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2012 Lexus RX 350

2012 Lexus RX 350

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$12,042 — $20,386 USED
19
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Sport Utility
5 Seats
21 MPG
(Combined)
 Key specs of the base trim
 — 
Compare 1 trims

Overview

Is this the car for you?
 (4.9) 71 reviews

The Good

  • Overall refinement
  • Seat comfort
  • Optional Pre-Collision System
  • Optional dual-screen entertainment system

The Bad

  • Road noise
  • Leather seats not standard
  • Joystick-operated navigation system

What to Know

about the 2012 Lexus RX 350
  • 10 airbags
  • FWD or AWD
  • Optional wide-view side monitor
  • Optional head-up display
  • RX now takes regular gas

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2012 Lexus RX 350 Review

from the Cars.com expert editorial team

Vehicle Overview

Lexus’ popular five-seat RX crossover shares a lot of components with the Toyota Venza crossover. All-wheel drive is optional. Rivals include the Acura MDX, Buick Enclave and Lincoln MKX.

The RX comes as a gas-powered RX 350 or gas-electric hybrid RX 450h. The latter model is covered separately in the Cars.com Research section.

New for 2012
The RX 350’s 3.5-liter V-6 engine is now rated for regular gas, and a new Appearance Package features 19-inch seven-spoke wheels and darker headlight housings.

Exterior
The RX 350 has a downright wagonlike stance. In back are frosted taillight effects. Exterior features include:

  • Standard 18-inch alloy wheels
  • Optional 19-inch wheels
  • Water-repellant front door glass
  • Automatic on/off headlights


Interior
The RX’s interior has swooping panels and futuristic controls. Chief among them is Lexus’ Remote Touch system, which uses a knob to navigate menus with a mouselike cursor on the dashboard screen. Other features include voice-recognition software that Lexus says will pick up conversational prompts rather than formal, specific commands.

High-tech options include a head-up display with LED lighting that’s purportedly bright enough to read even on a sunny day. Interior features include:

  • Cloth seats are standard; leather is optional
  • Real wood interior trim
  • 10-way power front seats


Under the Hood
A 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 is standard; it works with a six-speed automatic transmission. Maximum towi...

Vehicle Overview

Lexus’ popular five-seat RX crossover shares a lot of components with the Toyota Venza crossover. All-wheel drive is optional. Rivals include the Acura MDX, Buick Enclave and Lincoln MKX.

The RX comes as a gas-powered RX 350 or gas-electric hybrid RX 450h. The latter model is covered separately in the Cars.com Research section.

New for 2012
The RX 350’s 3.5-liter V-6 engine is now rated for regular gas, and a new Appearance Package features 19-inch seven-spoke wheels and darker headlight housings.

Exterior
The RX 350 has a downright wagonlike stance. In back are frosted taillight effects. Exterior features include:

  • Standard 18-inch alloy wheels
  • Optional 19-inch wheels
  • Water-repellant front door glass
  • Automatic on/off headlights


Interior
The RX’s interior has swooping panels and futuristic controls. Chief among them is Lexus’ Remote Touch system, which uses a knob to navigate menus with a mouselike cursor on the dashboard screen. Other features include voice-recognition software that Lexus says will pick up conversational prompts rather than formal, specific commands.

High-tech options include a head-up display with LED lighting that’s purportedly bright enough to read even on a sunny day. Interior features include:

  • Cloth seats are standard; leather is optional
  • Real wood interior trim
  • 10-way power front seats


Under the Hood
A 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 is standard; it works with a six-speed automatic transmission. Maximum towing capacity is 3,500 pounds, a rating the MKX can match and the MDX and Enclave can beat. Mechanical features include:

  • Standard front-wheel drive
  • Optional all-wheel drive
  • Automatic transmission features clutchless-manual mode


Safety
Ten standard airbags include four in front — the two required chest airbags plus two knee airbags — as well as seat-mounted side-impact airbags for both rows of seats. Head-protecting side curtain airbags cover both rows, too.

