2019 Lexus RX 350 Review
2019 Lexus RX 350 Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review

byTravis Langness
Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.
Pros
- Attractive cabin with top-quality materials and construction
- Standard suspension's ride quality makes almost any road feel smooth
- Advanced safety features come standard
- Wide cargo bay makes it easy to load luggage and groceries
Cons
- Optional tech interface is distracting to use
- F Sport greatly sacrifices road comfort for marginal handling gains
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto frustratingly absent
- Very little personality
What's new
- Integration with Lexus Enform Connect smartphone app
- Part of the fourth RX generation introduced for 2016
The 2019 Lexus RX 350 is certainly one of the most appealing options for a well-rounded luxury crossover SUV. The Lexus RX we cover in this review is the simple, two-row non-hybrid model, but there are three other versions of the RX (reviewed separately): the three-row RX 350L, the hybrid RX 450h and the three-row hybrid RX 450hL. The RX's appeal owes partly to that wide variety of configurations but also to its long list of standard features, such as adaptive cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control and leather upholstery. There are lots of high-end options to choose from, too, such as a 12.3-inch center display screen, a 15-speaker stereo and a panoramic sunroof.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.11 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$168/mo for RX 350 Base
RX 350 Base
vs
$192/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Comfort also plays a large role in the RX's appeal. The front seats are great for long-distance drives, and highway noise is nearly nonexistent. Combine all of this with a modern, well-built cabin, appealing value and Lexus' reputation for reliability, and you've got a car with a lot of curb appeal.
The RX certainly isn't perfect, though. The optional infotainment interface can be frustrating and difficult to use, which is definitely a distraction on the open road. And while the RX 350 is spacious, you'll have trouble fitting larger items into the cargo area because of the slanted rear roofline. Overall, though, none of these drawbacks would keep us away from the 2019 RX 350. We certainly recommend you take one for a test drive.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
7.6 / 10Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Lexus RX 350 F Sport (3.5L V6 | 8-speed automatic | FWD).
Scorecard
Overall | 7.6 / 10 |
Driving | 7.5 |
Comfort | 8.0 |
Interior | 8.0 |
Utility | 8.0 |
Technology | 6.5 |
Driving
7.5Outright performance isn't the name of the RX 350's game, even when it is in the F Sport trim. But when it comes to merging on a highway or overtaking slower traffic, the smooth and powerful V6 engine gets the job done. Accelerating to 60 mph takes 7.9 seconds, which isn't as quick as most competitors but is still plenty adequate. More aggressive drivers will want to opt for the all-wheel drive for its superior traction.
Body roll is lessened with the F Sport, but handling isn't really improved. The tires are the main letdown, but the Lexus can still confidently handle a twisty road. The brakes provide easy and smooth stopping power. And though the transmission is a little too eager to shift to a higher gear, it does its work almost transparently.
Comfort
8.0The only real negative, and it could be a deal-breaker, comes with the F Sport trim. In the attempt to achieve sportier handling characteristics, it throws any semblance of a relaxing ride right out the window. Moderately chewed-up roads will bounce and jitter occupants about in a very un-Lexus-like manner, and larger potholes can cause be jarring. We'd recommend steering clear of this trim.
Interior
8.0Even though the base of the windshield looks to be pretty far away, the dashboard and all major controls fall easily to hand. The buttons are on the large side, clearly labeled and easy to press, and most everything you touch feels well engineered and well considered. All passengers will appreciate the large square door openings, and there's plenty of room for tall people in the front and the back. Even the panoramic sunroof doesn't take away much headroom.
But Lexus' use of the joystick for infotainment controls frustrates us to no end. Even with improved feedback and weighting, it demands too much concentration to use as fluidly as the ones in a BMW or a Mercedes.
