This past weekend I took my 22 NX350 Turbo in for a winter tire switchover. One RX350 Turbo was available for a test drive and here are my initial thoughts vs the 20 RX I previously owned. The 22 handles much better than previous models. It doesn't have the body roll, but still maintains a smooth ride. The steering wheel has zero feedback from the road and my NX and old RX has much better feel for the road. What shocked me the most was the engine was much more noticeable than I was expecting. The engine doesn't sound any quieter than my NX and that blew me away.

 

‘22RX or did you mean ‘23?

 

Sorry! Yes, the 23 model. I am comparing it to my 22 NX and previous 20 RX.

 

That's one reason I sold my 2022 NX350 F sport. Just thought it was too noisy while getting it going. Once up to speed she was very smooth and very quiet. Dealer tried to get me into a 2023 RX???. Went old school and got one of the last 2022 RX350's No regrets!

 

I am used to my NX and the turbo noise doesn't bother me anymore. The 23 RX turbo doesn't sound good for such a premium vehicle. I would like to try the hybrid and see if that is any better. I may trade the 22 NX and go to the 22 RX. That V6 was just so smooth and the lack of auto start/stop is nice. The only thing I didn't like with my 2020 was at highway speeds the floatyness made it a struggle with the steering wheel.

 

That's what you get with a 4cyl engine.

 

A 4 cylinder turbo is the standard engine in all the German competitors as well.

 

My 2022 NX350 F sport3 turbo version, it wasn't the turbo noise, that was fine, it was just getting it going in old man slow mode, turbo never kicked in. I have had many 4-cylinder cars and they are not that noisy at take-off. Not horrible, just noisier than it needs to be. Thing was super quiet and very smooth while cruising, so why so noisy while getting it moving.
I had hoped they would have added additional soundproofing, but I guess not. Guess it going to be a Hybrid.

 

It did that all the time, or just when the engine was cold?

 

Apart from the V6 being dropped, the lack of steering feel is an even bigger turn-off for me. My friend’s 2020 NX F-Sport and my 2014 RX F-Sport’s electric steering are as vague as ever compared to my 08 RX and 02 Highlander with hydraulic setups. Seems they’re following suit with the newer Corollas which have steering akin to a forklift.

How did you like the handling of the NX compared to the newer RX? The NX F-Sport was only okay to me, but reasonable. What really surprised me was how rough the NX rode even with AVS. It rode and handled worse (didn’t like to be pushed hard) than my lowered Highlander with big sway bars and lower profile tires.

 

Went to Tustin Lexus today with the gf to test drive the new RX. She absolutely loved it -- the smooth ride, the toned-down exterior styling, the soft seats. The dealership only had two RX 350's on their meager lot (still plagued by chip shortage, the salesperson said). One was a base model ($53k + $10k dealer markup), the other a higher trim ($61k + $12k dealer markuip). We test drove the base car as the higher model has been sold.

Hard to think someone would pay nearly $80k after taxes for a Lexus RX 350. A 500h may be worth it, but not a 350.

We also sat inside the new NX. No good, too cramped inside, her RAV4 has more interior room.

 

Do you test RX With or without Mark Levinson? Could you give a feedback in case you tested car without Mark Levinson?
Many thx!
Ago

 

Dealer price gouging is laughable. I guess there are still some buyers foolish enough to fall for that.

 

Our base car tester just had stock audio. Going back later this week to pick up some parts and also test drive again, will report back.
In my '15 RX, even the non-ML "premium" audio sounds pretty good.

 

The factory for this is at full tilt, no "chip shortages" for this one except for maybe the ML audio. The dealers are using that as a ruse now to raise prices. Just let the cars come in, the RX accounts for over a third of total Lexus sales, they have to move them in big numbers. Tustin Lexus website shows they already have 17 of these in their delivery pipeline, in a month they will have triple that number if they try to get $12K over. $12K over sticker is a fantasy, especially for the non hybrid version. The NX isn't selling well, my local dealer has 48 in stock. If you really want the car, just tell them flat out you won't pay over MSRP for it, and to keep you on the callout list once they come to their senses. When he has 50 in his delivery pipeline, they will call back. This isn't a Porsche or a Range Rover, its a Toyota. And look at this board - there is no buzz for this car from owners it seems, you don't see very many posters here lining up to get themselves into the new RX, I don't see the waiting lists holding up for months - perhaps except for the 350h because they aren't producing enough of them.