2014 Lexus RX 350

Overview

The 2014 Lexus RX 350 five-passenger luxury crossover is mostly carry-over from last year's refresh and the addition of the performance-oriented RX 350 F Sport and gas-electric RX 450h hybrid. For 2014, the RX now offers Siri Eyes Free Mode for the iPhone 4S and 5. The Pre-Collision System is now available for the front-drive RX 450h.

What Experts Think

For a luxury family crossover, most auto critics say, the 2014 Lexus RX delivers a lot to like without being ostentatious about it. While it's no high-performance machine, even with the performance version F Sport, the Lexus RX is more than just an everyday mode of transport. It's not exactly fun, but it is responsive and a nice addition to the family, one that you won't get tired of being around.

"Plush and quiet inside, the Lexus RX is easy to live with. There is plenty of power, but don't expect agile handling." (Consumer Reports)

New Car Test Drive says the Lexus RX 350 is "easy to drive and easier than most SUVs to park, with light steering and responsive brakes."

"The RX competes with luxury crossovers like the Acura MDX, Cadillac SRX and Lincoln MKX." (Cars.com)

What Owners Say

No owner reviews of the 2014 Lexus RX 350 have been posted yet. However, owners commenting on the 2013 Lexus RX 350 have much in the way of praise for the luxury crossover.

Highlights: looks, ride, comfort, quietness, refined, safe, lots or storage and plenty of room to haul things. Many owners said there is nothing they'd change about the RX, while others say it is everything they expected and more.

Some minor complaints include stiff and bumpy ride, unless driven on a very smooth surface, price, static on AM stations, some cabin noise, and inconvenient driver storage areas.

Model/Trim Lineup

The 2014 Lexus RX 350 is available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models, along with the F Sport, exclusively with all-weather drive.

Standard equipment on the RX 350 includes SmartAccess system with push-button start and touch-sensitive exterior door handles, 10-way power front seats with power lumbar adjustment, leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel with integrated audio controls, Bluetooth, a multi-information switch on the steering column for driver access to numerous function settings without taking hands off the wheel, a nine-speaker Lexus premium audio system with CD player, SiriusXM Satellite Radio capability (90-day trial subscription included), Bluetooth audio streaming and USB/iPod control.

The Display Audio/Rear Backup Camera package bumps up the audio system to 12 speakers. There's also the exclusive Mark Levinson audio system, a 15-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound system with 330 total watts of power.

The Luxury package adds semi-aniline leather, a wood and leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, power front seat-cushion extenders, power moonroof, smog-sensing climate conrol system and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The optional Navigation package comes with Lexus Enform. The available Enform service, with Destination Assist, eDestination and App Suite, comes with the Navigation System/Mark Levinson Audio package. These apps allow restaurant reservations through Open Table, Internet searches through Bing, listening to Internet radio, including Pandora and Stitcher, searching business reviews on Yelp, and checking in on Facebook Places.

The optional Premium package adds perforated leather-trim interior, a moonroof, driver's seat memory system, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, outside mirrors and more. The Comfort package, meanwhile, includes heated and ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps.

New for 2014 in the RX 350 is the available Siri Eyes Free Mode technology licensed from Apple. Compatible with the iPhone 4S and iPhone 0 models, Siri allows drivers to call contacts, select and play iTunes music, get turn-by-turn navigation through Siri and Apple maps and more. Siri also can read notifications and calendar information and permit the driver to add reminders, calendar notes and appointments.

The Lexus F Sport with the Lexus signature grille sporting the distinctive mesh-style finish with the F Sport, unique front bumper design, also includes other standard luxury touches on the interior, including black leather accented by contrasting silver stitching, ebony bird's-eye maple wood trim, black headliner and aluminum pedals and footrest.

The F Sport includes all the features from the Premium and Comfort packages, which are optional on the standard RX. Also new to the F Sport (and included in the Luxury package on the RX 350) is a rear-seat 115-volt AC power outlet.

Performance

Most critics say the 2014 Lexus RX 350 is sufficiently powered, although performance takes second stage to comfort and luxury. Whether in RX 350 or 450h guise, the RX feels quite responsive, but not nimble or edgy, with a somewhat muted feel to driver inputs.

Power comes from a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V9 engine matched with a six-speed electronically controlled transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) and dual variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i). Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive an option. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway/21 mpg combined in front-wheel drive and 18/24/20 mpg in rear-wheel drive configuration.

The F Sport has an eight-speed automatic transmission, the first RX to get eight-speed paddle-shift automatic, with an exclusive all-wheel drivetrain and performance-oriented dampers. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 18/26/21 mpg.

The available active torque control all-wheel drive system uses an electronically controlled coupling ahead of the rear differential to vary torque distribution anywhere between 100.0 to a 50.50 split between front and rear wheels, depending on driving dynamics and road conditions.

The RX 450H hybrid has a 3.5-liter V0 engine and an electric drive system that produces 195 horsepower in total and is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. Available in front- or all-wheel drive, the all-wheel drive RX 450h adds another electric motor to drive the rear wheels. Fuel economy is estimated at 32/28/30 mpg in front-wheel drive and 30/28/29 mpg in all-wheel drive.

Maximum towing capacity for the Lexus RX is 3,500 pounds.

Interior

Auto critics are fairly unanimous in praise for the interior of the 2014 Lexus RX 350. From the 10-way power front seats, ebony or espresso bird's eye maple wood trim and dual-zone automatic climate control system, the result is luxury. Some auto critics, though, gripe that the standard front seats feel a little flat and have odd back contouring.

In addition, true premium audio is included as standard equipment, in the form of the nine-speaker Lexus premium audio system.

Rear-seat passengers have nearly 37 inches of legroom. And the optional rear-seat entertainment system makes that roominess even more useful. The system has two high-resolution seven-inch screens (positioned one on each of the front seatbacks) and can display video from a separate source. Passengers can listen to audio through wireless headphones.

The 2014 Lexus RX 350 has 50 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the 40/20/40 split rear seat in use. With all sections of the rear seat folded, cargo space doubles to 80.3 cubic feet. There's also a very useful under-floor storage bin to keep valuable items hidden from sight.

Safety & Reliability

According to reviewers, the 2014 Lexus RX 350 luxury family crossover acquits itself well in the safety arena.

Standard safety features include 10 airbags, including side curtain airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, rear side airbags (for the outboard seating positions) and knee airbags for the driver and front passenger. There's also a hill-hold function and rearview camera.

Other safety standard safety features include antilock brakes, electronic stability control, and Lexus Enform with Safety Connect, an emergency communication system with one-year trial subscription. Optional safety features include Pre-Collision system with pre-brake technology, forward collision warning system and adaptive cruise control, and blind spot warning system.

In government crash testing from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2014 Lexus RX 350 received an overall five-star rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing and five stars for side-impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which awarded the 2013 Lexus RX350 a Top Safety Pick designation for earning a "Good" rating in frontal, side and rollover crash tests, has not yet tested the 2014 model, although this year's RX is expected to achieve similar results.

In terms of reliability, no data is yet available on the 2014 model, but the 2013 Lexus RX 350 received a four and a half circle score in the J.D. Power Predicted Reliability rating. Four circles is "Better Than Most," and five circles is "Among The Best." The 2014 Lexus RX 350, essentially the same as last-year's model, will likely earn similar reliability ratings.