2009 Lexus RX 350 Consumer Reviews

Even Better than the Last RX

Written by: john0922stamps on 07/12/2008

Vehicle

2009 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Time to trade in my 2006 ML350. Although I agree that the Lexus is not quite like a German driving experience, the overall design of the Lexus is superior. Too many quirks in the German cars. I've had the new RX for a month. My city MPG is 21, highway 25. I'm impressed. Navi system is awesome. This is our second RX, and, Lexus has really improved the details on this SUV. I really wonder if the next gen will be able to improve on this.

Favorite Features

Navi, adaptive lights, seats, luggage space, rear camera. Fit and finish, quietness and smooth ride.

Suggested Improvements

An under-dash coin tray would be helpful. Gas tank is kind of small compared with other SUVs.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Quiet & Quick/Sleek & Smooth

Written by: Michael on 07/08/2008

Vehicle

2009 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Top notch fit and finish, very quiet, surprisingly quick acceleration, comfortable handling. Useful and spacious cargo capacity. Easy to park and maneuver. Easy entry and exit (especially important for my petite spouse). Bluetooth sound quality is great. Love the navigation system (detour feature saved us on a Dallas trip recently). Family actually likes that it still has an "old fashioned" cassette along with the CD changer. We have lots of books on tape that we thought we were through using. We expect great reliability. Love the RX!

Favorite Features

Engine; navigation; bluetooth; air suspension & 18" wheels & tires; addition of knee airbag to safety equipment.

Suggested Improvements

iPod connection for stereo system; fuel flexibility to use regular in addition to or in place of premium grade.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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2009 RX Is Better Than Ever!

Written by: ethridgedsb on 05/20/2008

Vehicle

2009 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Great vehicle! This is the 3rd Lexus RX that I have owned and I have to say that they have gotten better with each one. I just traded my 99 RX 300 with over 135,000 miles in for an 09 RX 350 Pebble Beach Edition (Truffle Mica color) and this new RX is rock solid. My 04 RX 330 has a small rattle/creaking sound that occasionally appears but there are absolutely no rattles/creaks in this 09. As for the larger more powerful 3.5 liter engine... I love it. If you are considering a luxury SUV I definitely recommend the Lexus RX 350.

Favorite Features

High intensity discharge (HID), headlamps with adaptive front lighting system (AFS). The addition of an WMA/MP3 capable CD player. I really like the Pebble Beach Edition wheels... very cool.

Suggested Improvements

iPod connection in the glove box or center console with a power port. Unlike the 04, the RDS display doesn't default to the "Text" being displayed, you must press the Text button each time you want to see the song information as it defaults back to the station number.

13 out 13 people found this review helpful

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A Day with a Matador

Written by: Rene Clarence Caynan on 05/20/2008

Vehicle

2009 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I have purchased several Lexus vehicles from IS350 to LS430. I was reluctant to drive/purchase an RX 350 because I considered it to be a "ladies" SUV. But everyday I noticed a lot of men have been driving an RX 350. So then I realized that it is no longer a ladies' SUV. About two months ago, I decided to purchase the RX 350 (Matador Red). I couldn't be more happy with my new RX 350. It is fun to drive as it drives like a car and yet my gas mileage is over than 23 MPG.

Favorite Features

The inside engineering including the navigation and the liftgate.

Suggested Improvements

They should have designed the RX 350 space where to land the cell phone and set of house keys.

4 out 7 people found this review helpful

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I love my car

Written by: Jo Ann on 05/15/2008

Vehicle

2009 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

This is our first Lexus and will not be the last. In the past 15 years we have had 7 new Jeeps and that will never happen again. Point is, we love mid size SUVs. We got our new 2009 RX 350 in April, 2008 and the following week we went on a cruise, a wonderful cruise, but I could not wait to get home to my Lexus. I love my car. It rides like a dream. I LOVE MY CAR.

