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Road test: 2014 Lexus RX 350 F Sport

Overview One of the original luxury SUVs
Pros Made in Ontario; built for comfort
Cons Not for speed; past its prime
Value for money Fair
What would I change? Dash layout needs updating

Lexus seems well on the way to completing its image makeover, adding sharply designed, high-performance sports cars to its line of dependable and luxurious — yet emotionless — sedans. It started with the IS F a half-dozen years ago, continued with the LFA and culminated in January with the unveiling of the RC F at the Detroit auto show.

That’s the car side, however. Things remain very much traditional Lexus with its sport-utes lineup, especially the upscale brand’s most popular-selling model — the mid-sized RX.

This has been the case ever since the original RX (the 300) set the tone for luxury-oriented crossovers back in 1998. Even the addition of the somewhat ambitiously named F Sport version of the RX 350 last year hasn’t much altered the fact that the vehicle has an old school vibe to it, with comfort and amenities taking precedence over sparkling handling and pavement-scorching acceleration.

On top of this, the Canadian-built RX 350 is — how shall I put it — mature; this third-generation edition has been plying its trade for five years. So, why am I not yet willing to shove it aside in favour of hipper and sportier models, notably the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3 and a few others? It’s because the RX feels like an old friend, one that you are always glad to see and can always count on to have your back, no matter the situation. And that situation, at least in my corner of Shangri-la, is ever increasing traffic congestion along with ruder and more distracted drivers. I don’t really need a super-fast, jacked-up, all-wheel-drive crossover — like the Audi SQ5 — to take me hither and yon no matter the weather (though there are days when I want one). Most days, something that oozes serenity and good karma, relieves stress and puts me in a happy place is what I crave. And there are precious few all-season, ready-to-take-on-whatever-life-throws-at-you vehicles as capable of these functions as the RX 350.

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Inside, the F Sport comes with black leather, a sport steering wheel and aluminum pedals.

Inside, the F Sport comes with black leather, a sport steering wheel and aluminum pedals.
Handout, Lexus

Plus, it’s not as though the RX 350, especially the F Sport, is totally bereft of fun. Externally, the Lexus signature spindle grille — the only aspect of last year’s makeover that leaves me cold — gets a distinctive mesh finish, a revised front bumper design and cool-looking 19-inch wheels. The touches enhance a clear-cut design that, even after its many years on the market, is easy to pick out in a crowded parking lot.

Lexus’s ubiquitous 3.5-litre V6 resides under the hood and punches out a totally acceptable 270 horsepower, which will push the 2,050-kilogram SUV to 100 kilometres an hour in less than eight seconds, certainly quick enough to get out of its own way, especially off the line. (Throttle tip-in can be a little abrupt if you’re not easy on the gas pedal when pulling away.) Said V6, a quiet motor that is mostly unobtrusive — there is some induction noise under load — is, in F Sport form, mated to an eight-speed manumatic with paddle shifters (regular RX 350s make do with a six-speed autobox). So, automatic upshifts are all but imperceptible as you go about your business, albeit electronically configured to enhance fuel economy rather than sportiness. As for the paddles and the whole self-shifting gig, they seem rather superfluous given the RX’s luxury focus. (If fuel economy is your thing and you don’t mind dishing out the extra coin, there’s always the hybrid-powered RX 450h.)

F Sport models are also fitted with front and rear lateral dampers on a sport-tuned suspension, a nice tweak that, along with Lexus’s Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system — which uses a network of sensors that monitors speed, steering and braking to anticipate traction loss and then works to correct it before it happens — tunes the RX’s chassis just that much more. In fact, ride and stability are the Lexus’s most pleasant dynamic elements, a well-engineered blend of comfort and sport. That said, the electric power steering takes some of the shine off what is otherwise a decent handling vehicle; it’s a little numb when reacting to driver input.

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The 2014 Lexus RX 350 F Sport comes with a 3.5-litre V6 that punches out an acceptable 270 horsepower.

The 2014 Lexus RX 350 F Sport comes with a 3.5-litre V6 that punches out an acceptable 270 horsepower.
Handout, Lexus

I’ve driven a number of RXs over the years. What has particularly struck me as smart on Toyota’s part is that it designed the RX’s cabin to accommodate five adults in comfort, with no attempt to cram in a third row in order to create a sardine-like seven-seater. In each case, those in either row are treated to a quiet and cozy environment with the customary modern conveniences and upscale touches that befit a luxury vehicle.

Standing apart from regular RX models, the F Sport interior comes with black leather accented by contrasting silver stitching, ebony bird’s-eye maple wood trim, black headliner and aluminum pedals and footrest along with F Sport steering wheel, shift knob and scuff plates. It’s a little dark for my tastes, and slightly retro in comparison to some of the newer crossovers out there with their flashy driver interactive services. Still, Lexus’s Remote Touch controller on the centre console, which changes/controls functions such as navigation, climate and audio via the display screen, is pretty much frustration-free, which is more than can be said for any number of competitive systems.

Already generously equipped at $55,400, the tester was further enhanced with $3,450 worth of Series 2 package, which adds an eclectic bunch of features, starting with the impressive 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system, plus blind spot monitor and intuitive parking assist and a heads-up display. There’s enough meat there to make the package a worthy consideration.

That previous sentence, in fact, sums up the RX 350 F Sport — there’s enough there to keep it on the shopping list. It’s not the fastest, not the flashiest, not the newest — but, as it has for the past 15 years, it continues to offer honest luxury in a very relaxing, user-friendly package.

The Specs

Type of vehicle All-wheel-drive mid-sized luxury crossover
Engine 3.5L DOHC V6
Power 270 hp @ 6,200 rpm; 248 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
Transmission Eight-speed manumatic
Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires P235/55R19
Price (base/as tested) $55,400/$58,950
Destination charge $1,995
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy (L/100 km) 11.2 city, 7.7 highway
Standard features Dual-zone automatic climate control, power tilt and telescopic steering column with steering wheel audio controls, eight-way power front sport seats with heat and ventilation, power windows and door locks, eight-inch LCD display, multi-information display, cruise control, keyless entry, push-button start, backup camera, voice-activated navigation system with remote touch and XM Real-Time Traffic Capability, 12-speaker premium audio system, electro-chromic rear-view mirror, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto-dimming side-view mirrors, high-intensity-discharge headlights with auto levelling, power sunroof
Options F Sport Series 2 package ($3,450) includes 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system, blind spot monitor system and intuitive parking assist, heads-up display

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