wktjr

Agree. My 450hl was built in Japan.

kubakj

Just wonder if it's possible to buy 2020 RX350 made in Japan with vin starting J or all of them now from Canada?

coolsaber

There were some early on on dealer lots with the intro of the MY20. All of them now seem to be 2t/Ca vehicles only. I would ask a dealers inventory specialist if thats a request they can accommodate.

If a J- vin is required, you can guarantee it by moving into the 350L/450L

jtrue28

Yeah, the L models are Japan.

MKenM

I'm wondering also, why does it make a difference if it comes from Canada or Japan?

ghost31711

I don't know how a Lexus built in Canada will be different from one built in Japan, but i do have an interesting story I would like to share. An Uber (called didi in China) driver from China, driving a Chinese made Honda Accord, was telling me Honda Civics manufactured in China have problems with crash tests because their steel supplier wasn't supply the proper grade of metal to Honda of China, where as the Japanese Civics where much safer.... it was such a big deal that it was on their news. That's what he told me and I'm not surprised since I know its even happen to Toyota.

https://carbuzz.com/news/toyota-and-...rength-ratings


So...

Knowing that, I'm very happy that my RX350 came from Canada. But when given a choice, I would still pick something "assembled" in Japan, or Taiwan, over the same thing assembled anywhere else.

kubakj

Japanese are better quality made than the one from Canada. Many mechanics will agree, some might not, but I prefer one from Japan.

Zmon

iTrader: (2)

Honestly, I would need written sources on that. My personal experience with Japan models and US/CA models is they are pretty much the same. Maybe a panel is slightly misaligned on one vs the other, which are what you typically see on cars regardless of where they're made and is usually corrected at the dealer. The cars that come out of Toyota's plants here in NA usually are top notch though, at least compared to the likes of Ford, GM, etc. 25% of the parts of the current RX still comes from Japan. Years from now when you sell the car, the buyer isn't going to care if it was a JP or CA model. IIRC, the JP models are usually sold outside of NA so I imagine you'll have a hard time finding one, if at all.

Toys4RJill

We have had many Japanese made Toyota/Lexus models as well as many North American sourced models. I think there is no difference. Where this is a difference I think is in the design on some of the Japan made models that are not built in the US....For example, our two 4Runners are closer to a Lexus design than comparable Toyota's like a Tundra/Sequoia/Avalon in the United States....You see more details and better materials all around. But a Lexus that is built in Japan vs the same Lexus made in North America, I can't see any difference in build quality. Personally speaking, I'd rather have a "Made in Japan" Toyota or Lexus

dpalinsk

Our 2009 RX350 was made in Canada and based on my experience ordering brake parts, different parts are used on these vehicles. To what extent there are parts difference, I don’t know. I didn’t know when we bought our Lexus that they were built any place other than Japan, but if I had, I would have made sure ours would have been built in Japan. I can’t prove it, but I’ve always believed that the Japanese build cars better.

ghost31711

ordering oem parts or aftermarket? do they have different sizes?

coolsaber

Buy what you personally prefer, as you are paying a substantial money for a luxury good eh? Only the finest will do!

MissSue

My 2016 RX350 was made in Japan and I did not realize that when I bought it. When I had it in for service and had a loaner a year ago, I noticed how much smoother and quieter my car ran than the 2021 RX350. I mentioned it to the service technician, and he said that is because I have a Japanese engine. So to me it was very obvious that the Japanese engine is superior.

703

your service technician sounds a bit dubious.

RGSW

I've had several RXs over the years. One of them had a "J" at the start of the VIN #. I could not tell any difference in the ones made in Canada from the one made in Japan. I think certain models like the RX350L were made only in Japan? I've owned 11 RXs and traded RXs about every two years. The depreciation was acceptable for a luxury vehicle. I've had very minimal problems/repairs and all covered under warranty. I'm on my second RX450h and love it. It's the last of the V-6 engines and no turbo charger. I prefer the eCvt transmission over the 8 speed in the RX350.