10 Things You Need to Know About the 2018 Lexus RX-L

2018 Lexus RX 350L exterior hero by Ron Sessions ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

You’d expect big things from Lexus in the luxury crossover SUV space because the Japanese premium brand essentially created the segment two decades ago. Before that first RX 300 in 1999, luxury SUVs were largely adapted from truck components. The RX changed all that by delivering car-like ride and handling, easier ingress and egress, and improved maneuverability and fuel economy, while giving buyers the elevated seating position, easy cargo versatility, and plush luxury features they coveted.

Today, the RX is already the best-selling luxury vehicle, with more than 108,000 rolling out of Lexus dealer showrooms in 2017. And that’s just with the five-passenger RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid. For 2018, the lineup adds extended-length RX 350L and RX 450hL models with seating for up to seven passengers in three rows of seats. Including destination, the 2018 RX 350L starts at $48,665, $4,400 more than the five-passenger model.

1) It's larger than a regular RX 350.

Of course, the seven-passenger RX 350L is larger than the five-passenger RX 350. But the interesting thing is the RX 350L is only 4.4 inches longer bumper to bumper, courtesy of some clever packaging.

In the three-row variant, the roof slopes less at the rear and the liftgate glass angle is a bit more upright. It takes a very sharp eye to notice the RX 350L’s stretch; if anything, it helps balance out the SUV’s proportions a bit and takes some of the focus off its large spindle-shaped grille.

Photo by Ron Sessions

2) It has ample power.

The RX-L uses the same powertrains at the five-passenger RX. The RX 350L has a smooth and responsive 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, at a time when many competitors have downsized to four-cylinder turbos that don’t offer the same sound or feel of a well-polished V6. Tap the RX’s throttle and you'll find plenty of scoot for any circumstance. It goes from 0-60 mph in a tick over 7 seconds. Both front- and all-wheel drive versions are available.

The added length of the RX 350L adds more than 200 pounds to the five-passenger RX. This reduces its EPA fuel economy estimates slightly, to 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway for front-wheel drive and 1 mpg less with all-wheel drive, on regular fuel. An AWD-only RX 450hL hybrid is also available that’s EPA rated at 29 mpg city/28 mpg highway, but it requires premium fuel. Normal, Sport, and Eco modes let the driver adjust throttle response and transmission shifts to enhance performance or fuel efficiency.

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3) It's luxurious.

Driver and passengers are all treated to the same hushed, comfortable, and luxurious interior found in the five-passenger RX. Engine, road, and wind noise are quieted. The leather-covered front seats are cosseting with a just-right balance of support and cushiness. Just about everything the driver has contact with is soft-touch or padded— the sides of the console, the front armrests, even the insides of the front door pulls.

Optional features include buttery, semi-aniline leather-covered seats, which can be vented and heated and even offer thigh-bolster extenders. Available two-tone interior color schemes accented with walnut, mocha, bamboo, or sapele wood that are simply stunning.

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4) It's available with a big infotainment screen.

Bigger is always better, right? Even though the RX 350L comes standard with an audio system with an 8-inch infotainment screen, you’ll want to step up to the navigation package. It includes a horizontally arrayed high-resolution 12.3-inch unit that sits atop the dash center stack. It makes the navigation display look panoramic and gives the option of opening two windows simultaneously.

The optional top-of-the-line 835-watt Mark Levinson premium audio system is another must-have — its 15 speakers deliver surround sound and Clari-Fi restoration technology that helps restore fidelity to compressed digital audio files.

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5) The big screen comes with a mouse.

The only downside to the big screen is its far-away dashtop location, which makes it out of reach of the driver. The system comes with a mouse-like remote controller on the console that takes some time — and patience — to master.

Lexus does thoughtfully provide redundant knobs for volume and tuning, as well as buttons for most of the frequently accessed climate control functions such as fan speed, air distribution, and temperature. Still absent, though, are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

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6) Cargo space is modest with the third-row seat up.

Sandwiching a third-row seat into an SUV that's only 4.4 inches longer than its two-row variant requires some compromises. One is modest cargo space if the third-row seat is up. There's 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space back there, room enough for several suitcases.

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7) Sliding second-row seats enable third-row access.

Likewise, don’t think that the stretched RX 350L can comfortably accommodate seven adult passengers and their gear. This is how one gets into the third-row seat: sliding the second row's standard 40/20/40 split bench or optional captain’s chairs forward and tilting the seatbacks forward. It’s a similar solution as offered by other three-row luxury mid-size crossovers such as the Acura MDX and Audi Q7.

But to be clear about this, the RX 350L’s 50/50 split third-row bench seat is really for kids small enough to squeeze back there. And because you don’t really want to try to buckle a small one into a child safety seat through that small opening, it’s best suited to elementary-school kids. Remember, third-row headroom and legroom are no more generous than that found in the back of a Mustang fastback.

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8) Cargo space abounds with the second- and third-row seats down.

Now that you know what the third-row seat can and cannot do, it makes a lot of sense to use the RX 350L most of the time as a five-passenger SUV with a longer cargo hold. The third-row seat folds electronically, using a handy pair of power switches at the rear of the cargo area.

With the third row folded, there's an ample 33.4 cubic feet of cargo space below the standard window shade-style tonneau cover (which, by the way, you can stash under the rear cargo floor when the shade isn’t in use). Manually folding the second-row seats creates a 70.7 cubic-feet cargo hold, with ample space for that stationary cycle or big-screen TV (note that the two are related).

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9) A standard power liftgate is available with hands-free access.

As with many other luxury crossover SUVs these days, the RX 350L comes with a standard power liftgate. One very cool option is the hands-free liftgate opening feature. But instead of a foot pump or wave under the rear bumper, like you'd find in some other vehicles, the RX 350’s system works by tapping an elbow, finger, chin, or any other available body part on the Lexus logo on the rear liftgate. Of course, this only works if you have the keyless-entry fob on your person.

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10) It's packed with an extensive suite of safety systems.

Short of enclosing the SUV in bubble wrap, Lexus engineers put just about every safety feature currently available in the new RX 350L. Onboard are 10 airbags, a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, dynamic radar cruise control, a backup camera, and intelligent high-beam control. The Enform Safety Connect and Service Connect systems are now complimentary for 10 years of ownership. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring, parking assist, and a panoramic view monitor are also available.

Overall, the 2018 Lexus RX 350L offers the same winning combination of ample power, smooth ride, hushed cabin, high-quality fit and finish, and generous standard comfort and convenience amenities that made the regular-issue two-row RX 350 such a hit, now with a tad more cargo space and occasional chairs for the Peanut Gallery.

Photo by Ron Sessions