First Drive: All New RX 350 from Lexus: Redesigned and more refined

Here it is only one week into the year, and the 2009 Lexus RX 350 is on the way out, soon to be replaced by the sexier new 2010. Some manufacturers have been introducing their new models in spring, so 2009 models will be a confusing year in the resale department because some '09s are nearly as fresh as the 2010s. But the 2010s that we've reviewed so far are total redesigns, like the RX 350.

The 2010 looks basically the same only it's sleeker, while being just a touch bigger. The track is wider by 1.6 inches, while the wheelbase has been stretched 1 inch and overall length 1.6 inches, to improve ride and handling and add a bit more legroom. Four-tenths of an inch has been added to the height as well, for headroom.

The rear suspension is new, a double wishbone replacing the dual link with struts. Wheel size has been expanded an inch, to 18-inch standard and 19-inch optional. The spare is a compact, where before it was full size.

The 3.5-liter V6 engines now makes 275 horsepower, after a number of mechanical improvements to the valvetrain, throttle control and intake and exhaust manifolds. The torque is increased and its range broadened. There's a standard 6-speed sequential automatic transmission replacing the 5-speed whose manual mode was optional. The RX 350 needs this increase of 5 horsepower and 5 pound-feet of torque, because it's gained a whopping 470 pounds in front-wheel drive and 420 in all-wheel drive, slowing it by a tenth to 7.4 seconds from zero to 60, which is still quick.

Fuel mileage increases by about 1 mpg, to about 22 mpg combined, on premium gas; that gain is helped by better aerodynamics, with a Coefficient of Drag now .33, improved from .35. The RX 350's air pollution score is ULEV II in California (7 out of 10), and LEV II in other states (6). Lexus has yet to announce greenhouse gas scores.

More than one million Lexus RX models have been sold worldwide since the original RX 300 in 1998, making it the most successful luxury SUV (only now it's called a crossover). So Lexus wasn’t about to mess with the popular styling, still unmistakably Lexus RX. You have to park an '09 next to a '10 to see the places where it's gotten smoother, although the broader shoulders are evident. The tips of the arrowhead-shaped headlamps aim gracefully down toward the center of the tidy front fascia. The sharp spoiler over the rear glass totally conceals the wiper and is a significant aerodynamic enhancement.

The interior is especially striking. The center stack is like a titanium two-dimensional wedge, horizontal across its top and underlining the navigation screen that's easy to read because of its good visor. The stack slopes downward from right to left, diagonally past the shift lever that's moved up there to make room for the Remote Touch. The triangle in the stack contains controls for the sound and climate systems, with some buttons also on the steering wheel. A subtle amount of wood. The classy gauges emit a comforting "organic" white. There's an optional huge moonroof that lets in vast amounts of natural light.

Remote Touch is the best execution we've seen so far of a master control of the car's systems. It's far simpler than a BMW or Audi. For starters, the Remote Touch haptic device is ergonomically intelligent, moved by an index and/or middle finger, and clicked (it makes a satisfying little blip noise, not a click) by gently squeezing on the sides with your thumb and other fingers. There's a Menu screen with five simple choices, for navigation, info/phone, setup, climate and audio. When you go there, the subsequent steps are easy to understand.

The voice recognition is also the best we've encountered. You can state an address aloud, and the nav system will program it. It recognizes casual language. You can say "it's too hot" and it will ask you what temperature you want. You can say you're hungry for Italian food, and the nav system will display the three closest Italian restaurants. You can program your phone book and simply say a name, and it will dial that person's number. There's an optional 15-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound system with incredible acoustics, and 7-inch screens for the front seatbacks to watch DVD's.

Compared to the '09 model, there's a bit more cargo space with the rear seats up, and slightly less with them folded flat; total interior volume remains the same.

We got most of our miles in an all-wheel-drive RX 350 with the sport package, which we liked more because the suspension was tauter without sacrificing ride comfort in the least. We deliberately smacked some speedbumps at 20 mph, and the Lexus took the jolt in stride. The handling was uncommonly sweet for an SUV, even a crossover, and the engine makes it downright fast. The tires squeal before they lose grip and nudge you into the land of oversteer. With the six-speed transmission in manual mode, we wished the digital gear indicator changed to remain accurate, when the tranny kicked down on its own.

We came to a very twisty section, mostly downhill, right behind a Subaru WRX. Should we? Well of course we should. He took off and we followed, losing ground only when he floored it and when our VDIM stability control kicked in - we would have turned it off, but we were too busy driving to look for the button. Actually, if we recall, we hit the button once, but it came back on (when you're driving really hard it's insistent, and you need to hold it down). We still stayed on his butt, struggling with understeer, but we're pretty sure it would have been easier and smoother, no risk, with the stability control off.

We reached a stop sign after about five miles, and the WRX driver stopped and waved us alongside. He rolled down his window and flashed a big grin, as the scent of hot brakes wafted off the 19-inch Lexus wheels. The 2010 brakes are bigger, by the way: 12.9-inch ventilated discs in front, 12.2 solid discs in rear.

"I'm impressed!" he said. "That's my road, you know. I've never seen an SUV that can run like that."

We explained that we were road-testing a 2010 model (we are professionals, do not try this at home), and he replied, "Ah, I knew you were up to something."

Indeed. Call it research.

The 2009 RX 350 had a base price of $37,700, or $39,100 for all-wheel-drive, well worth it for the added traction. Don't expect the 2010 price to be much if any higher. Add up the improvements and it becomes a great value - an encouraging trend in so many new cars.