2023 Lexus RX350 | What is Luxury These Days? 

Met both of you today at autobahn. My friends and I were thrilled. You guys do a great job -so knowledgeable and so right on. Thank you!

Appreciate you guys being able to re-evaluate your initial impression... So few journalists/reviewers have that integrity. Seems to me this is really just a Rav4 with better sound deadening, fancier door cards, and a nightmare technology experience.

You’re the only one preaching the truth. Every other “reviewer” just describes the car. You’re the only one actually reviewing the car.

Is it rugged enough to handle the curb at the Starbucks drive-thru? I need more unpainted plastic cladding!

Thx for the honest review. Just as I suspected. I'm hanging onto my previous version (Gen 4) RX350 with the N/A V6. Mine's got the Luxury Package & is paid off.

I love the fact that you take ypur knowledge of high performance driving cars and bring it to normal if not boring-on-purpose cars! Kudos to you!

So glad I bought a new 2022 luxury, smooth, V6 AWD , regular gas this past January. Have put 14,000 plus miles on it and just finished a 5500 mi. trip, great ride.

Toyota should've found a way for the V6 to meet the new upcoming emissions standards.

You can adjust the height of the trunk by pressing the open/close button for 3 seconds after setting the trunk height to desired. Thank you for the awesome video.

Why is this vehicle still called a RX350? Shouldn't it now be called a RX240?

Watching and listening to the road test of the 2023 Lexus RX350 (with a turbo I4) reminded me of my 2018 Mazda CX5 (n/a 2.5L I4) which I traded in for a 2022 Lexus RX350 with its V6. I love the smooth power and sound of my Lexus V6, reminded me of the V6 power in my older 2007 Nissan Murano. I hope Lexus brings back a V6 to the RX350 if government regulations don't prevent that.

this is actually a good example of how important it is to get the electronics right! in most cases funny enough it only shows after the warranty is off...

I'm relieved that someone realizes the infotainment display is large for the sake of being large. Seems like there was zero effort into designing a unique cabin

Seems like putting the bulletproof 3.5 V6 back in it would make it about perfect. To bad that’ll never happen tho.

As excellent as savagegeese reviews are, they've collectively killed my interest in new cars and left me disillusioned in my search for something that's both great and less than $60k.

Love the review. He puts it very eloquently and straightforward. Always look forward to your reviews.

this is fascinating because this Lexus RX 350 makes the Acura MDX look like it has a usable interior

The old V6 used regular gas. The turbo 4 requires premium fuel. So the extra 2mpg of the 4 cylinder turbo is negated by the added fuel cost. Why bother. The hybrid NX350h will run regular (premium recommended not required). The hybrid is the way to go here.

This is why I love this channel. You guys have the balls to tell the true every time.

Only been subscribed for a few days! But I love this channel! 🔥👍

I'm glad you pointed it out -- alert fatigue is real on products like this

You get the impression Lexus CAN make these cars really special but just doesn't. I can't figure out what it is that's holding them back. Cost? Just conservatism? Is trying to carry over as much as possible from the rav what's holding it back? I don't mind the styling but this car's competitors are more compelling in a few dimensions.

About time you reviewed another mid-range SUV. Windowsills so high, reminds me of the reborn Camaro.

I don't get how they can complain about the engine noise and at the same time say it's super quiet and so quiet it almost put them to sleep.

Excellent, honest review. Keep up the great work!

can’t say when the camera upgrades happened exactly, but i’ve been noticing it and god is it welcome. good investment Sirs, good production quality & excellent content as always, hope you’re having a nice day

Also it took me 1-2 hours to get use to the steering wheel etc! just focus on the drive! the HUD is awesome and the safety systems are not too intrusive! They resolved all the issues with all the pre-production software annoyances with the beeps and the front cross traffic alert! it only beeps if the car is accelerating into an oncoming car! also the auto brake when it senses a car at certain speeds is wonderful! very very smooth! LOVE IT! you don't even have to activate cruise control in order for it to operate. The 8+ months wait for the Rx500h was well well worth it!

Love hearing you guys just have a conversation about the car. Great insight.

