Lexus RX 350 Is The Benchmark For Now, But How Long Until The Competition Catches Up?

The tittle of the article is wrong. There are many suvs in the RX's class that are just as good.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 3:39:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 12   

That thing is so ugly any suv can compete.

— carguy68 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 3:50:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

yeah... i disagree with the title and statement that this is the undisputed king. why exactly is it king?

— sstainba (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 3:50:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

No question the RX has cornered the market in this segment like the F-150 and Camry lead in sales respectively. With the Cadillac SRX, it is Lexus position to loose. I'm sure Cadillac will be very aggressive in marketing the SRX. Cadillac would love to be leader in this position.

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 4:00:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

it's the best seller in this class, not to mention the RX predates every other luxury crossover. it does everything right, with regard to what you would expect from this type of vehicle. I got an '09 RX as a loaner car from my Lexus dealer a short while ago. I liked it. It was fast, smooth, quiet, comfortable, and the power rear gate was pretty handy... Of course, I could say all of these same things about the '08 Cadillac SRX that I rented shortly before that, so in that regard I guess the RX is nothing special, but it's engine was quite a bit smoother than the Cadillac V6 when pushed hard. And I would also expect for the Lexus to be more reliable than the Cadillac.

The only thing I really hated about the RX was that the front seats don't move back nearly far enough, couldn't get completely comfortable with that. I hope they've addressed this with the new model. The RX has the potential to be cool, but those small front seats on the '09 made it a total chick car. Also, the loaner car lacked i-pod integration, or even an auxilary jack - inexcusable in an '09 model luxury car, base model or not, imo.

— pushrod27 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 4:00:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Yeah benchmark for minivans!

— kpaxx (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 4:11:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Seriously.

What the hell was the point of this "article"?

Autospies is quickly going downhill.

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 4:19:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Nobody can catch it, not only did it invented the "crossover SUV" segment, it remains as best built, luxurious, and most sexy, sales numbers don't lie.

— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 4:28:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

sexy? it looks like a roller skate. a girl's roller skate at that.

— sstainba (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 4:39:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I actually admire Lexus for build this car. This is their market; people not looking for sport, but looking for pure luxury, quiet, and non-interactive drive. The reality is there is a huge market for this car. It’s a luxury crossover built for the non-enthusiast and if that they want Godspeed.

Would I buy one? no.

Would I recommend on to a friend that didn’t give a rat’s ass about cars? You bet.

— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 4:46:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Apparently, vanilla is the best for some people.
RX is a good but way over-priced. There are many alternatives out there.
Mazda CX9 being one of them. Bigger, cheaper, reliable, and as hi-tech.
It out-handles RX easily.
RX is for people who love soft ride.

— ceric (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 4:50:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

benchmark for boring.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 5:55:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

who in the hell is saying its the benchmark??? are they only basing that on sales??? cause every magazine review ive seen says the complete opposite

— schnell330i (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 5:58:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

theoptimisticpessimist is right on..this suv was not designed to be all things to all people. It's primary target is the 45K crowd who wants a mid-sized image suv that delivers high performance, class-leading luxury, ultra refinement and reliability. Give'em the red carpet showroom treatment, the test drive and it's over. This is the winning hand of the Lexus experience. Yes the competition is getting ever so close but, I think Lexus still has the greater resources and deep pockets to stay on top for quite some time.

— lexworld (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 6:37:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

This webite should be changed from "Autospies" to "Autoargument". Getting sick of these stupid posts.

— 7msynthetic (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 7:13:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

I want to monitor all the ToyLex fanboi's to get together for a group hug and acknowledge the RX looks like a giant sand crab.

:-\

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 7:58:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

When your bloated-up Camry on stilts is half your sales, it had better be good! The RX is to Lexus what the 3-series is to BMW ... bread-and-butter.

If somehow soccer-moms were banned from buying the RX then Lexus would probably fold in months. Its the only "luxury vehicle" that is cross-shopped with a Dodge Caravan.

