2010 Lexus RX 350 First Test

Lexus' RX line has been a strong seller since it first went on sale in 1998. Its huge numbers (many years have seen sales of more than 100,000 annually) have made it the one to beat in the luxury SUV category. The new generation returns for 2010 with a new look, refreshed interior, revised engine, new transmission, and new technology. It's still available in front- or all-wheel drive, with a 3.5-liter V-6 on its own or as part of a hybrid system.

On the outside, the 2010 RX 350 seems to be a contradiction: It was given crisper body lines and enough changes to show that it's a new model, yet it takes a careful look at one to realize it isn't, in fact, the older RX sitting in front of you. And some could argue that the only thing the changes achieved was that they made the SUV less attractive than it was before.

Along with the new style come new dimensions: The new model is 1.6 inches longer on a 1.0-inch-longer wheelbase, and it's 1.6 inches wider and a touch taller. Headroom is down, but other than that, driver and passengers have more space to stretch in the quiet cabin than they did before. The second row is notably roomy, even though the numbers show only minor improvements in head-, leg-, and hiproom. The driver-side door closes with a confident "thunk," and slipping behind the steering wheel of the new RX is far from a shock to the system. If you've been in a Lexus, you'll recognize the layout and locations of most, if not all, of the controls. Our RX 350 came with a 12-speaker AM/FM/CD/XM with NavTraffic and NavWeather; aux jack; heated, ventilated front seats; and a one-touch open/close moonroof. One feature that's new for 2010 is the Remote Touch Controller, which functions much like a computer mouse for the nav system, but our tester wasn't equipped with this item.