Love this type of an objective and factual review without the fake praises. Either get the hybrid RX or just get the MDX or the X5.

Thank you for not being biased of bought by Lexus/ Toyota like some other reviewers.

The rear hatch height has to be adjustable, even the CX5 has that feature... Good review!

This era in car industry will be known as an “giant grille” era. Kinda like tail fin era

As someone who lives north suburbs of toronto, with a big chinese population, these rx350's are everywhere. Hearing you guys describe it as ultra quiet and sleeper mode means it is the perfect car for the folks that i see day in day out driving these. This is going to be a massive seller forsure at least in my area

I don’t understand why the 6 cylinder was dropped from the Rx, to put a basic 4 cylinder in a $60k car makes ZERO sense!

Every time I think of selling my 3UZ V8 Lexus GS, I'm reminded by videos like these that engines like the 3UZ will never exist again. I'm keeping that car.

Love the Honesty Jack. Keep up the extraordinary work.

Brilliant. Just the perfect amount of snark and humor as well as technical nuance. Have owned Lexus and Toyota. Hated the rear hatch speed and the horrible historical menus from Lexus clearly demonstrated the design and ergonomic folks hate each other. The move to touch screen has helped and finally the lawyers said it was ok to speed up the rear hatch speeds.

If you think comfortable car is a bad thing you will love this reviewer.

Turbowsky’s prediction came true. New model being a 4 popper but keeping the 350 badge. Miss that dude

A few items you mentioned as flaws are actually not. The rear lift back opening height can be custom set with a three-second touch of the button. The inattentive driver beeping can be turned off in settings. There is a shortcut menu in the touchscreen for frequently accessed, it's right next to the climate button. And the items you're missing in the gauge cluster that got "moved" to the HUD are all still available in the gauge cluster, you just have to set them in preferences.

24.5 mpg is a slap in the face for a 4 cyl. A twin turbo V6 from Lexus gets 21.5 combined, and at least it has some performance numbers.

The 2022 with the V6 is going to be more sought after used/new than this. This turbocharged 4 cyl is going to make a lot of Lexus service departments very rich :-)

Spot on review. I spent month deciding if it's worth the wait or pull the trigger on a 2022 RX350 instead. The updated info center is nice and all but I had serious issue with a 4-Cylinder in a SUV this size. After testing a 2022 NX with the same engine I went ahead and bought a 2022 RX350 F-Sport. The engine is really lacking on a lighter SUV such as the NX. There is no way that it would feel adequate in the RX frame. I'm glad I am not the only one feeling this way about the engine that are being put in these.

That HUD controls would drive me crazy. There isn't much I like about it except that it is a "Lexus". I think my daughters Mazda CX5 is better and much cheaper.

I own a 2023 RX350 and I disagree with most of your unfairly negative opinions. This is a superb car, and I feel no "generic luxury" as you say so! The HUD is great and the car accelerates very smoothly and without any "rattling noise" that you claim in your review, and the new technologies are just useful and easy to use. I owned BMW X3 for years, and test drove X5, Acura MDX, and couple of other cars. For me Lexus RX350 was a no brainer and it was the best $65K ever spent in my life (got the Luxury trim). After 4.5 months and 2800 miles, I love this car more and more every time that I drive it or look at it.

If anyone is interested in getting the F-sport trim I urge you to spend at least 20 minutes sitting in the seat. I think the new F-Sport heavily bolstered seats dont fit everyone. I don't consider myself fat at all and I think the bottom bolsters are seriously way too aggressive and my bottom gets sore sitting in this car past 1 hour.

I have a 2017 RX350 and, after looking at the new model, I will be keeping my 2017 for years to come. The new infotainment is arguably worse than the old one in terms of hassle and lack of hard buttons. They also did not add a torque vectoring rear diff, which I would have expected at a minimum since they've had it in the RAV4 and Highlander for a few years already. Very disappointing, and it means the Highlander has a better drivetrain in addition to more space. The front end is also ugly as sin. I'd rather have the overstated grill on the 2017 than the weird hood bulge which wraps around the top of the grill on the new model. My only gripe with the 2017 is the 8-speed transmission. I wish they had kept the old 6-speed which is much smoother.

