If you’re thinking of upgrading your family vehicle and a luxury SUV is what you’re after, don’t sleep on the 2022 Lexus RX 350 F Sport. It may not be the first car you thought of, but it’s a package that just might outshine some of its fancier competitors.
First, let’s address the big grille. Lexus were doing it before the likes of BMW and Audi, but with that experience, they’ve learned a thing or two. The signature spindle grille is striking and iconic. It makes the front of the car dramatic, yet sleek.
The L-shaped daytime running LEDs and the triple stacked headlights give the car character like nothing else in its class. Around the sides, there’s plastic wheel arch protectors, which are all the rage right now.
Those, paired with the sophisticated curves, give the RX 350 F Sport a strong presence on the road, and in the car park. The chrome garnishes around the grille, on the front lip, separating the two tone door mirrors and on the boot, are also worth a mention.
The suite of chrome complements the car’s style. Throw in 20-inch polished multi-spoke wheels, which are a statement in and of themselves, and the Lexus is hard to fault. Usually wheels this big bring a stiffer, more uncomfortable ride too, but not so here.
The cars springs and dampers are set up so perfectly, that the comfort you would expect from a luxury brand such as Lexus is not lost at all. More on that in a moment though. First let’s step inside, where you’ll find a spacious, driver focused cabin.
Soft touch surfaces abound, and everything feels nice, from your elbows on the armrests to your knees against the centre console padding, it is truly an enjoyable experience just being inside this car.
High window lines make you feel like your sitting deep in the mid-sized SUV, almost like a sports car, adding to the luxuriousness, while there are more classy touches to be found in the centre console, including the classic Lexus analogue clockface.
It feels exceedingly premium, particularly when the panoramic roof bathes the cabin in light. It’s the little things that stand out sometimes though, and the inclusion of smartphone holder is one of them. Perfectly placed and so relevant for a 2022 model.
The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment setup is also paired with Lexus’ famous touchpad (which not everyone loves), and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with providing GPS navigation and integrates with the 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.
The latter is outstanding, whether you’re kicking back to road trip playlists or commute passing podcasts. You’ll also find wireless charging, multiple USB ports, heated and vented seats, and multizone air conditioning.
Lexus designers must be coffee drinkers too, as the centre console cup holders are fairly cool. The first is pretty standard, and holds a large coffee well, but the second has an adjustable base, which can be raised or lowered to suit the size of your bottle, can or cup.
The rear seats are spacious, even if you’re over 6-foot, with plenty of room between your knees and the front seats. Head room is rather good too, with that moon roof alleviating any hint of claustrophobic feelings.
The centre fold down arm rest is also a nice touch, with an additional nook for storage that even kids will make the most of. Best of all, the rear features ultra dark tint and privacy screens on the windows, which gives the youngsters a break from the sun.
The automatic tailgate opens to a sizable 453-litre boot space, which expands to 924-litres with the rear seats down. There’s also a head-up display, which is clear and inoffensive, ensuring you don’t need to take your eyes off the road.
On that note, the 2022 Lexus RX 350 F Sport is fitted with radar and camera pre collision safety features too.
This means, if you do find yourself distracted by the beautiful curves and touchpoints of the elegant interior, an unmissable buzzer will sound, and the brakes will be primed. We advise appreciating said beauty of this car’s interior when the car is not in motion.
Blind spot monitors on the door mirrors, along with rear cross traffic alert and lane sensors, give assistance in any driving situation. The front and rear park assist tech is so good that even the most nervous driver is able to reverse park with confidence and ease.
Driving in low visibility conditions is also made easy by thanks to smart cornering lamps, and adaptive high beam. All in all, it’s a very impressive car, powered by a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6, delivering 221kW of power and 370Nm of torque.
That’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that gets good initial bite at take off, with simple, trusty acceleration. You can expect to burn around 9.6-litres/100km of fuel. Body roll through corners is also kept to a minimum, which is exactly what you want.
There are a tonne of cool colours to choose from and the F Sport offers its own unique interior styles. When it comes time to buy, you’ll be spending a little over $92,000 plus on-roads, which is also dependent on your chosen options.
Gone are they days of Lexus being an “old person’s car”. The 2022 RX 350 F Sport is no BMW or Audi, but it looks better, and costs less. It has bulletproof reliability, is fun to drive, and captivating to look at.
You can find out more on the Lexus Australia website. Now’s a good time too, with a completely new RX on its way next year. If you’re keen on one and need finance, talk to CreditOne.
Our test vehicle was provided by Lexus Australia. To find out more about the 2022 Lexus RX 350 F Sport, contact your local Lexus dealer.
