2012 Lexus RX 350 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Lexus RX 350 review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 RX 350, and includes Lexus RX 350 safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

A five-passenger luxury crossover SUV, the RX 350 is the most popular model sold by Lexus. It competes against a wide range of models, but most closely with the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Cadillac SRX, Lincoln MKX, Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, and Volvo XC60.

Why mess with success? Lexus has no trouble selling the RX 350, so this year the luxury automaker leaves well enough alone, with the only change being a switch from Smoky Granite Mica to Nebula Gray Pearl paint. Oh, and the recommended fuel is now regular unleaded instead of premium.

Lengthy is the word that best describes the 2012 Lexus RX 350’s standard features list. Highlights include 18-inch alloy wheels, a cabin decked out in genuine wood trim, front seats with 10-way power adjustment, rear seats that slide and recline, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, and a Smart Access keyless entry and push-button ignition system. A nine-speaker premium audio system thumps music sourced from its auxiliary audio input jack, six-disc CD changer or satellite radio. We love the RX’s thoughtful little touches, like the fact that the vehicle lights up as you approach it with the key when it’s dark out, a smartly designed center console, a 40/20/40-split rear seat and a driver’s seat that automatically slides back when entering and exiting the vehicle.

Several option packages are available to further enhance the RX. Most consumers opt for the Premium Package, which adds leather upholstery, a power sunroof, a power rear liftgate, a rear-seat armrest, driver memory settings, and a USB port. Besides, you need this package as a prerequisite before adding three additional packages.

The Comfort Package cools and warms the front seats, enhances nighttime vision with bi-Xenon adaptive headlamps, includes wipers that self-modulate their speed, and features an upgraded 12-speaker audio system.

The Luxury Package bumps wheel size up to 19 inches, and gives you nicer leather, a wood-and-leather steering wheel, front seat cushions with thigh extensions, side mirrors that retract, and a camera that shows you what’s happening on the right side of the vehicle.

The Navigation Package includes a hard-drive based, voice-controlled navigation system with real-time traffic and a rearview camera, a Remote Touch interface, and streaming Bluetooth audio.

Finally, there’s the Sport Package, which adds a more athletic suspension, 19-inch wheels, and a Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system that integrates safety and drivetrain components to better assist the driver in maintaining control of the RX.

Other worthwhile options to consider include an insanely awesome Mark Levinson audio system, a DVD entertainment system for rear seat passengers, adaptive cruise control with a Pre-Collision System, and a head-up display that projects vehicle information on the windshield.

A 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 powers the Lexus RX 350, and drive the front wheels or all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission with available sequential manual shifting. According to the EPA, the Lexus RX 350 will return 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the freeway if driven by the front wheels, while the all-wheel-drive version loses one mile-per-gallon on the freeway, achieving ratings of 18-city/24-highway.

Getting into a collision in the 2012 Lexus RX 350 means that any of the 10 airbags may deploy in order to mitigate the impact. That’s the most out of any luxury crossover SUV, with knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, and seat-mounted side airbags for the front and rear outboard passengers. Lexus Enform telematics service includes Safety Connect, which can help get rescue personnel to the RX 350’s exact location if necessary.

Additionally, the RX includes four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, traction and stability control systems, and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) which holds the RX for two seconds when switching from the brake to the gas pedal while the SUV is on an incline. Notably, HAC works whether the RX 350’s transmission is in Drive or Reverse. It’s nice not having to worry about bumping into the car behind you, however, we aren’t very happy with the fact that you can only get a rearview camera by purchasing a very expensive option package.

Lexus and parent company Toyota are taking pains to alert consumers about Smart Stop Technology, which automatically reduces engine power when the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal are applied simultaneously, in order to assuage consumer fears about the whole unintended acceleration debacle of 2010.

Available at extra cost are other interesting safety features like the Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), which tracks your direction of travel and illuminates the way, and also automatically switches from high beams to low beams when the RX detects other vehicles. The optional Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control maintains a set following distance from vehicles ahead of you, and it can also determine if close rates indicate that you’re likely to get into a collision. In that case, PCS tightens the seat belts and primes the brakes for greater stopping power.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the 2012 RX 350 a 4-Star overall crash safety rating, having received a 4-Star rating in the frontal-impact test, a 5-Star rating in the side-impact test, and a 4-Star rating for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has yet to release information for the 2012 RX, but last year this luxury crossover SUV was named a Top Safety Pick for its top-rated performance in frontal-offset, side-, and rear-impact evaluations, as well as for the roof strength test.

Consumer Reports predicts the Lexus RX 350 will perform above average in terms of reliability. J.D. Power and Associates concurs, predicting long-term dependability will be better than average.

The Lexus RX 350’s V6 engine produces 90 percent of its maximum torque from 2,300 rpm to 6,100 rpm, making this SUV feel far more powerful than its 270-horsepower rating might suggest.

The RX 350’s optional Active Torque Control AWD system sends all of the engine’s power to the front wheels under normal driving conditions, but when the front wheels slip, as much as half the power can be split and sent to the rear wheels. This 50:50 split can be locked at speeds under 25 mph when traversing more difficult terrain.

The Lexus RX 350 provides an impressive 40 cubic-feet of storage space with the rear seats in use. Fold them, and cargo room double to 80 cu-ft.

Stepping into the 2012 Lexus RX 350’s cabin is like slipping into a favorite cashmere sweater on a chilly day. It’s luxurious and soft and coddles you into blissful sedation. With its premium materials and high-tech infotainment doodads, it’ll remind you that you’ve earned your perch on this refined throne, especially as you seal the windows to the vagaries of the outside world. Therein lies the charm of the RX, which we also consider to be its downfall; its suspension is compliant to the point of anesthetization, while its electric steering is as numb and dull as your standard issue brother-in-law. It’s about as engaging to drive as a pillow. But some people prefer to be isolated from the road, and judging by the popularity of this best seller, there are lots of people who would prefer plush to performance. We just aren’t one of them. Still, there’s plenty to recommend in the RX 350, with great safety scores, terrific reliability, impressive versatility and high retained value.

By Liz Kim