This decade is clearly about transitioning everything to full electric. You can see manufacturers skimping and cutting so many corners on new or refreshed products, which just means they are putting resources into electric architecture and technology research. Aside from boutique manufacturers, the age of the ICE engine is coming to a near end.

Love the new system but engine is too weak for the price. If they had put a more powerful V6 engine in the new RX instead of the weak 4 cylinder engine it would be a winner. BUT the Acura MDX and BMW X5 have more power and fun to drive factor.

Toyota/lexus had so many years of refreshing the RX year over year over year without a re design and this is what they come up with? My next question in all seriousness is who is running this company?

What a great review - giving it raw, well explained and very insightful. Liked and subscribed! Really looking forward to more of your content! 🤘🏽

Main reason I got my 2022 ES 350, because I know the V-6 is going away. Naturally aspirated V-6’s are so fun to drive and hear.

The profit margins Toyota gets on this kind of product must be off the charts.

Incorrect, the previous ES hybrid you drove did not have a V6. That was also a "4 popper". Also, the BMW x5 and x7 does not get better fuel economy than the RX you drove.

brutal honest reviews love it tbh

I've always thought a Lexus felt generic in some way, I mean they're high quality and durable, and hopefully reliable with the new engine. But like you said it doesn't feel special like a premium or luxury car should. Also I'm so glad you've touch on the 50-70k 4 cylinders, why do they think that is luxury. When I hear luxury I do not think of a 4 cylinder, especially when it overall performance isn't better than an out going V6. I'd much rather own an MDX, X5, or GLE450 than this, but most will lease it and think they're supreme over everyone.

You guys need to drive the vehicle more before making reviews. 1 button is touched to get to driving modes. The HUD is amazing and is bright and adjustable if needed. I can't imaging driving without it now. Very easy to use and you dont have to be looking down for buttons. For beeping alerts I don't know what your talking about, it hardly beeps when I drive and I have them all activated. Sounds like your exaggerating a bit. One thing I did find was engine noise is a little louder with the 4 cyl. The 4 cyl has more power than the 6, plus less on gas so I'd rather deal with a little extra noise.

The added conversation during the last bit of the driving portion is very fair. This isn't a Highlander (price wise), you expect more. An eco-4cyl doesn't provide a luxury experience.

This luxury SUV is more so for people that do not want loud luxury SUVs that they'll have to spend a fortune on in maintenance.

You can turn the brightest of the screen down for night or set for night driving. The turbo engine with the new transmission is incredible and the car is so quiet and smooth. I can't see these guys driving a luxury vehicle and that is perfectly okay.

Best crossover for under 60 K. There are trade offs at this price, comfort ,quietness, and most of all reliability. GReat car

Lexus should keep the V6 for the US market.

I've always been a huge Lexus fan, but after watching years of Savagegeese videos, I just wouldn't be able to justify paying this much for a vehicle with stamped steel control arms.

How do all the sound deadening panels under the car affect rust and corrosion? Do the panels actually help block salt and water, or do they make them worse by trapping moisture? I'm not in the market for this vehicle, but live in the Rust Belt and am seeing more and more of these panels underneath new cars...not going to be fun to do work under the car after 10 midwest winters if you have to remove a bunch of panels.

Remember the time when car reviewers would wear a suit to review a Lexus? Boy, how times have changed!

With these Lexus products Mazda starts making way more sense...

Man i knew it we gonna miss that smooth V6

I have known quite a few people who have owned BMW, Audi and Volvo. Cost of ownership is through the roof. Engine light ,trouble codes, costly repairs ........no thanks.

Long time Lexus/Toyota owner I’m just shocked how lazy Toyota is lately. The 3.5V6 is legendary,no current owner in their right mind would give that up for a turbo four. I don’t understand this is the motor being put in all new vehicles. Lexus is a premium brand you still have other manufacturers using V6’s Toyota is being very lazy and not developing a more premium engine.if this is the future of Lexus I may look elsewhere.

Not really fair comment re- HUD... which HUD works with polarized glasses?

