Honda Accord Or Nissan Altima: Which One Does V-6 Better?
A decade ago, both the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima were offered in base four-cylinder versions... Read More
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still a very aseptic and detached experience for anyone who enjoys driving in the least
though the steering is quick and precise, it still lacks road feel
The hybrid is surprisingly quick off the line and there is a lot of power across the rpm range.
when I stomped on the accelerator at slow speeds, the transmission seemed to take a deep breath before shifting to second gear
there's no passion. No sex. It's like a really nice toaster. Or a coffee pot. It's kind of like driving a gussied-up Toyota Camry wagon.
PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
still a very aseptic and detached experience for anyone who enjoys driving in the least
MSN Autos
though the steering is quick and precise, it still lacks road feel
Edmunds
The hybrid is surprisingly quick off the line and there is a lot of power across the rpm range.
Motor Trend
when I stomped on the accelerator at slow speeds, the transmission seemed to take a deep breath before shifting to second gear
New York Times
there's no passion. No sex. It's like a really nice toaster. Or a coffee pot. It's kind of like driving a gussied-up Toyota Camry wagon.
AutoWeek
The 2012 Lexus RX 350 is relatively responsive and refined, but not at all exciting or nimble, and it's abundantly clear in even a short drive around the block that performance takes the second (or third) stage to comfort and refinement.
Power comes from a 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive an option. Even with the heavier AWD system, the RX 350 steps off the line quickly and smoothly, with buttery transmission shifts.
The RX tends to carry itself over roadways with the same muted, isolated feeling that its powertrains offer. Serious drivers will be dismayed that there's almost no affirming feedback through the steering or brakes,
In the Lexus RX 450h, which pairs a 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V-6 with a version of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive—one that, interestingly, electrically drives the rear wheels in all-wheel-drive form. Drive the hybrid gently and you'll glide from stops in electric-only mode, with the V-6 almost imperceptibly kicking on at 20 or 25 mph, typically. Drive it a little more rapidly, to go with the flow of traffic, and the V-6 thrums in the background, with the continuously variable transmission generally keeping the revs well below 2500 rpm unless you're close to full throttle. In general, the driving experience is even more isolated in the Hybrid—numb, really—although you'll notice a few more vibrations and just a bit of engine noise.
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Conclusion
Comfort comes before performance and excitement in the 2012 Lexus RX models, although it's plenty responsive for family use.
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