2010 Lexus RX

When Toyota’s luxury Lexus brand launched its first RX 300 “crossover” in 1998, it was essentially a gussied-up wagon body on a front-drive Toyota Camry chassis. And it was seen by some as a weak competitor to the truck-based SUVs that were fast gaining popularity. It looked and drove okay, but lacked real SUV towing, cargo and rugged off-road capabilities.


Without a suitably civilized truck platform at the time, Toyota was betting that fashion-conscious Americans with relatively modest hauling needs wouldn’t care (or know) that the RX was based on a mid-size sedan and might even prefer its more car-like ride, handling and fuel efficiency. Toyota was right—and now for 2010 come the most refined and tech-laden RX models yet.

Lively V6, Livelier Hybrid

The 2010 RX arrives in two distinct flavors: a V6-powered RX 350 and a gas/electric hybrid RX 450h. The 350’s updated 275-hp 3.5-liter V6’s dual “Variable Valve Timing with intelligence” (VVT-i) controls intake and exhaust valve timing, and an “Acoustic Control Induction System” (ACIS) adjusts intake runner length to engine speed and throttle position. Its new 6-speed “Multi-Mode” automatic gearbox enables manual shifting, downshifts directly from sixth to third or fifth to second for quick response, sets shift patterns based on vehicle speed and throttle position and uses road and driver inputs to prevent unnecessary shifting.


Available electronically controlled “Active Torque Control” all-wheel drive sends up to half of the available torque to the rear wheels depending on driving dynamics and road conditions. It’s quick to send torque to all four wheels when accelerating on a slippery surface, increases rear torque when the front tires lose traction and decreases it when the rear tires slip, and an AWD “Lock” switch provides enhanced traction in rough or sandy terrain.


The RX 450h offers an updated Lexus Hybrid Drive system that couples a 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 to two electric motors for V8-like (295 total horsepower) performance with four-cylinder (28 mpg city, 27 highway) economy. The 288-volt Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack under the rear seat is lighter and more compact than earlier versions, and an available all-wheel-drive system adds a third motor-generator to drive the rear wheels. Without a mechanical connection, it electronically adjusts front-to-rear torque to traction conditions.

Safety Dynamics and Chassis

Toyota’s “Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management” (VDIM), standard on the RX 450h and available on the RX 350, governs all dynamic systems—anti-lock braking (ABS), Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC)—to help maintain stability. TRAC and VSC can be switched off to free the car when stuck in mud or snow, and Hill-start Assist Control uses brake pressure to prevent rolling back when starting on an incline.