Not only has the Lexus RX been the best-selling luxury crossover SUV in the United States, it's often been the best-selling luxury vehicle of all. That's a huge number of satisfied customers. We're looking at the third generation of RX here, a premium midsize crossover that never changed the game but kept it flowing along nicely.
Lexus vehicles are always built to an exceptionally high standard and include lots of equipment as part of the package. Their ride quality favors refinement over playfulness. From a driving perspective, an enthusiast might find them something of a yawn, but they won't keep owners awake at night worrying about reliability, resale values, or safety scores from crash tests. The RX follows this formula precisely.
It's a roomy and comfortable five-seater powered by a 3.5L V-6 in the RX 350, augmented by an electric motor in the RX 450h hybrid model (the best-selling hybrid to wear a Lexus badge, incidentally). Either drivetrain can tow up to 3,500 pounds when equipped properly. Assuming a luxury vehicle buyer isn't overly worried about fuel consumption, an RX 350 owner can still expect to average around 20 mpg, while an RX 450h could be closer to 30 mpg.
The RX doesn't come in trim levels. Instead, it's one well-equipped model with an array of options. Among the standard features are 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, slide/recline rear seats, power-adjustable steering column, and Bluetooth connectivity.
As well as sliding and reclining, the rear seats will split and fold in a 40/20/40 pattern. When they're in place, luggage space is a highly useful 40 cubic feet; when folded, the maximum cargo area is 80 cubic feet. That also applies to the RX 450h. There's no compromise in practicality—even with hybrid hardware.
