RXSF

you can add 2nd gen mdx to that list. i hear it handles as good as the Cayenne.

i would believe that with all the other SUVs doing it, eventually, lexus will have that option, perhaps the next gen will feature stiffer suspension. As for the air suspension, its hard to say because for the 2gen GS, its like a 3K option. i would rather get mark levinson for that money

norush

I noticed rather interesting trait about rx350:
It handles very nice with speeds under about 45 mph
Plenty fast for street corners and freeway onramps.

But as you get to 65 mph or more it starts leaning way too much and handling gets bad quickly.

cheap_deal

not very happy with the handling but for a crossover vehicle it is decent enough. if you want a good handling suv buy the cayenne s/turbo or the x5 4.8
and be prepared for harder ride

The G Man

I test drove the new MDX with active suspension, it handles great but the ride is stiffer than the RX.

Spartus

the acura rdx has phenominal handling for a small suv

TunedRX300

Handling is using maximum power without losing control. It is easy to control a car at low speed when direction change is small but that task become harder when both momentum and engine output becomes greater at higher speeds.

This is why slalom is an industry recognized measurement of handling. Very much like hurdling in track, slalom means how fast can one go without losing control.

Many RX owners sniff at Acura's SH-AWD, but channeling torque 100% at the outside wheel is a huge advantage that allows driver to control the direction of the car without losing power. You can Google the result, both MDX and RDX handles well within each respective class.

salimshah

This is exactly what I was after ...

Sure one vehicle model/brand will out perform in handling vs the other, but for real world use, does RX fall below expectations (a let down), as beyond that it is hype/bragging rights.

Up till now the consensus seems to be for all intended purposes [99.999% of use] RX's handling is about right if not preferred (considering trade-offs). No one posted soiling their pants in an emergency maneuver. Sure there are brands available who have better handling (with their own + and -)

Salim

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

I think by the numbers the RX330/350 actually does its job and handles well. However, it doesn't inspire confidence and the "Feel" is not numb and disconnected. That is pretty much the Lexus feel though aside from the newer cars like the IS/IS-F. The things I've done to my RX do make it feel more connected, give me better feed back, and inspire more confidence are things that Lexus buyers don't like and not what they want in their Lexus cars. I lowered my RX with a stiffer suspension, put on larger wider rims and tires. That actually helped a lot from a "Confidence" point of view. I can honestly say that the RX330 handled nowhere near the same as what I pushed my cars in the past. If I pushed my RX330 anywhere close to my car I probably would have rolled over and be dead by now. Granted, my daily driver before the RX330 was an E36 BMW that we traded in for the RX and an Acura NSX so I'm a lot biased toward sports cars and sporty feeling cars.

That said, I had no problem switching between my car and RX. I realized the RX would never handle the way I drive some of my cars, it sat so high compared to my lowered cars and just felt so different, that I just drove it normal.

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

As for soiling their pants? It took my about a month when we bough the RX for me to get used to it. During that adjustment time between driving it like my cars and how you supposed to drive tall HG SUVs I scared myself a lot. Many times I though I would loose control and/or roll over around turns. You just can't take corners as fast in a HG SUV.