Lexus dropped the maw-like grille, terrible infotainment, and edgy-for-edginess’ sake portions of the outgoing generation of the RX in favor of a more likable luxury design.

We rank the 2023 Lexus RX-350 as one of the best options in the luxury midsize crossover segment. Changes for the all-new 2023 model have removed most of the complaints consumers had with this vehicle in its previous generations. Including its cramped third row and near-useless infotainment system.

We applaud Lexus for keeping its not-boring styling in place while toning down the more cringe-worthy parts of it. Like the maw of a grille that marked most models previously. This less edgy model is much more desirable.

Lexus also dropped its six-cylinder engine in favor of a turbocharged four and that was for the better. We liked the V6 before, but the sportier output of the turbo-4 is a lot more fitting with the segment and its buyers.

Boxier than the Lexus, the BMW X5 is equally as sporty and utilitarian as is the RX-350. Most will find the Lexus to be more comfortable and luxury-oriented by comparison, though.

Tough new competition for the old guard in the luxury segments, Genesis has been hitting every nail squarely on the head. The GV80 perhaps exemplifies this, making a mark in between the austere luxury of the Germans and the soft luxury of the Japanese. We feel it’s a solid competitor against the Lexus and worth cross-shopping.

Equal to Lexus in interior fitment and luxury is, perhaps, only the Mercedes brand. The GLE is a beautiful midsize offering, but it’s expensive by comparison and doesn’t have the warranty or reputation for reliability that the Lexus has.

The starting price for the RX-350 is in the $50,000 range. Most buyers will be at $55,000 or thereabouts when options are added.

The table below shows the most common trim levels and how much they will run you.

Lexus did a top-down redesign for the RX, marking the fifth generation for this luxury crossover. Sticking with its winning formula of a quiet, comfortable interior with luxurious design and materials, Lexus upgraded several parts of the RX 350 to meet new expectations.

On its exterior, the 2023 Lexus RX-350 has a similar, but updated look. Lines have been softened somewhat and edges dulled in order to present a more sleek, contemporary style. It’s still immediately recognizable as a Lexus, but loses the overly-edgy appearance it had before.

Inside, the RX-350 is very similar to its predecessor. Updated design choices focus on simplification, but all of the luxury and comfort expected of a Lexus remains.

One of the sticking points for Lexus models in the past was infotainment. The clunky mouse-like (but not really mouse-like) rotary dial interface is now gone. Instead, a somewhat more intuitive touchscreen is found. It’s still slow on the uptake and its graphics are outdated, but it’s a big step up from the nearly unusable system that was in place before.

Lexus dropped its six-cylinder engine option for the 350 and is instead using a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 275 horsepower to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, all-wheel drive (which we drove) is optional. This engine change is a good one, overall. Though the previous V6 was a smooth performer, this new engine has better efficiency and a sportier feel to it.

That change in pep makes this new Lexus RX-350 a new competitor for some of the more performance-oriented options in the midsize luxury crossover segment. Normally only true of the F Sport models, this attribute is now a part of the RX across the board.

For everyday driving, the 2023 RX-350 is a nice ride with everything one would expect of a Lexus. It’s smooth, quiet, and luxurious without being snobby.

The 2023 Lexus RX-350 ranks very well in safety scoring.

We could not find crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2023 RX-350, but the window sticker (aka “Monroney”) for it lists a five-star rating.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has given the 2023 RX its top-most accolade of “Top Safety Pick+” with perfect scores across the board for crash testing and advanced safety systems assessments. Including child LATCH system accessibility.

Most every outlet judging reliability is ranking the Lexus RX-350 at the top of its class. Lexus as a brand tends to take most reliability awards by storm and the RX has a history of ranking well in reliability metrics.

We expect that the 2023 RX-350 will be as reliable or more so than most of its competitors.

The base model RX-350 (appropriately called “Base”) is a good start and probably has most of the items luxury buyers in this segment are looking for. We think that the Premium trim, however, adds a little more without much cost.

The parking sensors that come with the RX-350 Premium are extremely helpful and the real wood trim is a nice touch of ambiance. The wireless smartphone charger and ventilated front seats are good bonuses as well.

Lexus’ new car warranty is just above average for the segment. It’s good compared to the German makes, but not as good as the Korean Genesis brand’s.

• Basic: 4 years / 50k miles
• PowerTrain: 6 years / 70k miles
• Wheel alignment: 1 year / 12k miles
• Rust: 6 years / unlimited miles
• If buying used look at our [best extended warranties]https://www.cartalk.com/extended-warranties)

There are previous generations of the RX-350 available on the used market and most of them are a solid choice. The 2023 model year RX-350 is all-new, however, and used models are not readily available for it. For that reason, plus the warranty coverages, we’d recommend going new with a purchase.

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