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2018 Lexus RX 350L, RX450hL are here to fill your 7-seat needs

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Old 02-10-18, 02:13 PM
  #151  
Hoovey689
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Originally Posted by LexsCTJill
And what difference would of it really made? If I remember correctly, Toyota used to import the MR2 and that was two seater.
But that was mid-engine.
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Old 02-10-18, 05:51 PM
  #152  
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For reference, here’s the 3rd row of my Highlander. 2nd row positioned about 2/3rds back. Pardon the mess.

Totally fine for kids and okay for adults for short durations. Same wheelbase as RX-L so I find the RX-L pictures disappointing.
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Old 02-10-18, 06:37 PM
  #153  
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Originally Posted by JDR76


For reference, here’s the 3rd row of my Highlander. 2nd row positioned about 2/3rds back. Pardon the mess.

Totally fine for kids and okay for adults for short durations. Same wheelbase as RX-L so I find the RX-L pictures disappointing.

That sloping roof isnt doing it any favors. It cant be straightened up too much more without it getting more expensive to produce. This is what happens when a ceo prioritizes sports cars. The important models gets neglected with poor design or left floundrting and outdated.
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Old 02-10-18, 08:28 PM
  #154  
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Originally Posted by LexsCTJill


Why no luck with the LS500?

as the RX. It’s a strange design and much worse than the Lexus LX third row, but yet you can’t remove the seats as they fold up sideways. It kind reminds of why Lexus bothered putting useless seats in the back of a SC or LC model.
IMO, all three front middle & back rows of Highlander are more spacious than front middle & back row of LX.
Why?
Because Highlander has a deeper floor.
Due to LX's higher ground clearance, the floor is too high, with the interior floor to celing height suffering as a result - but then LX has superior off-road capability than Highlander.
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Old 02-10-18, 08:33 PM
  #155  
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Originally Posted by situman
That sloping roof isnt doing it any favors. It cant be straightened up too much more without it getting more expensive to produce. This is what happens when a ceo prioritizes sports cars. The important models gets neglected with poor design or left floundrting and outdated.
Exactly. . I've complained about overly-sloping, too-low rooflines for years.
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Old 02-10-18, 08:59 PM
  #156  
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Thanks pbm and jdr for rxl and highlander pics.

the rxl will sell because people looking at an rx but want a 'bit more' seating flexibility will shell out the $4400 extra for this, and toyota makes out well (profitwise).
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Old 02-11-18, 06:55 AM
  #157  
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Yeah based on those pics the Highlander is WAY better

How disappointing.
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Old 02-11-18, 05:16 PM
  #158  
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Originally Posted by SW15LS
Yeah based on those pics the Highlander is WAY better

How disappointing.
I agree. It is disappointing. I feel like Toyota or Lexus has done something half assed like this before. I just can’t think of what it was.
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Old 02-11-18, 07:44 PM
  #159  
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Originally Posted by LexsCTJill


I agree. It is disappointing. I feel like Toyota or Lexus has done something half assed like this before. I just can’t think of what it was.

Well, the RX, even going back to the original 1Gen, has never had quite the same interior space-efficiency as the equivalant Highlander. That's just the old automotive trade-off between form and function that goes back many decades, like the old question of what is more important.....looking at your vehicle, or looking out of it LOL.
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Old 02-11-18, 07:49 PM
  #160  
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Theres one thing to have "less space efficiency", its another thing to have flat out unusable seating which is what this is IMHO
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Old 02-11-18, 08:20 PM
  #161  
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Originally Posted by SW15LS
Theres one thing to have "less space efficiency", its another thing to have flat out unusable seating which is what this is IMHO

Agreed, but that's part of what unusable seating comes from.

The RX's third-row seat probably is usable for small children or very small adults....but not much else.


And, as you found out.............there are always minivans.
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Old 02-11-18, 09:01 PM
  #162  
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If you're looking for a proper 3-row SUV, the RX-L sure isn't it. I haven't found any 3-row midsize SUV with decent third row seating for adults, even for someone like me who isn't anywhere near 6 feet tall. You'd have to go for something gigantic like a Suburban to get proper adult seating in all rows.

Toyota will sell a ton of these extended RXs for families who don't want a minivan.
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Old 02-12-18, 03:46 AM
  #163  
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
The RX's third-row seat probably is usable for small children or very small adults....but not much else.
From the pics I've seen, the third row is only usable if EVERYONE in the vehicle is a child or very small adult. Putting some in the third row will necessitate moving up the 2nd row. And then to fit people (even small ones) there, the front row will have to be slid up until knees contact the dashboard.
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Old 02-12-18, 06:26 AM
  #164  
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Originally Posted by geko29
From the pics I've seen, the third row is only usable if EVERYONE in the vehicle is a child or very small adult. Putting some in the third row will necessitate moving up the 2nd row. And then to fit people (even small ones) there, the front row will have to be slid up until knees contact the dashboard.
Yep....fair argument. I suspect that the three-row RX is going to lose some sales to the Chevy Traverse/Buick Enclave, which does offer a usable third-row seat without becoming a sardine-can for everyone else. The GMC Acadia formerly did, but it has been shrunk this year.
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Old 02-12-18, 06:27 AM
  #165  
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You haven't seen it Mike. If adults are in the second row, the third row is not usable by ANYONE. The second row seats are up against the edge of the seat bottom of the third row.

Of all the 3 row SUVs I've seen, its the worst. A 3 row Nissan Rogue has more space,
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