2021 Lexus RX 350L Review

　　

2021 Lexus RX 350L Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　The 2021 Lexus RX 350L is a midsize crossover identical to the RX 350 except for one key differentiator: The RX 350L has a stretched wheelbase and adds a third row of seating. That means it has many of the RX 350's strengths — namely, that model's penchant for passenger and ride comfort. It also offers surprisingly nimble handling for such a big vehicle, and it's especially shocking since this elongated version isn't available with the RX 350's performance-minded F Sport package. Once you consider its relatively low cost for the class, the RX 350L makes a lot of sense on paper.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Lexus RX 350L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$213/mo  for RX 350L Base

　　RX 350L Base

　　4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $48,000 MSRP4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $49,400 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $54,000 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $55,400 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　But the Lexus RX 350L doesn't make the most of its extended wheelbase. Many purpose-built three-row competitors have a more spacious back seat, and there's little cargo room behind the RX's third row. And, like with the standard RX 350, you have to spec the L just right. If you don't opt for the Navigation package, for instance, you'll be stuck with a small central display without touchscreen capability. You'll instead have to use a trackpad controller, and this combination makes for one of our least favorite infotainment systems on the market. Though pricier, the RX's rivals generally do not ask you to compromise this much or pay such close attention to the options list.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the RX 350L drive? The RX 350L feels good on the road, with solid pickup, easy steering, smooth stops and competent handling. Our instrumented test numbers tell their own story, though, and the RX trails many of its competitors by at least a small margin in acceleration, braking performance and handling grip.

　　While we can overlook the numbers, we noticed an occasional delay between asking for power and the transmission response. This phenomenon is a bit inconsistent, but it could be the biggest annoyance day to day if it becomes a common occurrence.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the RX 350L? Comfort is where the RX excels, but only for those seated in the first two rows. The front seats are wide and accommodating, with a contoured back that benefits from four-way lumbar adjustment. The second-row seats are pretty comfy as long you don't have to make sacrifices for anyone sitting in the tiny third row.

　　The RX 350L's suspension takes the edges off all bumps around town, even the big ones. The cabin is also well insulated from traffic and wind noise. You won't have to raise your voice to have a conversation. The one oddity is the rear-seating climate control panel that's located on one side of the third row of seats.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The interior feels luxurious and roomy if you leave the third-row seats stowed. Raise the third row, however, and things go south. The third row is very cramped, and room in the second row can suffer because you'll likely have to slide the seats up to use the third row. It's a poor showing in the three-row segment. Visibility can be an issue in parking lot scenarios, and you could be playing a guessing game without the optional 360-degree camera.

　　We appreciate the number of clearly labeled buttons around the cabin. You still have to use the infotainment a fair amount to access certain controls, but Lexus has improved it this year, replacing the old joystick-style controller with a touchpad and adding a touchscreen interface. The location of the touchscreen makes it a bit of a reach for anyone, but it's better than not having that functionality.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Lexus' Mark Levinson stereos are always a high point, and the big infotainment screen is crisp and appealing. Lexus' Enform app has a handful of useful features, but it only integrates a limited selection of third-party apps. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration operates fine for the most part, though some of our Android users experienced issues with some apps missing and sometimes had no functionality at all. Charging options are available for the first two rows, with a generous six USBs total.

　　The driver aids mostly work well, especially adaptive cruise, which will operate in stop-and-go traffic. Most other systems are similarly strong, but the lane keeping assist offers very little intervention and can lose sight of lane markers.

　　

Storage

6.5/10

　　How’s the storage? For the size gained in its growth spurt, the L version of the RX reaps few benefits in utility. The biggest gains come with the third row folded, netting a total of 23 cubic feet of cargo space, but in all configurations the Lexus falls far short of three-row competitors. It does much better on small-item storage. There are clever little cubbies for the driver and front passenger, with plenty of options for not just storing but also organizing your stuff.

　　The child safety seat anchors in the second row are easily accessible, but you might have trouble fitting bulkier rear-facing car seats if you have the second row forward to allow for use of the third. And if you plan to do any towing, 3,500 pounds is the limit. It's far from a class-leading figure, but it's more than enough for light towing.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? We tested the front-wheel-drive RX 350L, which gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg (19 city/26 highway). That's marginally better than average for a three-row crossover SUV. All-wheel-drive RX 350Ls take a 1 mpg hit across the board but still do better than average. Our test RX 350L fell a bit short on our 115-mile real-world evaluation route, averaging 21.6 mpg.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the RX 350L a good value? The RX feels solidly put together, and though there are hard plastics around, you're unlikely to interact with them. Touch points are covered with high-quality materials that really lend a luxury feel. Lexus put some thought into this interior.

　　Dollar for dollar, the RX 350L is priced pretty competitively in the segment, but the idea of paying a premium for little extra usability over the regular RX is a bit galling. You're better off spending your money elsewhere since most midsize three-row competitors are quicker, roomier and more useful.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　Lexus has taken a stylish and intriguing two-row midsize SUV and turned it into a three-row also-ran. It comes up short in a segment of strong contenders offering more performance, fun and practicality. That said, it's still an attractive and comfortable SUV that many people will flock to for those qualities alone.

　　

Which RX 350L does zzdcar recommend?

The RX 350L comes pretty well loaded out of the gate, so we don't think you have to go wild on the options. The most significant stand-alone options require the addition of the Premium package, but from there you can add worthy and relatively inexpensive features such as heated and ventilated front seats. The Navigation package is also worth checking out since it includes an eye-popping central display with touchscreen capability — something the standard display lacks. If you opt for the Navigation package, spend a little extra and get the Mark Levinson hi-fi audio system. Your ears will thank you.

　　

2021 Lexus RX 350L models

The 2021 Lexus RX 350L is a three-row midsize crossover sold in a single trim level. It's powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine (290 horsepower, 263 lb-ft) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional. The RX 350L comes standard with seven-passenger seating, though the second-row bench can be switched out for captain's chairs, which reduces seating to six.

　　RX 350L

　　The RX 350L comes standard with:

　　18-inch wheels LED headlights Rain-sensing windshield wipers Power liftgate Keyless entry and ignition Auto-dimming exterior and rearview mirrors Three-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable steering column 40/20/40-split second row Power-folding 50/50-split third row Simulated leather upholstery 8-inch central display screen Nine-speaker audio system Satellite radio Six USB ports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa integrationStandard safety features and driver aids include:

　　Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) The Lexus RX 350L offers a number of features packages and stand-alone options. Note that some options require certain packages and other options to be added first. Additional extras include:

　　Premium package Sunroof Wood trim Driver-seat memory settings Luxury package 20-inch wheels Ambient interior lighting Heated steering wheel Front-seat thigh extension and four-way lumbar support Leather upholstery Rear armrest storage Rear sunshades Navigation package 12.3-inch touchscreen 12-speaker audio system Lexus Enform app suite (Yelp, iHeartRadio, Movietickets.com and more) Available with or without a 15-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system Upgraded headlights with auto-leveling feature Heated and ventilated front seats Second-row captain's chairs Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Hands-free liftgate Wireless charging pad Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle) Available with or without 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the RX 350L and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Towing package

　　

2021 RX 350L Highlights

Trim: BaseLuxuryBase

　　

Base MSRP	$48,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$213/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	7.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles