When it comes to luxurious crossovers, there’s one that stands out from the rest; the 2021 Lexus RX350 and its been like that for a number of years. In fact, the only premium luxury crossover that we can think that has been around for over 20 years is the RX.
But is age catching up with the RX? Certainly not, as the 2020/2021 model is the sharpest, best looking and most luxurious to date. But with the segment getting more heated, the RX faces stiff competition.
As always, a huge shout out to Al Futtaim Lexus for providing the vehicle. Need space in your garage, sell your car faster on Dubicars.
With all-out that the way, let’s see what the 2021 Lexus RX 350 has to offer.
The good
- Quiet cabin
- Comfort
- Style
The bad
- Trackpad
- Offroad ability
- Handling
Driving the 2021 Lexus RX350
Immediately out on the road, the driving experience is a luxurious one. It’s serene inside and smooth over the bumps. So smooth, you sometimes forget you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle.
The drive mode selector offers up to five modes – Eco, Normal, Custom, Sport and Sport S. All are self-explanatory, but changes are minimal when you flick through all five. Sport and Sport S mode increase the throttle response, but if you’re looking for a deeper sound, you’ll have to fit an exhaust kit.
We spent most of our time driving around in Eco mode to test the vehicles economy and noticed minute changes compared to other modes. Eco mode didn’t appear to affect performance, but why would it as the RX350 is about refined luxury and comfort rather than straight-line speed.
Through the corners, the crossover fairs well but body roll is evident and can take a toll, but there’s no need to fly through the twisties.
Powered by a 3.5-litre V6, the RX350 delivers decent fuel economy if you don’t slam your foot down. We managed to get the onboard computer to show 13.8L/100km.
Outside the 2021 Lexus RX350
The 2021 RX350’s exterior is nothing short of striking. With sharp angles all over the place, if you dare get to close, you can say goodbye to your eye. But it would be worth it. When it comes to styling cues, Lexus knows what they are doing.
Upfront, the luxury crossover gets the brands signature camera front grille flanked by stylish LED’s that illuminate the road ahead. Lines flow towards the rear where the D-pillar features a black “cut-out” which gives the RX a “floating roof” appearance. Each corner features dazzling alloys complete the RX’s exterior.
Inside the 2021 Lexus RX350
We think its best to start this off by saying what the Lexus doesn’t have and that would be autonomous driving, massaging seats and a digital dashboard cluster. The RX350 can be had with pretty much everything you need to remain comfortable on a long journey.
The cabin is quiet with bearly any road noise leaking in, you can here the tyres but the acoustics and soundproofing do an incredible job and makes you feel as if you’re at home rather than the road.
The supple leather interior is comfortable, and the cooling options are great for warmer days. Upfront, the cabin does feel a bit small above the head due to the vehicles sharp lines and raked windshield, but with the panoramic sunroof, the interior opens up with all the natural light.
Rear passengers are also treated to luxurious leather seats and the previously mentioned panoramic glass roof plus the added benefit of a rear entertainment system with HDMI and USB inputs.
Our personal favourite is the Mark & Levinson sound system which delivers crisp and clear audio throughout the cabin.
Prying yourself and passengers out of the cabin of the 2021 Lexus RX350 will be a tough ask.
Safety and tech
As mentioned earlier, the 2021 RX350 doesn’t fall short it the safety and tech department. Lane Keep Assist will keep you in between the lines, and the Adaptive Cruise Control will keep you a safe distance between you and the car in front. While they can be intrusive at times, they are potential lifesavers.
Manoeuvring around in tight spaces is crystal clear despite having bad blind spots thanks to the cameras scattered all around the cabin. All are projected in high-quality via the centre infotainment system.
Sticking with the infotainment system, getting around and finding what you want can be done in two ways. Either touch the screen, which is what we recommend. The other way is to use the extremely fiddly touchpad. It’s just awkward to use, and we’re glad there’s another way to indulge ourselves.
But that’s easily overshadowed by the amount of tech Lexus has bundled in with the RX.
Final verdict
Without a doubt, Lexus’s offering in the crossover segment is one of the more popular choices and while behind the wheel, we figured out why the RX 350 is so popular. This is one of those cars that’s more about the luxury inside rather than the drive.
The price tag might be hefty, but it’s worth it.
2021 Lexus RX350 price in UAE; Starting at AED 245,000
Dubicars has new Lexus and used Lexus for sale on Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ajman.
