The 2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport has arrived, and it’s a real looker. Its aggressive styling and sporty design dazzles in any colour, but that’s particularly so in the Cobalt Blue Mica of our test vehicle.
Valued at $114,880 drive away when bundled with Enhancement Pack Two, which adds a digital rear view mirror, heated steering, a panoramic sunroof and likely to be the most difficult parking assist setup this writer has ever experienced.
That aside, the RX is built on Toyota’s new TNGA platform and provides a more comfortable ride experience than previous generations. It’s all-wheel-drive too, and is powered by a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo engine offering 205kW of power and 430Nm of torque.
The new engine is solid, with enough torque off the mark. It’s quiet, with the new model improving on luxury and noise reduction. Some may miss the grunty engine note of years gone by, and some deference may be given to the hybrid offering as a result.
The lack of noise doesn’t detract here though, with the engine offering effortless performance in tandem with its 8-speed gearbox. As we mentioned, the styling is sharp, with edgy headlights, and a large spindle grille in piano black making for a bold front.
A walk around this SUV sees the continuation of its lines, with some nice chrome and piano black touches finishing at the tail. Wide red LED lighting and lettered Lexus badging complete a look that we reckon is fantastic.
Inside the luxury appointed cabin, everything is impressive. We love the dark combination of colours (including the roof lining). It’s feels extremely lush thanks to soft leather seats, which in this case feature F Sport logos in the headrests.
Featuring heating and cooling as part of that EP2 add-on, they combine comfort with just the right amount of sportiness. In front of the driver is a head-up display and digital instrument cluster. The latter changes colours in Sport mode.
Options including adaptive cruise control and audio are changed with the touch sensitive steering wheel buttons. These can be very finicky to use, although the fact the changes appear on the HUD is quite cool, and saves you from looking down.
There is also an added sensor on top of the steering wheel which alerts the driver should you not be looking at the road. It works well, perhaps having caught us out a few times. Other features include an insanely large 14.0-inch infotainment system.
It’s impressive, clear and comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For the audiophiles, it’s paired with a premium Mark Levinson sound system, complete with a subwoofer in the boot. It’s more than decent, that’s for sure.
The majority of the car’s settings are also found on the touchscreen, including climate control. We found it relatively easy to learn, it didn’t lag and was not too distracting to use. There’s some physical buttons for controlling volume and temperature at least.
The “Hey Lexus” smart feature is a nice addition and even allowed us to open windows via voice command. Across the centre console you’ll also find three USB-C and one USB-A charging port, a wireless charging pad, and two large storage spaces.
There are some excellent cup holders with one being extendable to fit larger bottles easily. All simple, practical and well laid out. In the rear, occupants have two USB-C ports, air vents, excellent legroom and window sunshades built into the rear doors.
The latter are awesome if you’ve got kids and they want to sleep or watch something on their iPad. The boot is spacious at 612-litres with seats up, and 1612-litres with the seats down, which means plenty of space for a weekend IKEA run.
All-in-all, the RX 350 F Sport is an excellent drive, with a spacious and well appointed interior. While the ride is more firm than before, everything is absorbed nicely and we can easily see this car making the shortlist for those looking for an SUV that’s a cut above.
It has loads of standard features, premium luxury and comfort, with the additional of a little sporty flair. The 2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport comes with a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, and you can find out more on the Lexus Australia website.
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 2023 Lexus RX 350 F Sport, visit your local Lexus dealer.
