Agreed, this black trim trend is totally killing Lexus' luxo vibe. Didn't dig it a decade ago when BMW did it and definitely not digging now that Lexus is copying it.

 

thank you webster.. I was beginning to think people didn't understand what i meant by saying masculine

 

 

yea i'm sure a white new rx with giant front black grill and black wheel arch trim will look spectacular.

 

that pic reminded me of new Aygo :-)

 

Won't it allow seven seats after all? Please don't flame. I'm just an eternal optimist.

 

Nope............

 

Your glass should be empty now. No 3rd row

 

Hell, my GX has 3rd row seats, but they're for children/small adults only and impossible to get back there. Complete waste of effort.

 

Not sure why you would want a 3rd row unless you're hauling 7 passengers around all the time. Most RX owners are content with having just 5 seats (which is why they bought one in the first place). I much rather have more cargo room than 2 extra seats I'll never use.

 

Doesn't change the context of my reply one bit, though. Using this definition, neither the RX nor the EX meet the criteria. That was the original point I was trying to make....that's all.

 

then why does highlander have them? i think this new rx will be pretty much the same size. i'd actually love a highlander WITHOUT the third row, but no can do, and yes someone could say just don't use them, but the cargo floor isn't as good with the third row stowed as a nice flat cargo floor.

agreed.

 

But there's a reason why X5, Q7, MDX have options for a third row. Sometimes to separate the kids, you know. I mean the Highlander also moved in that direction. Too bad X5 and Q7 are nowhere close to the reliability of the RX.

I am in the category of potential buyers, who like to have the flexibility of more passengers, and more cargo, but would most often not fill the car to the brim with people or the cargo.

With the introduction of NX, and no higher "passenger" capacity, it is kind of becoming hard to justify the RX. Now given the new RX styling direction that is moving towards the NX, cue the black plastic trim around the trapezoidal wheel wells (yuck); the only reason to buy the RX is that it can hold more cargo than NX.

I can't foretell the future, but the new GX could have grown into the stretched Yukon Denali, Tahoe, ESV category, while RX could use the third "cramped" row to make it a fuller ranged SUV lineup. I mean, I can understand the "RX not taking risks" argument by not introducing the third row, but Lexus has already taken a bigger risk of cannibalizing the RX with the introduction of NX.

I was hoping to buy an RX for the first time, but perhaps I will now go with the QX60. Alas the QX60's bad reliability. But at least it is not unreliable and overpriced as the Germans.

 

To be honest, I'm not sure why the highlander has a 3rd row. My uncle owns one and it was quite useless, and I'm not a big guy either! It was slightly better than being in the back of a Porsche 911.

 

The Q7 and MDX don't have options for third rows. They are standard three row crossovers. That is what they are. No option to be anything different. The only vehicle Thad have 3rd row options are X5, Range Rover Sport and 4Runner. That I can think of anyways. And they all have crappy third rows.
Also you state that the GX could have grown into Tahoe, Yukon Denali and ESV category. But that's already what the GX is isn't it? With exception of ESV. Do you mean Suburban and Yukon XL? There's also the Navigator EL.