2018 Lexus RX350L

MSRP: $48,665

Engine:  3.5 liter V6

Horsepower:  290

0-60:  8.1 seconds

MPG:  19 mixed

Text:  Yousef Alvi  Photography:  Geoff Dennis

This is the 2018 Lexus RX350L.  It is without a doubt the most important vehicle that Lexus has ever produced.  Why do you ask?  Well the RX is Lexus’s bestselling model but a 3-row variant has been sorely missing from their lineup for years.  The RX350L fills that important void.  Add that along with the pent up demand, hungry dealers and cheap(ish) gas…you have a recipe for success.

It is easy to see why this RX350L will sell so well.  Everything from ingress to egress, switchgear to even the drivetrain engineered to make one feel relaxed.  The seats are coddling, the fit and finish is outstanding, and the drivetrain fades into the background.  You just glide the down the road with a relaxed and blissful sigh. 

On the practicality front, the RX350L is made for families on the go.  The second row slides fore and aft giving you additional room in the third row.  The second row captain chairs can also fit convertible car seats beautifully or an infant car seat with easy to find LATCH connectors.  They also slide forward giving you easy access to the third row.  Speaking of that all-important third row….it is mainly meant for small children but can work for smaller adults in a pinch.  The cargo area (with the third row up) has 7 cubic feet of room but fold it down it increased up to 23 feet.  The third row also comes with integrated cup holders, climate control and air vents. 

So does the 2018 Lexus RX350L live up to expectations.   I would prefer the third row to be a bit bigger but for smaller families…the 2018 Lexus RX350L is a stunning example of luxury family crossover.