FYI you can adjust the level of the rear hatch, 5 different heights . Defaults to highest (5).

I rode in one and had similar thoughts... It was great, quiet, comfortable... But so is almost everything else. Once upon a time, that "L" on the front made you feel like you were making "the smart" luxury buy. Now it just feels like your taking an "L".

I've worked for Lexus for 10 years as a service advisor. Sadly over the years I've had to watch our "premium" customer service slowly diminish closer to that of a Toyota dealership. We went from offices to build personal relationships with our clients to working in a fish bowl and herding or guests threw like cattle. Just like this RX not feeling premium enough the same is happening to our dealership experience taking a massive dive. Soon enough Lexus will be just another Acura or Hyundai product.

If you push rear hatch button twice it’s sets new height.

Balljoint replacement on this car, 100$ Balljoint replacement on any german aluminium molded control arm, 2000$. That's one of the reasons why, in 15 years, those RX will still be on the road.

Great review! Congrats Mark on buying a Sony Xperia. How is the camera experience?

Thank you for being honest. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who absolutely hate small displacement 4-banger turbo engine. There is more to an engine than just torque and horsepower numbers on paper. And don't get me started on that grill.

Totally agree. The only reason anyone would buy it now is they are expecting reliability and that may be questionable since it is an under powered straining engine that might not hold up very well. Everyone is commenting it is related to emissions, well they are using the V6 in the larger SUV and Trucks. So I question if this is why they chose this path to the straining 4 cylinder, they should have made it an option to get the V6. Also, what is the difference in the RX and the NX except the NX is smaller but the same powertrain. I am a Lexus fan and drive the current design with the V6 but I am disappointed.

Rear hatch height is adjustable on my previous gen RX350. Has to be here too.

You guys are right. I love the quietness (Sound proofing) but this car has been a very ordinary experience after so much of hype. A rattley 4 cylinder will always feel like a 4 cylinder as far as driving impressions are concerned, then to add insult to injury the fuel efficiency is nothing impressive. Overall, this is a disappointment.

You can turn the HUD off and the info all goes back to the gauge cluster which is how the base model also operates as it has no HUD.

You guys have totally the wrong idea of the RX, it’s a reliable and luxury long distance cruiser. Not a sports car.. and turn the safety settings down to avoid the beeps.

The 2.4L is super buzzy.. I regret getting rid of my 2021 for the 2023 .

What I love about Lexus is that they take an easy to work on and reliable platform and make a luxury product as good as Mercedes or Jaguar.

We were looking at this but you have made up our minds..nope..GV70/BMW X5 for sure...Thanks!

I mean, 4-cylinders have replaced 6-cyls in luxury brands here in Europe years ago, so it’s not shocking at all. So is the fact that the base engine is not refined enough, encouraging to go for higher grade. That is kinda smart for Lexus to do and encourage more fuel efficient and environment-concious hybrid.

This car makes no sense with this engine when you can get a Mazda CX-9 with all the same equipment for ~$10k less. Yes the CX-9 is aged, but it does everything this thing does with a premium interior and more engaging to drive for less money. Like the CX-9, this thing badly needs hybrid drivetrains - both performance and fuel economy versions.

Love your videos, I’m a sound engineer and I want to understand why you think the best position is the leave the eq neutral when listening? Can you elaborate on that in a video at some point? Or is there already a video about sound systems that you’ve done?

Thanks guys! Solid review.

If Toyota wants cars like to LC and LS to sell, it has to make cars like the RX, NX, Camry and Corolla to feel premium. Toyota’s cars are subpar relative to competition all around.

Another nice review. This car is meant not to offend anyone. It's a simple car for someone who don't want to think about what they drive or own. It's the perfect car for the laptop, suburban crowd..

Only 24 mpg for a 4 cylinder? That’s a deal breaker.

From a old few lexus owner, if someone is confused in which lexus rx or nx trim to purchase? ......buy a mazda or genesis instead.

