First Drive: 2010 Lexus RX

As a 26 year old male, I know I am certainly not in the RX demographic (primarily women). However, I have never understood the appeal of these "SUV's." The exterior design has always been ungainly and odd. There isn't that much cargo room inside as well. I just never understood why somebody would choose this over an ML or X5.

— HSCenterconsole (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 9:41:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I agree with HS' comments above and add, in explanation, that Lexus are a triumph of marketing over engineering and a triumph of expectation management.

No doubt, the vehicles are solid performers at a good value, but what Lexus really excels at is making its customers feel like their expectations were exceeded. Take the RX for example, the people buying this most likely live in a suburban condo complex but very, very occasionally have a slight need for more cargo capacity than offered by, say the ES sedan. They also like the perceived security and performance of the SUV platform (in AWD and FWD configurations.

These people most likely will never need the 'extras' they are purchasing along with their RX, but like knowing they are there.

Case in point - next time you are skiing, take a look at the parking lot and note how many RX' you see - not many, I bet. Whereas you'll see many ML's, GL's, and X-5's - the more serious SUV's.

— nybimmer (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 10:17:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I was never a fan either, an this new one looks to similar to the current model. Im not a huge fan of this interior either, the current model has a better interior. Im 23 man, not a soccor mom or old couple so Im more for the big SUVs or sport sedans an coupes.

— mocashflo924 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 10:29:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I always get a kick out of the women who try to act snobbish and say they drive a Lexus RX. Nobody is impressed that you are driving a tall station wagon built on a FWD Toyota Camry platform whose design styling could be best be described as "buggish." Plus you could have bought the RX's twin, the Highlander, and saved thousands.

— FillorKill (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 10:52:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

nybimmer,

YOu state "Lexus really excels at is making its customers feel like their expectations were exceeded." Well, if they are "making there customers feel like their expectations are exceeded", than what's wrong with that? Doesn't everyone want their expectations to be exceeded? And if the "feel" like their expectations were exceeded, well then that customers "expectations were exceeded".

"the people buying this most likely live in a suburban condo complex but very, very occasionally have a slight need for more cargo capacity than offered by, say the ES sedan. They also like the perceived security and performance of the SUV platform (in AWD and FWD configurations. These people most likely will never need the 'extras' they are purchasing along with their RX, but like knowing they are there."

What a half-baked statement. What's the difference between a X3 and a BMW 3-series or a Mercedes ML and C-class then? Aren't they also just buying the SUV for as you say: "slight need for more cargo space", "perceived safety of a SUV"? Last time I checked none of these SUVs are made to go off-roading!

Lastly, as someone who knows many Lexus owners, my parent's being owners of 2, Lexus reputation isn't merely marketing. The cars are very well engineered. well engineered by you probably means "handling", "Performance", etc. But excellent engineering is much more. A Lexus' quietness, reliability, safety, etc. wouldn't be possible without excellent engineering.

That engineering has shown up in both of my parent's Lexus. A 1995 Lexus ES that they still own with 175K miles and has only had 1 starter motor replaced in 14 years and a 2000 LS400 with 120K miles which has had nothing replaced.

— skinny (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 11:18:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Nein, German cars are waaay cooler.

— BMWGino (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 12:19:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

Looks like it's a new year, but with plenty of the same-old anti-Lexus nonsense.

No amount of marketing will create the success that the RX has had. If Lexus spent a billion dollars on an ad campaign for it, it would still fail if it wasn't what people wanted.

And those buying it likely don't do so in an effort to define themselves sexually either.

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 12:08:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

The new RX has had numerous reviews, and most, if not all of them, rave about the technology and ride feel of this vehicle.
The badge whores would have you think Lexus is putting a gun to people's heads to get them to choose it over other SUVs.

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 12:33:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

YAWN!!!!!!!

Typical Toyota Bland Styling.. Should appeal to the soccer moms who want to be in the "Going Green" social network.

