2013 Lexus RX350

When Lexus first debuted its RX SUV in 1998, it changed the SUV game by building a sport utility vehicle on its ES sedan platform. The 5-door “luxury SUV” was a hit in the marketplace, with its comfortable car-like ride, high-quality construction, and plush passenger accommodations. The reliable 2013 Lexus RX 350 crossover SUV, now in its third generation, continues the trend toward luxury, comfort, and innovation in sport utility vehicles, and is set to capture an impressive portion of the US mid-size crossover market, where the RX has been the best selling luxury SUV since its introduction.

In line with Lexus’ new brand direction, the 2013 Lexus RX 350 crossover has been updated to give it a visual flair that sets it even higher above the competition with an athletic, sporty appeal. 18-inch alloy wheels, new grilles, LED running lights, new interior colors, and an expanded standard equipment list including power lift gate and iPod/USB audio interface serve to increase the RX 350’s luxury appeal. Still comfortably seating five passengers, the 2013 RX 350 sports a clean, classy interior of exceptional cabin materials and upscale appointments, with plenty of cargo space, headroom, and legroom. Rear passengers will ride in comfort with roomy, cushioned seating and independent reclining and sliding seat adjustments

Innovative high-tech options in the 2013 RX 350’s interior include keyless ignition, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, an unmatched 9-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, and heated and ventilated front seats. The navigation system is similarly innovative, featuring the newly updated Lexus Remote Touch interface that utilizes a tactile feedback controller to access navigation through the infotainment system. The infotainment system itself runs on the Lexus Enform suite of apps, tying driver and passengers into Internet services such as iHeart Radio, Movie Tickets.com, and Pandora, as well as Safety Connect emergency communications.

The 2013 Lexus RX 350 crossover has a 3.5 liter V6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission with standard front wheel drive (all-wheel drive is optional). This gives the RX 350 270 hp and 248 pound feet of torque. The more athletic F Sport package includes all-wheel drive, and comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 6-speed automatic gets an estimated mpg of 18 city/25 hwy/21 combined, while the 8-speed F Sport gets 18 city/26 hwy/21 combined.

The 2013 Lexus RX 350 maintains its luxury name when it comes to ride quality as well. Like all Lexus vehicles, driving impressions are very homogeneous. The RX 350’s plush ride and composed handling reduce the stress of driving so driver and passengers can enjoy the ride. The RX 350 provides exceptional sound insulation and a quiet, softly-sprung suspension to coddle passengers in a bubble of quiet, comfort, and luxury. Although the engine is impressively quiet, it boasts enough power to accelerate quickly and easily, and the steering has a responsive and sporty feel, with confident composure in turns. The F-Sport model’s sport-tuned suspension sharpens the handling to make it especially fun to drive, with the exhaust note giving quite a grunt on downshifts.

With a base price of $40,000, the powerful and efficient 2013 Lexus RX 350 crossover SUV provides a combination of comfort, convenience, innovative tech features, and a strong safety and reliability record that promises to keep it at the top of the luxury crossover market.

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