We have had our share of rainy days this May. I’m not going to lie and say it was fine with me. I needed a little inspiration. Something sleek with dynamic styling and a bit of sportiness thrown in to combat the rainy day blues. The Lexus RX 350 F-Sport was just the thing to cure the doldrums of spring.
2017 Lexus RX 350 F-Sport. Source: Victoria Mason
Lexus RX 350 F-Sport First Impressions
It’s rare that I get excited over a crossover SUV. It is even harder for me to wish the car in review could stay just a little bit longer, but that is exactly how I felt with the Lexus RX 350 F-Sport. I cannot deny that the ‘Atomic Silver’ color with red leather interior and bolstered seats didn’t sway me. They totally did each time I climbed into the driver’s seat. For me and my passengers, this crossover was a total joy to drive.
Interior dashboard with 12.3″ multimedia display. Source: Victoria Mason
On the Inside
There’s a lot of bold styling in this crossover. From the exterior trim with its 20-inch Alloy wheels, chrome dual exhaust, full-time active torque control with All-Wheel drive, to the V6 engine with an adaptive suspension on the F-Sport you cannot go wrong. This is the trim package to go with when buying the RX 350. Step inside and prepare to fall in love.
See video of the Lexus RX 350 F-Sport
What I love about the interior on this model is that it is so incredibly quiet in the cabin. Regular readers know that this is a hot spot for me. I loathe road noise and few cars make the grade with me in this category. In rain or shine the Lexus RX 350 F-Sport earned an A plus for a quiet cabin with no outside noise seeping inside. Thank you, Lexus! Side note: On a very windy day it stayed stable on the road while other cars had issues keeping in their lanes.
The F-Sport has an exclusive leather interior with aluminum pedals, shift knob, and meters that combine for a standout finish. The steering wheel and seats are all heated and ventilated. The 12.3 ” multimedia display is a great feature. With a clear backup camera and a 360-degree view for parking, you not only add in good technology but safety and peace of mind as well.
When it comes to daily driving and using the technology inside the RX 350 you can be sure that it is easy to use. My phone seamlessly integrated with it and I appreciated being able to listen to incoming text messages while on the road. I wasn’t totally in love with the mouse-like knob on the console but that is my only complaint.
I appreciated the interior lights that turned on and off without depressing them. Just a touch of my finger and they activated. The console and interior doors were also full of nice touches with ample storage space that adjusted to suit the users’ needs. Cup holders extended out on the interior doors. They elongated to accommodate taller cups in the console too. Comfort and ease are all just a push of a button away on this model.
My six-year-old daughter got into the RX 350 first out of all her siblings. Her first reaction was, “Mom, you have to get in the back seat! It is awesome!” She is right. The large back seat offers a roominess in the head and leg area that is also comfortable. The back is a 40/20/40 split and three child latch spots.
What is missing on the Lexus RX 350 is the third row. However, we didn’t actually miss it. We have three kids who play sports but we were able to manage because that missing third row and roomy back seat created enough seating and storage to suit our needs for that week. The comfortable interior and style on the F-Sport were a nice change from always being in a utilitarian mode with our larger SUV.
Safety Measures
Safety comes standard in the Lexus RX in both trim packages. The Lexus Safety System+ includes a pre-collision system with forward warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and lane keep assist as well as automatic emergency braking. The features work well together and alert the driver to any potential dangers and apply the brakes when the driver fails to respond. I like that when cruise control is activated it helps you maintain a safe distance from your car and other vehicles on the road or from drifting from your lane. Then entire time I was in this vehicle I felt safe and unencumbered.
Source: Victoria Mason
Final Thoughts on the Lexus RX 350 F-Sport
Yes, the entire family was sad to see the Lexus RX 350 F-Sport leave our driveway. We enjoyed all our driving time in it as both passengers and as a driver. The gas mileage was good (22 combined with 19 city/26 mpg highway) and our entire experience with this vehicle was comfortable, with good acceleration and handling, with a quiet and smooth ride inside and out. To quote a classic 80’s flick, “If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
The MSRP on this model is $50,320. Price for review model is $56,080.
*Disclosure: TMC was not paid for this post. Products are loaned for review purposes only by Lexus and ESI. Opinions are 100% my own.