— BMW3forMe (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 12:34:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

what's up with a bunch of 23 24 years old not interested in RX? it is high unlikely that you will buy a 40k car in the first place anyway (unless you get a rich parents or own a company of some sort, then it is a different story)

Average luxury car buyers are all older than 40 years old. That includes BMW 3 series. it is perfectly normal for your teenagers to not understand any luxury cars until you are old and wealthy enough to buy one.

btw, that's one thing I dislike about a lot of comments here. a bunch of high school/college students, who has no income nor purchasing power, tend to comments on cars that they wouldn't buy in a foreseeable future. Calling a car is stupid or purposeless just because you are not their target audience is a stupid act.

Also, as a rule of thumb, you should not buy a car that cost more than half of your yearly income, especially during this depression session. You cash is better invested for things that will appreciate later on.

— ghosthunter (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 2:24:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Are you really the biased idiot you portray yourself to be?

— mitchatlexusofmarin (View Profile)

Posted on 1/14/2009 5:29:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I'm sure Lexus will sell about 70k of these pigs in a year.LOL.They will also beat BMW again for the tenth year in a row.Their's a new sherriff in town boys,and the name is LEXUS!!!!!!!! ROTFLMAO!!!!

— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 3:34:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Must of struck a nerve.

— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 8:27:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

You guys keep bashing every Lexus model and they just keep kicking ass.

— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 8:28:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

This crap is ugly interior does not look like a 40k+ car I would take the MDX any day over this and I like Lexus but this is a step backwards and it's small.

— mikeydred20 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/13/2009 10:12:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

It's not nearly as bad as I thought in the show photos, but I still do think there's something deformed about the front end.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/14/2009 1:27:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Oh come on, the RX has a very specific target demographic and it's not the "car enthusiast" but the "upwardly mobile female with kids". Here's a woman who wants to reward herself with a "brand name" car for all the work she's put into her job to get to where she currently is. No, she doesn't make the "big bucks" yet, but she makes enough to allow her to pay a little extra to indulge. The Lexus RX is that car. It's more practical than a sedan, more reliable than an ML (and much much cheaper), and also cheaper than an X5 as well. But, it's classier than a Highlander. Yes, the target audience is women. My mom and niece each have one, and they absolutely love it.

I'm pretty certain that given the price point, this RX is easily the number one choice among women shopping for a "family hauler" in that price range.

— quizz (View Profile)

Posted on 1/14/2009 12:53:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

There are 3 RX's in my family. There are a couple in my neighborhood. There are dozens and dozens in my hometown. The Lexus bashers can rip it all they want but no one can deny that the RX has a very nice complete package. It does everything well and with ease. Its not a BMW, Benz or Range Rover, image wise, or (compared to BMW) driving wise, but Lexus' stands behind their products like no other. Case in point: I own an '03 GX which has had a few problems, probably because it was an early production vehicle of a brand new model, but at about 90,000 miles recently I noticed paint bubbling near the center of each wheel. Now this was not an area of the wheel subject to normal wear and tear, such as from curb rash etc. At first the dealer offered their 'standard' solution: repaint the 6 year old wheels and split the cost: $600 meaning $300 each. I said I was disappointed with that and with the fact that peeling wheels were not very Lexus like! The service rep. nicely said that he'd talk to the svc. mgr...Later that day he called me with a new offer: 4 brand new factory wheels at no charge, courtesy of Lexus not the dealer!! Now, honestly, what other manufacturer would do that?? Their cars may not stand out in many catagories, but the company: Toyota/Lexus, really is as good a company as there is out there......P.S...Should I have asked for a 5th wheel (the spare)?

— Ricks2Dogs (View Profile)

Posted on 1/14/2009 9:01:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

A big YAWN to any Lexus vehicle, especially a Lexus SUV.

— BSBB (View Profile)

Posted on 1/15/2009 4:17:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

most people feel sexually confident enough that they don't need a ferrari drop top to feel like a man.

the RX hybrid gets the job done. it has everything you'd want from a great family car in every category.

— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 1/15/2009 8:10:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Not very attractive inside or out...I felt the same about the last one & continue to question how this thing demands the premium it does over an equally equipped Toyota.

— MunichRob (View Profile)

Posted on 1/17/2009 9:41:32 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The new RX is plain ugly(just like the old one). I would say in line with all the other garbage built by Toyota/Lexus.

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 1/18/2009 2:44:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3