Distinct Animal

Manila,Philippines - The moment I was handed over the keys to the vehicle at the posh Lexus Manila showroom in Bonifacio Global City, the message was perfectly clear: This isn’t your garden-variety test drive.

The vehicle that I was to take home and around town for a weekend, as you may have already surmised, was the Lexus RX350, the Japanese luxury brand’s best selling vehicle in its relatively short but already storied history. My mandate was clear from the onset, then. I was to decipher how this unique realization of automotive engineering achieved such a feat – given that it has a pretty steep asking price (P4.208 mil in local currency). It didn’t take too long for me to start achieving said goal.

All I did was take my seat in one of five luxuriously crafted seats (the one that matters most, of course – the driver’s seat) and my mind was off and running. With the premium leather seats wafting with that unique new car scent, I was immediately mesmerized. But what really got to me was the attention to detail on almost every front. The RX350 is equipped with seating position memory switches for driver and front passenger seats. It also features an auxiliary jack for audio devices, a premium 9-speaker sound system and independent temperature controls. The controls themselves are a sight to behold as they are punctuated by a multi-information display using white organic LED. Then there are Multi-Information Switches on the steering wheel that help customize numerous vehicle settings such as options for Speed-Sensitive Auto Lock, Shift-Linked Auto Lock/Unlock, Light Sensor Sensitivity, and Interior/Exterior Off Time Adjustment.

As I started the vehicle, I noticed a barely audible hum from the 3.5-liter dual VVT-i V6 engine – a sure sign of fantastic noise dampening, no doubt. The RX350’s powerplant, ably complemented by a 6-speed automatic transmission, was responsive to the driver’s inputs. It’s no BMW M6, true, but it can’t be considered a slouch either. The ride was fairly comfortable – especially considering that this vehicle does not sport luxury car suspension specifications. Stiff it wasn’t at all.

Despite all these positive experiences from behind the wheel and inside the vehicle, many will argue that it’s the vehicle’s exterior that makes the RX350 a sure winner. I must admit, it is quite the handsome crossover. The stylized “L” in the center of the waterfall grille gets it all off on the right foot. The grille almost seamlessly extends to a subtle power bulge that runs the length of the RX 350’s hood. Its large headlamps then stretch rearwards – insinuating movement and motion even on standstill. Towards the back, a steeply raked backlight, large clear-lens tail lamps, and a backlight-mounted rear spoiler accentuate the RX350’s sporty yet luxurious character. Other notable exterior features include a moonroof with jam protection system, power door mirrors with foot area illumination, and LED high-mount stop lamp. Simply said, the RX350’s taut lines exude the kind of coherence many a vehicle design studio would be hard pressed to better.

The RX350 also runs the gamut where safety features are concerned. It has Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Brake Assist, and Adaptive Front-Lighting System. Passive safety features include dual-stage SRS driver and front passenger airbags as well as SRS knee, side and curtain shield airbags. In the event of rear-end collisions the RX350 owner can count on Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seats to provide added support to the front occupants’ neck and upper back.

To sum it all up, the RX350 is special because it’s a vehicle that combines all the necessary ingredients to that make up a good vehicle in just the right amounts. It’s unique. It’s handsome. It’s responsive. It’s sporty. It’s luxurious. It’s comfortable. It’s safe. It’s all of this at the same time. It’s no wonder, then, that the RX350 is Lexus’ best selling vehicle. It really answers the needs of the discerning few who wouldn’t mind shelling out a bit more cash for a lot more features (relatively speaking, of course – but then this is exactly why the Lexus badge is reserved for the chosen few).