2023 Lexus RX 350 Review

Recent years of the Lexus RX have had three primary attributes to potentially win over midsize-SUV shoppers: distinctive styling, a lower-than-average price tag among its peers, and the perceived reliability of its parent company. But it's also been not all that exciting to drive, and it's let down by a non-touchscreen infotainment system with a frustrating and distracting user interface.

At least, those are the traits exhibited by the prior-generation RX, which dates back to 2016. Lexus is debuting a redesigned RX for 2023, replete with a range of new powertrains and other upgrades. Chief among them is — finally! — the removal of the much-hated touchpad controller.

We'll be covering the standard 2023 Lexus RX 350 model here, but you should know that there's also the RX 350h hybrid, RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid (or PHEV) and RX 500h performance hybrid. All are covered separately on Edmunds.

The RX 350 has long made do with a naturally aspirated V6 engine, but the new model lops off a couple cylinders but adds forced induction to make up for the power deficit. The 2023 RX 350 is driven by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder pumping out 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Compared against the outgoing model, the new RX has 20 fewer horsepower but 50 more lb-ft.

Lexus says the front-wheel-drive RX 350 can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, and opting for all-wheel drive drops the estimated acceleration time to 7.2 seconds. The last front-wheel-drive RX 350 we tested posted a 0-60 time of 7.9 seconds, so the new powertrain — plus weight savings of up to nearly 200 pounds — appears to afford slightly quicker acceleration. We also expect the new four-cylinder to be slightly more fuel-efficient as well.

The transmission remains an eight-speed automatic and, once again, both front- and all-wheel-drive powertrains are available.

Any fears of missing out on the current model's venerable V6 engine can be put aside. The pairing of the new 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic makes the RX 350 feel more responsive and punchy than the outgoing V6 and its slower-shifting six-speed automatic. Due to the extra size and weight of the RX, it doesn't feel quite as quick as the smaller NX 350 (which sports the same engine), but the RX is far from underpowered.

Our test car was equipped with the optional F Sport Handling package, which, among various cosmetic enhancements, includes all-wheel drive, an adaptive suspension and grippier tires mounted on 21-inch wheels. We found the F Sport packages to be a weak point for the RX in previous generations due in large part for a very un-Lexus-like overly stiff and busy ride. We're happy to say the new-generation RX F Sport is a marked improvement in ride quality but we still found it to be a bit stiff and jittery on less than perfect road surfaces. But it's not so busy as to be a deal-breaker, so if you like the styling changes, both inside and out, that the F Sport package brings, you'll probably be OK with the stiffer ride.

The outside might not look radically different from the outgoing RX but the inside certainly does. Dominating the experience is a fully digital dashboard combined with a choice of a 9.8-inch or a 14-inch horizontally oriented touchscreen display. Everywhere you look it's a step forward from the previous model and the interior of the RX looks both more youthful and luxurious. Even in its most opulent trim level, the new RX doesn't ever look or feel like your elderly aunt's old Lexus. Build quality, as you'd expect, is exceptional.

The new chassis gives the RX a slightly longer wheelbase and that pays dividends for rear legroom. We had the occasion to spend nearly an hour in the back of an RX and came away noting the excellent legroom and comfortable sculpting of the rear seats themselves. Unlike the outgoing model, Lexus says it had no immediate plans to offer an RX with a third row of seats.

Lexus has finally done away with the much-maligned touchpad controller that made the user interface so clunky and difficult to interact with in the old RX. It instead uses a simple touchscreen, albeit punctuated with a pair of physical dials that allow you to quickly input the desired temperature for the front-seat climate system. We've tested this interface in several newer Toyota and Lexus products — including the new Toyota Tundra and Lexus NX — and while it's not as user-friendly as we'd like, it is significantly easier to navigate around the menus.

Navigation is available but only as a subscription, much like satellite radio. While we're not entirely sure how that will play with Lexus buyers, we did find the system easy to read at a quick glance and very accurate. Audiophiles can rest easy knowing the new RX continues to offer an excellent Mark Levinson system — this one features 21 speakers, 1,800 watts and a 9-inch subwoofer.

Standard on all RX models is Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, a suite of advanced driver aids that includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, emergency steering assistance, lane keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control. We had ample time to experience the RX's adaptive cruise control and lane centering and came away impressed with their smoothness. Though we're not enamored with the touch-sensitive multifunction steering wheel mounted pads that activate the system, it was definitely stress-relieving on longer highway stretches and it's nice to see the safety suite as standard equipment.