— DieselRules (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 8:41:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

RX is king because it gives people what they really want even if they won't admit it. Problem free luxury, efficiency, just enough utility but most importantly carlike handling and ride.

Q5 is too geared towards handling which is a bit pointless considering it'll never handle like a sedan.
I'm going to guess the SRX is going to follow the Q5 down the same path.

Dieselrules,
RX only makes up 1/3 of Lexus' sales. The IS/ES twins make up another third, everything else makes up the last third.
BMW's sales are 55% 1 and 3 series.

The RX's credentials go beyond claiming to have something called magic feel.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 8:49:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Misleading title!! The title should have read:
The RX is the best selling luxury SUV in the USA and at the same time a mechanical chia pet that is void of any driving pleasure and is as common as a mailbox. While other SUVs have more character, better handling, design/styling, performance, and feedback, none come close to matching the nose dive of the RX under braking, heavy lean in corners, and trampoline theatrics (try it) when you pump the brakes during a parking maneuver..that said..can other SUVs ever beat it in sales? Will it ever be possible to build another SUV that feels as unsafe during a high speed lane change? Yes..the RX470 with the 2 second delay transmission response feels worse!

— TheGenius (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 9:10:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

optimist,
You're a little too quick to jump the gun. Wow, 55% for BMW, just like I said.

As for Lexus. IS/ES sales make 1/3 don't they? So the numbers are skewed because the GX/LX sales have declined due to the economy. Before the economy hit the crapper, the LS sales were about 1000 units higher per month. Add those two together and it'd make up the other 1/3.

So much envy on this site.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 10:23:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Isn't the RX used as a taxi in Japan?

It looks like a taxi.

lol

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 11:10:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Let get realistic here No ONE can stay Number one forever. Everything goes in a cycle that why it call business. There is up and down but you want to up there being #1 for as long as you can of course.

— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2009 11:50:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Joe_limon,
Where does it say that I want an RX? I merely state that the RX offers its customers want they want whether they want to admit it or not.
Given the choice, I'd rather have a Highlander Hybrid. Same mileage, bigger vehicle, 3rd row and looks better.

If you've been paying attention over the last couple of months, I like the Q5 a lot becuase its a great value, looks good and has the panaramic sunroof option. Couldn't care less whether Audi thinks it handles like a sportscar or not.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 12:21:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Hyundai Veracruz is the RX for less w/ longer warranty.

— Epik (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 12:29:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Such a shame that the benchmark has such an ugly face. It seriously looks like a corolla + IS

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 8:44:53 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Benchmark? LOL!!!! You wish!!

— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 11:39:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Lexus owns the profitable crossover segment, the Germans own the wannabe leases. I can see why they're so envious of the RX's success.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 8:56:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Like it or not, companies are actually benchmarking Lexus vehicles more than ever. Nearly every American automaker, and Hyundai has straight-up stated that they engineered their various new models with a Lexus as the target.

The debut commercials for both the Ford Edge and the Buick Enclave mentioned the two respective vehicles being quieter than the last-generation RX. In relation, RX sales seem unaffected.

It is so interesting to see the amount of controversy such a "boring" brand never ceases to create all over these here internets.

— Anthony (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 1:19:45 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Don't forget Audi's Q5 directly targeted the RX, and a few of their other commercials have taken direct aim at Lexus.

Last year Mercedes said they were benchmarking Lexus for quality and reliability (and probably to get a few pointers on interior design as well).

Hyundai just straight out copies last year's Toyota so its not much of a benchmark when you just rebuild what's already been done. Their Tau/Tao/Toe/whatever engine isn't even as good as Toyota's older V6. That's what happens when Hyundai tries to benchmark I guess.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 9:51:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Say what ever you want the RX will just keep kicking ass and taking names.3to 1 over the nearest POS in june.

— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 10:35:43 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

define benchmark.
Its all about perception. "you mean I can get in to a 'luxury' vehicle for what price?" I just cant stand the sight of the RX personally. Soccer moms want the luxury SUV and the husbands dont want to pony up the cash, so this is the best compromise.

— 2ndbimmer (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 11:21:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2