Non-members can see only five Lexus RX reviews per section.
Join us and see them all.Why the Lexus RX?
Exterior styling: Nice flowing lines, does not look bulky or truck like.
Quietness: This is an extremely quiet car, much quieter than other luxury cars I have driven.
Driving position & visibility: Mirrors provide a clear view of other cars, no blind spot
Ride smoothness: Rides more like a luxury car than an SUV, bumps are felt but do not disturb the passengers
Powertrain performance: Good fuel economy, eco light is especially useful in helping drive economically. Lots of power when required to accelerate quickly
Why the Lexus RX?
Past personal experience: Excellent reliability, this is third RX and all have been solid performers with little problems and those covered by warranty
Audio & nav systems: Nav system does it all. Navigation, Bluetooth, Phonebook, Personal items, etc. and most controls are integrated with the nav panel. Also backup camera and heating and a/c are also integrated into the Nav panel
Reliability & durability: Never missed a day of commuting in over 10 years of owning RX's. Never replaced a bulb, a battery or had an issue with electronics or controls.
Ride smoothness: Suspension provides good road feedback without being too squishy or firm. Minor amount of body lean during cornering on earlier models but tightened up a bit on 2009 model.
Available features: Most dealers buy them configured well but not over the top. Major decision was nav or no nav. Otherwise heated seats, sunroof, leather, tilt/tele steering whell, rain sensing wipers, HID headlamps are pretty much standard.
Why Not the Cadillac SRX?
Front seat comfort: Seat belts attached to front seats and not adjustable up and down. Lower sitting heighth than Lexus or other crossover SUVs or at least the appearance of same.
Dealership practices: Overnight test drive to checkout Nav system, features, etc in prep for comparison with Lexus and Lincoln. Dealer provided no Nav DVD so it didn't work, no owners manual so couldn't review what features it had, etc.
Reliability & durability: Consumer Reports indicates that reliability for this model is questionable. Afraid to take the plunge for more money and less features than the Lexus.
Available features: No backup camera, unable to get Nav without third row seat, seatbelts attached to seats and not adjustable for tall folks.
Control design: Tilt down rear view mirros are one of wife's favorites. Could not access that feature without going thru the Nav panel and since Nav panel didn't function could not evaluate. Rear wiper control is in overhead console. Duh!
Why the Lexus RX?
Powertrain performance: Smooth transition from engine to battery operation. High acceleration in both operating modes. Quick response.
Fuel economy: Averaging 26+ on highway, higher in city driving
Materials & workmanship: Solid feel to vehicle doors, no gaps or ill fitting parts.
Ride smoothness: Suspension is superior for a small SUV. It is almost carlike in the ride
Quietness: Very quiet performance.
Why Not the BMW 3-Series?
Rear seat room & comfort: Tighter quarters in rear than RX
Price or payments: More expensive yet repair history not as good
Reliability & durability: Poorer reputation than Lexus based on internet research. Stock run flat tires have short life and rough ride. Lack of spare limits options
Dealership practices: No follow through
Cargo capacity & towing: Limited room in trunk area compared to Lexus RX
Why the Lexus RX?
Reliability & durability: Consistent reliability in Consumer Reports. Decent warranty.
Exterior styling: Smooth lines, pretty colors, attractive accent lines
Available features: Useful automatic cargo door open/close. Numerous standard features even on basic models. Driver comfort controls. Personal settings programmed by dealer.
Interior styling: Useful cupholders. Pretty color choices for leather & trim. Nice lights. Driver armrest.
Insurance & depreciation: Holds valuelonger than most cars
Why Not the Acura RDX?
Exterior styling: Lines are too boxy. Looks like much older vehicle than it is.
Audio & nav systems: Complicated to learn. Confusing button system on dash
Quietness: Loudest road noise I heard out of 5 SUV models. Loud turbo noise.
Ride smoothness: Very loud road noise & bumpiness
Why the Lexus RX?