Favorite Features

Extremely comfortable, very quiet, love the Bluetooth, the backseat is the roomiest I have ever seen in any vehicle and the backseat moves back and forth. Too many favorites to list.

Suggested Improvements

I have a blind spot when I look out the right side when turning. The divider between the windows and the passenger headrest are in the way. I would like to see more storage compartments to throw change, lip gloss, etc., and the console does not hold CDs comfortably.

5 out 7 people found this review helpful

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Excellent Vehicle

Written by: Gill on 04/25/2008

Vehicle

2009 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I was looking for a FWD and Lexus dealers on the North East do not stock FWD vehicles. Visited my daughter in Atlanta and drove a 2009 RX350 from Atlanta to NJ. The fit & finish is great. My first luxury vehicle and the ride is a real luxury, quite cabin at highway speed, plenty of power to accelrate. Good MPG and I got about 27- 28 MPG on the highway. Experience with Nalley Lexus of Roswell was even better than the vehicle itself. We have lot of old cassette tapes and love the full logic cassette deck.

Favorite Features

Full logic cassette deck. Keep it in future models too. Fully integrated blue tooth feature is great for the cell phone.

Suggested Improvements

Two lined pockets, 1 on each side of gear shift box (saddle style) to drop your cell phone/blackbery/Ipod etc. Make the outside temp reading visible all the time. Add IPod input.

5 out 6 people found this review helpful

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Not quite perfect

Written by: Lexus Loyalist on 04/06/2008

Vehicle

2009 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Having traded my gas-hog GX for a new RX, I am pretty happy overall. The car is comfortable, sufficiently powerful, and endowed with some features that the GX didn't have (such as HID headlamps that swivel, a power liftgate, and fold-flat second row seats). But I am a bit disappointed at the rattling sunroof shade and another rattle emanating from the right front dashboard area. I try to remind myself that I'm getting better mileage to counteract the annoyance. But after driving only 300 miles so far, I hope this doesn't foretell a future of other things going wrong.

Favorite Features

Navigation system--they finally removed the "lawyer screen" that required punching "I agree" every time one started the car. The power liftgate is a real convenience too.

Suggested Improvements

Focus on the niggling problems of workmanship characterized by these rattles. After owning 11 Lexuses (or should that be Lexi?), I can state that the RX is the only model with this kind of problem.

19 out 24 people found this review helpful

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Lexus keeps a good thing going in '09

Written by: Steve Rose on 03/30/2008

Vehicle

2009 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I love this car! Function and form. What more could you ask for? A run to Home Depot? No problem. A night out on the town? Looking good! All the features you could ever want at a reasonable price. MPG that will make you want to ditch your SUV! Also, knowing that underneath is a Toyota product that will run forever with little more than the occasional oil change is very comforting.

Favorite Features

The power tailgate is great. I also love the navigation system. It's the best I've seen and it's easy to use. There is also plenty of storage.

Suggested Improvements

The main improvements I would suggest would be: 1) A push button start. The Lexus line should all have this by now. 2) The rear view camera should be mounted in the center of the tail gate.

19 out 21 people found this review helpful

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Doesn't get any better than this

Written by: JakOfAllTrd on 03/22/2008

Vehicle

2009 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

If you're looking at the RX 350, then I don't need to tell you about reliability, fit and finish, etc. I picked up my 2009 w/nav a few weeks ago and I'm coming from a 2000 RX 300. Prior to that I've owned about 15 other vehicles - Toyota, Honda, Nissan. I drove the FX and the feel was much more sporty. However, the trunk space sacrifice was unacceptable. I've driven the 2004-2006 and I wasn't convinced that the improvements to my 2000 were worth the premium. However, in 2009, I can say that they are.

Favorite Features

Nav/backup camera, adaptive headlights, fit/finish.

Suggested Improvements

More intuitive nav - Tom Tom One was easier to use and more accurate.

33 out 35 people found this review helpful

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