspired styling elements to the model.

The F Sport features a distinctive front end design which is built around an extended version of the exclusive honeycomb mesh style Lexus Spindle Grille. A bold chrome surround and deep well air intakes frame the aggressive front spoiler and provide a home for a pair of halogen fog lights. Auto levelling High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and the addition of larger 19-inch F Sport alloy wheels help set the F Sport apart.

The F Sport treatment ups the ante in the luxury department as the passenger compartment is draped in supple black leather featuring bold white stitching. The seats are perforated for style, but this also helps accommodate the heated and ventilated front seats.

Other niceties include a premium grade, 12-speaker audio system with satellite radio and subwoofer, voice-activated satellite navigation, and a power moon roof.

Lexus’ innovative Remote Touch (LRT) interface is standard, putting control of the audio, climate, and navigation systems at your fingertips.

Luxury buyers seem to crave wood, so the F Sport upgrade adds a healthy dose of Bird’s Eye Maple trim. The presence of burnished aluminum pedals hint at the F Sport’s more dynamic handling. These are well placed, and feature rubber contact points to prevent foot slip when your soles of your shoes are wet.

Sliding into the very firm and supportive bucket seat you will notice that the thick-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel is wrapped in high quality leather and is fitted with easy-to-reach paddle shift controls. These proved much more practical to operate than the vehicle’s gearshift lever which resides at a rather awkward angle on the centre console. The latter has a side gate for manual operation, but it proved uncomfortable to operate in that manner.

Surprisingly, you will find the same 3.5-litre V-6 engine as found in the standard RX350 model under the hood, as for some reason the product planners decided that its 270-horsepower and 248 lbs.-ft of torque would suffice.

However, the F Sport is blessed with an eight-speed transmission fitted in place of the standard model’s six-speed unit.

I found the eight-speed to react very quickly to my inputs when I chose to utilize the shift paddles, but when left to work on its own accord, the transmission came across as somewhat sluggish. I imagine it has been engineered to improve fuel efficiency rather than deliver much of a performance gain.

Acceleration is comparable to that of similarly equipped vehicles in this class with runs from 0-100 km/h taking 7.7 seconds to complete, but I couldn’t help but wonder why the designers didn’t order a little more scoot to match the F Sport’s motorsport inspired styling cues. Handling is exceptional for a near 2,000 kilogram utility vehicle, largely due to the fact that the RX F Sport comes equipped with a potent array of handling and traction control systems. The Lexus Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system gives the vehicle unparalleled straight-line stability and precise cornering performance.

A sport-tuned suspension comes standard which utilizes high-performance front and rear dampers which have been designed to enable more lateral body movement while absorbing twist and flex. This clever bit of engineering helps to deliver a more fluid and agile driving experience, as well as enhanced ride comfort.

All Canadian-spec RX models feature Active Torque All-Wheel Drive, a system that works behind the scenes to maximize traction while featuring the ability to efficiently distribute torque between the front and rear wheels as necessary. The result is improved fuel efficiency as well as sure-footed, all-weather traction.

The RX offers seating for five passengers, and there is more than enough room for three average adults to ride in relative comfort in the rear compartment. Be warned however, that these seats are situated quite low. This increases headroom, but makes long-legged individuals pay a penalty in the comfort department.

The RX can accommodate up to 2.273 litres  (80.3 cu.ft.) of cargo when the rear seats are folded flat and can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

The addition of the RX 350 F Sport should help Lexus attract a younger buyer to the showroom based on looks alone, but I suspect the variant would warrant even more attention if a little attention was paid to the performance of the engine.

2014 Lexus RX 350 F Sport, as driven by Russell Purcell

2014 Lexus RX 350 F Sport, as driven by Russell Purcell