I love the honesty of this channel! Now, I feel like I truly need to do more research on this vehicle. I’m on the hook for one with a deposit already in place! We are traditional Toyota owners and we swear by them. But, we now want to move upmarket “without” the possible maintenance hassles that come with a lot luxury brands. We also don’t trade vehicles every couple of years. We keep our vehicles for few years. I hope you guys can do a review on the Luxury Hybrid model. That’s what the wife wants…and, I hope that’s a better choice than what I just witnessed..

The previous version is the best looking RX ever. The controversial grill and sharp edges were all perfect 10/10. Especially the 2016 model. Subsequent updates messed up the design a little bit but it still remained a great design. This new version is not bad. Infact, I like it but I loved the sharp edges a lot more. I would be happier if they go back to something close to the 2016 model.

I bought my dad’s 15 Highlander V6 when he upgraded to a 20 Highlander XLE Hybrid a couple years ago. I’ve been very impressed with both. I love the V6 and lack of safety electronics. It can’t beep at you for every little thing. The hybrid fuel economy is ridiculous, easily over the 35 mpg est. figure all the time. The V6 gets 23 during recent 2000 mile road trip. The softex seats have been great in our RAV4 we had for over 7 years, and age great in the Hybrid. I can’t see why you would buy the Lexus over the Highlander anymore.

Hi Jack: I want to share an “event” that I had with our refreshed 23 Lexus RX. This vehicle was upgraded 2023, and now we need to report the “good and the bad” of owning this vehicle. The unit rides super!! We also have two NX’s 2016/19. Happy with them. I bought it on August 23. The day for the first maintenance came on 23 Jan 24. We received the vehicle and didn’t see any anomaly. Days after, my wife told me that the headlight of the passenger side had humidity. Since they are plastic I assumed that was a simple defect and told her to take the RX to the dealer. After 3 hours and consultation to the main office in San Juan (we are in the south side of Puerto Rico, 86 degrees & sunny) they determined that was not a defect, one of the “technicians” said that presumably someone “sat or made pressure in the headlight”. I noticed that to have access to the headlight you need to raise the hood, and there are bump stops that will not let the hood go that far. I was surprised, most of the use of this vehicle is a trip of 10 miles from our house to the office parking and back every day. They came with a quote of $2800+ for the repair. They said, try with your insurance, but I didn’t have an accident or no apparent cause for a vandalism claim. Next day I was inspecting the vehicle with a friend that has an auto shop. He noticed that to reach the oil cap you need to lean on the headlight projector, the headlight doesn't have a shield to protect it and the material is too thin. Then I realized that the comment that the one of the mechanic at Lexus was right… someone leaned on the headlight… that happened in their shop, the Lexus dealer. If you go to the driver side you will find the battery at that side. So, if someone tries to inspect the battery or replace it I will have a similar situation, they will break the protection headlamp. I will appreciate it if you can help me to escalate that situation to Lexus to see if they can create a solution for the RX 2023 and others in the future. In Puerto Rico, Penske Automotive represents Lexus dealers. Im worrying about the new GX 550 to have the same problem. Maybe you have a unit at the time I'm writing this note. I am “in line” for the new GX 550 at the dealer to replace the NX 2016 we have, but I need to verify that this problem is not present in the new GX. Thanks in advance Jack!!

I've give props to you guys...I think this Lexus is a decent package for many people out there, but completely agree with you on the cumbersome HUD - it's actually a distraction and could be considered a driving hazard. Electronic door handles are unnecessary too imo. Thinking of the RX Hybrid but can't see myself doing CVT again after my Maxima.. Might have to go Genesis or MDX (The GV70 I test drove was impressive). Will see what the MDX holds..

As nice as this car is, I simply cannot justify myself on dropping 60k on a luxury vehicle with a turbo 4 under the hood. Not that I can afford this car anyway

Its a little baffling to me that they'd offer this with a non-hybrid option. In so many other vehicles (Sienna - a vehicle I own) this seems to be a good way to go - by simply negating the non-hybrid they remove a ton of development time and some of the complaints with how it drives would also go away. Others would crop up of course but this is a vehicle that it would make sense to have hybrid-only variants. Since so many things ride on the K TNGA it is... strange... that Toyota of all companies would have these outlier models. also inb4 Lexus minivan. Name it the.. Previa.