With Sport+ engaged, the potent LED lights handling illumination, and the potent stereo dispatching a little Rise Against into your noggin, the tester felt notably sharp, stable, lively, inspiring and predictable: a good recipe for a thrilling drive indeed. Note that the tester wore a quality set of winter tires, and yours should too, if you’ll use it in the winter.
Ride quality is decidedly sporty, even with the dampers set in the RX F Sport’s Normal mode, and more so in Sport or Sport+. On smooth roads and highways, a layer of softness around the edges eliminates nervous twitchiness and helps smooth things out, though with the stiff shocks and big wheels, ride quality in town is largely at the mercy of the surface passing beneath.
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Warranty: 4 years/80,000 km; 6 years/110,000 km powertrain; 6 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 4 years/unlimited distance roadside assistance Competitors: |
Complaints include the aforementioned sports seats, which are comfortable and supportive once entered, though perhaps a bit too heavily bolstered for easy entry and exit. The wireless charging tray for your smartphone is a must-have feature, though it sits in a narrow opening that makes positioning the phone a little awkward. The start button is awkward to reach, and blocked by the steering wheel. Finally, the Remote Touch Interface (RTI) track pad gizmo is slick once learned, though precise manipulation of the teensy little cursor on such an enormous and action-packed display screen takes some practice.
Ultimately, where a one-of-a-kind take on style, technology and key Lexus traits like a highly-detailed cabin and generous use of the latest in high-tech are concerned, this one deserves your immediate attention.
Pricing: 2016 Lexus RX 350 F-Sport
Base Price: $53,950
Options: F SPORT Series 3 Package ($14,050)
Freight: $2,045
A/C Tax: $100
Price as Tested: $69,785
2014 Acura MDX Elite
December 3, 2013