Utility
8.0Thanks to its two-row configuration, there's always a good amount of storage — 18.4 cubic feet — in the trunk of the RX 350. That's not as big as some other midsize SUVs, but it's decent. And with 40/20/40-split folding rear seats, this luxury SUV has flexibility to carry an assortment of goods. It's even rated to tow 3,500 pounds, which, though far from class-leading, is still enough for a small trailer with a motorcycle or two.
Passengers get a fair amount of well-thought-out storage for personal items, even including a cupholder whose depth can be adjusted for taller mugs. Child seats will also have ample room for attachment thanks to the large door openings and plenty of rear legroom.
Technology
6.5Opting for the Mark Levinson sound system can go a long way to alleviating the frustrations with the RX 350's infotainment system. The lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is chief among them. The navigation system, though quick-acting, is looking a bit dated. And despite good resolution, it can be hard to read because of somewhat cluttered graphics. The joystick control is a bit of a nuisance.
Thanks to the abundance of well-labeled buttons, the somewhat formal and command-heavy voice control system is often sidestepped. Driver aids are well calibrated, and we didn't have any false alarms or overreactions, though we would like the adaptive cruise control to be a bit more responsive to traffic flow.
Which RX 350 does Edmunds recommend?
The 2019 Lexus RX 350 is only available in two trim levels: base and F Sport. Both trim levels come with the same engine and are available in front- and all-wheel-drive. But while the F Sport adds a ton of desirable luxury features, it also brings a sport-tuned suspension that makes the ride too harsh over cracked pavement. Stick with the base model and add options packages instead.
2019 Lexus RX 350 models
The 2019 Lexus RX 350 is a five-passenger luxury crossover available in base and F Sport versions. They both come with a 3.5-liter V6 engine (295 horsepower, 267 lb-ft of torque), an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional.
The base is equipped with 18-inch wheels, automatic LED headlights (with automatic high beams), rear privacy glass, a power liftgate, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a power-adjustable steering wheel, a 40/20/40-split rear seat and a rear cargo cover.
Also standard is a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, Safety Connect emergency communications, a suite of driver safety aids (the Safety System+ package, including lane departure warning and intervention, as well as forward collision warning and mitigation with automatic emergency braking), Bluetooth, an 8-inch display screen, a smartphone-integrated navigation system and a nine-speaker sound system.
The Premium package is available on non-F Sport models and adds auto-dimming side mirrors, a sunroof, automatic wipers, driver-seat memory functions, leather upholstery, wood trim and a rear armrest storage compartment. The Luxury package (also only available on base models) includes the Premium package items and adds 20-inch wheels, a heated steering wheel, rear door sunshades, upgraded leather upholstery, and four-way lumbar adjustment for the front seats.
The F Sport includes the Premium package contents, sportier exterior styling, 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, enhanced engine sound, transmission paddle shifters, unique gauges, heated and ventilated sport seats, leather upholstery and unique interior trim. The F Sport is also available with all-wheel drive.
Options are generally grouped into packages with the RX, but there are a few stand-alone items, too, and availability can depend on the trim level and region in which you live.
The Navigation package adds a navigation system, the Remote Touch tech interface, a larger 12.3-inch display, voice controls, the Lexus Enform App Suite and a 12-speaker sound system.
Other options include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and automated braking, a panoramic-view backup camera, either a regular or a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, power-folding second-row seats, a towing package (with an upgraded cooling system), front and rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, upgraded LED headlights (with 18 individual LED accent lights), a color head-up display, a heated steering wheel and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2019 Lexus RX 350.
5 star(49%)
4 star(14%)
3 star(18%)
2 star(12%)
1 star(7%)
57 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4 out of 5 stars
great car horrible navigation system and traffic
stan nelson, 01/12/2019
2019 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
leased new awd rx350 and went on 2k mile trip to colorado. the car is great, quite and very comfy. the navigation is a joke. traffic shows green at all times even if your in super bumper to bumper traffic. the green lines are so big that it overwhelms the map and has all the surface streets painted green as well. its hard to tell where the highway is when your in a city area. the arrow … that indicates where the car is will drift off the road your on and float out into the non-street area. panning the map to show a different view is next to impossible. this being my first lexus shocked me how bad this is. my 8 year old acura nav is light years ahead of this. i wont lease another if there is not major improvments made.
