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Mark Savage's auto review column, Savage On Wheels, looks at a new vehicle every week and tells consumers what’s good, what’s not so good, and how the vehicle fits into the marketplace.

2019 Lexus RX 350L AWD Luxury Review

There’s no doubt we’re an entitled society from top to bottom. But when one slides behind the steering wheel of a Lexus RX 350L it’s hard not to feel a strong urge of entitlement, and contentment.

Granted, I’m lucky to get such a chance, but my dark metallic blue (nightfall mica) 350L AWD Luxury model was the right vehicle at the right time for a road trip to northern Wisconsin (the Warrens area). So, four of us settled into the gray and black leather interior, along with our luggage, and simply relaxed.

The 350L is the long version of Lexus’ fancy midsize crossover/sport utility vehicle. It’s 4.3 inches longer than a standard RX 350 and includes a split third row seat that one can power up or down via buttons just inside its power hatch. That means it’ll seat six — unless you opt for a second row bench seat, then seven will fit, although the third row is a tad tight.

With just four of us, we left those rear seats down. The cargo area behind the second row is deep and wide.

The coddling begins immediately though with the RX 350L’s hush-quiet interior. Thanks to its acoustic glass and other sound deadening features, road noise is minimal and wind noise is nil. Its leather seats are soft and comfortably shaped with relatively flat seat bottoms but contoured backs. Oh, and the front seats offer three levels of heat and cooling while the rear seats are heated. Steering wheel? Heated of course.

Credit Mark Savage
The 2019 Lexus RX 350L AWD Luxury can seat up to seven people.

Front seats are powered and include a three-button memory system for the driver’s seat, too.

More? Side windows in row two have manual sun shades (my grandsons love to play with those). There’s a sunroof overhead, albeit only covering the front seat. The steering wheel is a power tilt/telescope model that also powers back and up when the ignition is turned off to ease driver egress.

More yet?

The infotainment screen mid-dash is absolutely stellar, especially for aging eyes. The screen here is a full 12.3 inches. For once you won’t have to guess what that squiggle on the navigation system’s map means. Granted that screen is part of a $3,225 package that adds a 15-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system too, plus Lexus Enform destination assist package. Still, why not take this luxurious crossover/SUV to its maximum luxury potential?

Just by upgrading to the Luxury model you’ve already snagged the: semi-aniline leather trim seats, power folding electrochromic heated outside mirrors, a heated wood and leather steering wheel, those manual sun shades, snazzy 20-inch chrome alloy wheels, the driver’s seat memory system, sapele (dark reddish brown) wood and aluminum interior trim, scuff plates, and LED ambient interior light.

Credit Mark Savage
The infotainment screen mid-dash is absolutely stellar, especially for aging eyes.

Naturally, there are all the safety devices you’d expect. Although a blind-spot monitor and park assist, plus automatic braking are part of a $1,865 package. Still, the Lexus comes with smart cruise control, a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian recognition, intelligent high-beam headlights, lane departure alert, and steering and lane-keeping assist that engages with cruise control.

I’ve gotten used to that later feature the past year or so via test drives. It helps keep your vehicle centered in its lane. It’s not really needed if you’re an attentive driver, but can be an aid on a long trip where your attention could wander a bit, or if you’ve got unruly kids in the car that are competing for your attention.

How’s the RX 350L drive?

You just know this is first rate, from the 290 horsepower that smoothly throbs from its 3.5-liter V6 engine with variable valve timing to its smooth easy handling. The feel is fairly light considering this is a 4,619-pound vehicle. And yes, there’s a drive mode button that is fine left in Normal. But it also has Eco to save fuel, and Sport to use fuel and stiffen the steering effort to near sports sedan levels.

AWD also is standard so the RX 350L will be fine once the snow flies, and that’s a concern in a chilly climate.

Credit Mark Savage
It has heated (and cooled!) seats and a heated steering wheel.

Ride is fantastic too — well controlled and well cushioned without feeling too soft and smooshy. Everyone praised this one’s ride, a near perfect blend of comfort and road feel.

Gas mileage was good too considering this has AWD and is a large, heavy crossover/SUV. I got between 23.4 and 24.7 mpg in about 80% highway driving. Both tanks included some city drives, and the lower one included a fair amount of stop-and-go on a loop around suburban Chicago for a day trip. The EPA rates the Lexus at 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

Misses? Sure there are a few, including the touchy console knob to adjust the navigation screen and map. But at least there are knobs and buttons now for the radio portion of the info screen.

Credit Mark Savage
A downside: No wireless phone charger or Android Auto/Apple CarPlay.

I also was surprised Lexus doesn’t yet offer either a wireless phone charger or Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the RX 350L and its various iterations.

The tested SUV/crossover also added second row captain’s chairs for $405, a color head-up display that I could live without for $600 and a touch-free power hatch for $200. The hatch also comes standard with a wiper.

Don’t need that third-row seat or the extra cargo room you get with the 350L? That’s OK, the shorter RX 350 and various other versions are still available. The base 350 starts at $45,000 and you add $1,400 for AWD. It gets slightly better fuel economy. The 450h, a hybrid that starts at $47,000 and has 308 horsepower with gas and electric power. It’s rated at 31 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

The 450h L pushes the high end at $52,000, as both a hybrid and extended length RX. An F Sport model bumps that up to $52,500 and looks/has sporty performance leanings. It also touts 20-inch wheels.

Finally, there’s the test vehicle, the 350L with AWD and in Luxury trim that starts at $55,210, including delivery. After all the options were added, this one hit $61,505.

Luxury indeed, and something I could feel entitled to the more I get used to driving it.

Overview: 2019 Lexus RX 350L AWD Luxury

Hits: A winner, quiet, powerful, great ride, good handling, AWD, plus seats 6. Heated/cooled seats, heated wheel, sunroof, power hatch, full safety equipment, heated rear seats, 3-memory seat settings, huge infotainment screen, rear wiper, seat/wheel power away for easy exit.

Misses: No wireless phone charger or Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and touchy console knob to adjust map.

Made In: Miyawaka, Fukuoka, Japan

Engine: 3.5-liter V6, VVT, 290 hp

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Weight: 4,619 lbs.

Wheelbase: 109.8 in.

Length: 196.9 in.

Cargo: 18-58.5 cu.ft.

MPG: 18/ 25, 23.4-24.7 (tested, 80% highway)

Base Price: $55,210 (includes delivery)

Invoice: $51,708

Major Options:

Blind spot monitor w/intuitive park assist, automatic braking, auto-diming power fold mirror and panoramic mirror, $1,865

Second row captain’s chairs, $405

Color head-up display, $600

Touch-free power hatch, $200

12.3-inch nav. system, Mark Levinson 15-speaker premium audio system, Enform destination assist, $3,225

Test Vehicle: $61,505

Sources: Lexus, Kelley Blue Book

Editor's note: Mark Savage's auto review column, Savage On Wheels, looks at a new vehicle every week and tells consumers what’s good, what’s not so good, and how the vehicle fits into the marketplace.

Mark Savage writes the auto review column, Savage On Wheels, for WUWM (formerly for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) and Savageonwheels.com. He is the former executive editor of American Snowmobiler magazine and FineScale Modeler magazine, both part of Kalmbach Media in Waukesha.
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