2022 Lexus RX 350L SUV

　　

2022 Lexus RX 350L Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　, rating written byMichael CantuDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　The 2022 Lexus RX 350L is a stretched version of the regular RX 350 that provides a third row for seven-passenger seating. But because it shares the same wheelbase as the regular version and is only about 4 inches longer, the third row is very cramped and it has less cargo space behind the third row than most of its rivals. Fortunately, the RX 350L shares most of the qualities found in the regular RX 350, such as excellent build quality, a very comfortable ride, plenty of luxury, and a quiet cabin.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 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) - $48,750 MSRP4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $50,150 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $54,750 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $56,150 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　If having a large enough third row and sufficient cargo space behind the third row are priorities for you, look to the RX 350L's rivals. Not only are most of them larger, but many haven't gone so long without a redesign. Both the Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60 were completely redesigned for the 2022 model year, and the Lincoln Aviator was all-new for 2020. The current-generation RX 350 dates back to 2016. Check out the zzdcar Expert Rating below to get our test team's full review of the Lexus RX 350L's comfort, cargo space, tech and more.

　　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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below