Powertrain performance: Great acceleration
Why the Nissan Murano?
Powertrain performance: Very quick for a vehicle this size. 0-60 in 6.8-7.2 seconds. CVT transmission makes regular autmatics feel clunky due to shift shock
Price or payments: Comparably equipped, I saved $12,000 going with the Murano instead of the Lexus, and upgraded my home theater with the money I saved
Driving position & visibility: Inside, the Murano puts you into a more sports sedan like position. The Lexus positions you more like you are in an SUV. I feel more surrounded by the center stack, middle compartment and steering wheel than in the lexus, which is a good thing for me.
Fuel economy: My average is well above the EPA estimate of 19- mine is closer to 24-25, with combo city and highway driving. Once at a steady speed, the MPGs hover at 27-33 at both 40mph and 75 mph
Interior styling: Styling is of Infiniti quality, which has incredible quality and materials. MUCH more sporty feeling than the lexus. The 2010 RX comes closer, but the 2009 lexus feels almost minivan-ish.
Why Not the Lexus RX?
Price or payments: more than $12000 more than the Murano with all the same bells and whistles
Handling: Great on the highway, but change lanes slowly going 65mph and you feel enormous body lean. Go around a turn at a stop light, and you feel the same thing. Suspension great for highway driving, but feels way to mushy
Fuel economy: about 5mpg less given same driving habits
Driving position & visibility: Again, much less of sports sedan feel in the RX. May not be a big deal to some, but I wanted the feel of driving in the car, not on it.
Why the Infiniti EX?
Price or payments: Very good value
Powertrain performance: Great pick-up
Reliability & durability: Excellent track reord of minimal repairs
Exterior styling: An SUV that is sedan like
Handling: Taut, well balanced, no lean, tight turning circle
Why Not the Lexus RX?
Price or payments: Overpriced
Handling: Wide turning radius, pronounced body lean,
Why the BMW 3-Series?
Exterior styling: The design has grown on me has has a nicely aggressive, well chiselled shape. There are a few minor areas that could be improved but overall a very clean, well executed design
Handling: Fantastic handling whilst still being a smooth riding car. I have the sports package and run flat tires and the car is a nice smooth ride when you want it to be. No wonder it is ranked by all objective observers as the best handling sports sedan.
Brand reputation & image: Great reputation for driving pleasure and build quality.
Reliability & durability: The car is now one year old with 12,000 miles and there have been no issues what so ever - whether mechanical or interior/exterior. Never any issue with things working as they should.
Materials & workmanship: Superb material quality in the interior with genuine metal trim and soft touch (but durable) plastics throughout the interior.
Why Not the Lexus RX?
Discounts & incentives: Very poor leasing deals which imply poor residuals.
Exterior styling: Some odd angles that will no doubt be smoothed off when the next generation RX comes out.
Fuel economy: Poor fuel economy compared to the 3 series sports sedan. Some people have quoted 26mpg - good for an SUV but not good in general terms.
Ride smoothness: Not the smoothest - again maybe OK for an SUV but for a luxury vehicle it trails other more luxurious makes such as Audi, BMW and MB. It is after all just a Toyota dressed up.
Dealership practices: Could not order the base vehicle, had to have leather even if I didn`t want it. Salesman was very keen to show how wonderful the facilities are but very little on the car. Of course this is to blind you that the car is essentially a Toyota with wood.
Why the Acura MDX?
Cargo capacity & towing: cargo capacity was better than any other comparable SUV we looked at. with a dog taking up much of the cargo area, we needed lots of space. We've towed over 3500 # construction trailer with no problems.
Handling: The only SUV we've driven that can walk itself right up our 25 degree (1/4 mile long)driveway with everything from 8 inches of snow (requiring the MDX to plow through it) and glare ice. The traction system is amazing. Also handles well on gravel & mud.
Reliability & durability: We have 96k miles on it and nary a problem. She continues to be quite reliable and economical to maintain. We do not have it maintained at Acura, but rather a local quality repair shop.
Safety & braking: Our previous one was totalled in a T-bone accident with a Suburban & everyone walked away unhurt. Quite remarkable. We drive very often on ICE and Snow and very slippery mud, and the braking is amazingly reliable in all kinds of nastry conditions.
Powertrain performance: Powerful, fast, nimble, responsive. Almost feels like a sports-car; although, in turns the front-wheel bias tends to oversteer a bit.
Why Not the Lexus RX?
Cargo capacity & towing: RX is a nice car, but has far too little cargo space.
Handling: Handling of the RX is a bit soft for our taste. Not nearly as sporty and sure-footed as the Acura MDX.
Dealership practices: We almost bought an RX in 2000, but got jerked around and manipulated by the dealer, so we walked away and bought a Mercury Mountaineer, which we love and still own (it has 136,000 miles on it & still running well).
Driving position & visibility: Visibility out the back-sides is not as good as the Acura MDX
Powertrain performance: Less sporty, less responsive than the Acura MDX
Why the Mitsubishi Endeavor?
Price or payments: WE WENT WITH THE ENDEAVOR BECAUSE WE COULD GET AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH 105,000 MILES FULL COVERAGE (60,000 ABOVE AND BEYOND THE MILEAGE WE PURCHASED IT AT)
Why the Lexus RX?
Reliability & durability: Lexus just makes a very good quality vehicle
Exterior styling: Clean lines
Quietness: This vehicle is extremely quiet.
Front seat comfort: I have problems driving and riding in many cars and SUV's. This vehicle is like riding on a cloud. The armrests are perfectly positioned.
Driving position & visibility: I have the memory seat and mirror option and the convenience can't be overstated. I happen to like sitting up a little higher than when driving a car just for the added visibility.
Why the Lexus RX?
Reliability & durability: Personal experience with my previous car, a Toyota LandCruiser HDJ100. My RX450h is one year old: no problems reported in 18.000 miles. One of my friend has a 10 years old RX300 with 190.000 miles: no problems reported too.
Available features: I buy RX450h in Luxury trim. Features are at top.
Fuel economy: I drive about 10% traffic, 30% city, 20% suburban and 40% highway (75-80 mph). My driving is quite smooth. Fuel consumption is 28 MPG
Quietness: Amazing
Powertrain performance: 299 horse power do their job when needed
Why Not the Lexus RX?
Cargo capacity & towing: Cargo size isn't to load luggages for 2 adults, 2 childs and one (oversize) dog. However the possibility to move 2nd row to add more cargo room is good.
Price or payments: The price is very high if compared to a Mazda CX-9, with similar features, similar performances and similar (i guess) reliability
Why the Lexus RX?
Rear seat room & comfort: rear seating and space is grand. front cockpit is a bit short and chopped but acceptable. Front seats are not as comfortable as in our 2001 RX 300. The front seats are minimally acceptable.
Quietness: Quiet enough for me. The overall package of sound, feel, driveability, etc is within parameters of a luxury vehicle.
Handling: It is very good, goes where you want with tight, solid aplomb.
Exterior styling: crisp, contemporary, unique, falls within positive scale versus negative scale in visual/design acceptance.
Fuel economy: On flat ground with cruise control on it will get 29 mpg. I find that outstanding. 23-25 mpg is average.
Why Not the Lexus RX?
Materials & workmanship: this is my only real complaint. the workmanship is inferior compared to our 2001 RX 300. But then again the 2001 was built in Japan and the 2009 built in Canada. Quality of materials is also inferior to the 2001.
Why the Lexus RX?
Fuel economy: Like the fact that it is a hybrid and a "greener" choice for an SUV
Why the Lexus RX?
Reliability & durability: Lexus vehicles have always been reliable. So far so good with our current vehicle.