3 out of 5 stars
Lexus. RX 350.2020 New Touchscreen-Useless.
Rick Lef, 02/11/2019
2019 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
Drove RX 350 for 17 years and one NX. Worst Navigation System on the market.So bad I carried a Garmin to put on the Dash in case it couldn’t find where I wanted to go which was most of the time. Switched to Jaguar F Pace for the Touchscreen. Now looking at BWW x5 for the Nav System. Lexus RX 350 is a great quiet riding SUV and excellent quality.
Well its 2020 now and not much has … changed. Yes its a touchscreen but you can’t use it once you start driving. The passenger should have access to it at least so you can change your destination or look for something. Even at a standstill you cant search for anything outside of 5 mikes -(8 km). Asked sales person to find me a certain golf course. Couldn’t do it unless he typed in the whole address, but it gave him all the courses within 5 miles. How useless is that? Sure you might use apple car play if you have data, but some of us retirees don’t need data anymore. Plus if you use it on the fly it’s illegal in many states and Provinces North
America. Lexus Dealers say its a safety thing, but they are the only ones doing it. If you use Apple or Android car play on the fly then you are breaking the law and safety concerns as well. So where is the safety? Lexus- if you can’t do it right then don’t do it.
Have a look at Mercedes new MBUX or BMW Nav’s. You are years behind everyone else. Sorry but I still can’t come back to you.
Have a 2020 Mercedes GLE on order now
4 out of 5 stars
Overall a Great Car But Can't Find Its Way!
Jerry Block, 02/23/2019
2019 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
This vehicle has been running very well, so far. Good braking and decent power on acceleration. It has been very reliable, however Lexus recently announced a problem where engine could stall at high speeds. This recall has been done and repaired. One other issue has been going on for years with this model. The GPS loses its way. The navigation system belongs in the junk heap. Not … only does it lose its direction but sporadically decides to spout off with beeps and displays of every upcoming road. And just as suddenly as it started it abruptly stops that nonsense. This Nav system is giving the Lexus reputation a bad name, as it has been failing as mentioned on previous model years as well. If Lexus doesn't resolve the Navigation issues by getting a better system they will start losing business, including mine! This is my fifth Lexus RX350 and they all were outstandingly reliable and never broke down except once, when I hit another vehicle! Update: GPS continues to be a thorn In my side. Most recent experience was when it told me I had arrived at an office building I was looking for, but all I saw were private homes. Its arrival notice was premature by about a half mile. It also continues to pop up with beeps and displays upcoming roads. Some were more than 10 miles away from where I was and then it suddenly stopped spouting off again. Very frustrating!
1 out of 5 stars
Navigation is a nightmare
Jane Bobe, 09/11/2019
2019 Lexus RX 350 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
If I would have new about this navigation in advance I would have held onto my 2010 Lexus rx350 which I loved. Every time my husband and I go anywhere with my new 2019 Lexus rx350 there is always tension using this navigation that I’m at the point I don’t even want to ride in this car with him. I loved my old Lexus using my garmin. I wish I could get rid of this car and buy something … else. Lexus should have a recall and come up with the new technology as other companies did.
2019 RX 350 Highlights
Base
Base MSRP | $43,820 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 23 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $168/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 18.4 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the RX 350 models:
- Lexus Safety System+
- Bundle includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation and automatic braking, and lane departure warning/lane keeping assist.
- Lexus Enform Safety Connect
- This system can automatically alert emergency services in the event of a crash or distress. Also includes a stolen-vehicle locator.
- Panoramic Rearview Camera
- Maximizing the 12.3-inch widescreen display, the panoramic rearview camera gives a broad look at what's behind you before you back up.
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover17.9%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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