Lexus’ Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system, which better integrates the electronic stability system with various other systems, is optional. So is a radar-based Pre-Collision System that can cinch the seat belts and prime the brakes for maximum response should it detect an imminent impact. An optional side-mirror-mounted camera system gives drivers a wide view of the adjacent lane. Additional standard safety features include:

  • Active front head restraints
  • All-disc antilock brakes
  • Traction control
  • Electronic stability system

 

Consumer Reviews

What drivers are saying

4.9
71 reviews — Read All reviews
Exterior Styling
(4.7)
Performance
(4.7)
Interior Design
(4.7)
Comfort
(4.8)
Reliability
(4.9)
Value For The Money
(4.7)

Read reviews that mention:

(5.0)

Solid

by TJH from Chicago on January 3, 2021

Solid ride. Classic Toyota/Lexus styling & “less is more” design. Super comfortable, rides very smooth/quiet. Modern but without feeling cluttered or junky. Performs great in ice & snow. Read full review

(5.0)

A very reliable and fun to drive SUV.

by Lexus Fan from Charlotte NC on October 30, 2020

We Bought our RX used and we couldn't be any happier than we are with the Lexus. Very comfortable, peppy, and gets great gas mileage. Read full review

Safety

Recalls and crash tests

Recalls

The 2012 Lexus RX 350 currently has 1 recall

Crash and Rollover Test Ratings

Based on 2012 Lexus RX 350 Base

IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor.

Head Restraints and Seats

Dynamic Rating
good
Overall Rear
good
Seat Head/Restraint Geometry
good

Moderate overlap front

Chest
good
Head/Neck
good
Left Leg/Foot
good
Overall Front
good
Restraints
good
Right Leg/Foot
good
Structure/safety cage
good

Other

Roof Strength
good

Side

Driver Head Protection
good
Driver Head and Neck
good
Driver Pelvis/Leg
good
Driver Torso
good
Overall Side
good
Rear Passenger Head Protection
good
Rear Passenger Head and Neck
good
Rear Passenger Pelvis/Leg
good
Rear Passenger Torso
good
Structure/safety cage
good
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit research and communications organization funded by auto insurers.

Warranty

New car and certified pre-owned programs by Lexus

New Car Program Benefits

  • Bumper-to-Bumper

    48 months / 50,000 miles

  • Powertrain

    72 months / 70,000 miles

  • Roadside Assistance

    48 months / unlimited distance

Have questions about warranties or CPO programs?

See warranty FAQs

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Cars.com Car Seat Check

Certified child passenger safety technicians conduct hands-on tests of a car’s Latch system and check the vehicle’s ability to accommodate different types of car seats. The RX 350 received the following grades on a scale of A-F.*
* This score may not apply to all trims, especially for vehicles with multiple body styles that affect the space and design of the seating.

Warranty FAQs

What is a Bumper-to-Bumper warranty?

Often called a basic warranty or new-vehicle warranty, a bumper-to-bumper policy covers components like air conditioning, audio systems, vehicle sensors, fuel systems and major electrical components. Most policies exclude regular maintenance like fluid top offs and oil changes, but a few brands have separate free-maintenance provisions, and those that do offer them is slowly rising. Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically expire faster than powertrain warranties.

What is a Powertrain warranty?

Don't be misled a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty doesn't promise a decade of free repairs for your car. It typically covers just the engine and transmission, along with any other moving parts that lead to the wheels, like the driveshaft and constant velocity joints. Some automakers also bundle seat belts and airbags into their powertrain warranties. With a few exceptions, powertrain warranties don't cover regular maintenance like engine tuneups and tire rotations.

What is included in Roadside Assistance?

Some automakers include roadside assistance with their bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranties, while others have separate policies. These programs cover anything from flat-tire changes and locksmith services to jump-starts and towing. Few reimburse incidental costs like motel rooms (if you have to wait for repairs).

What other services could be included in a warranty?

Some automakers include free scheduled maintenance for items such as oil changes, air filters and tire rotations. Some include consumables including brake pads and windshield wipers; others do not. They are typically for the first couple of years of ownership of a new car.

What does CPO mean?

A certified pre-owned or CPO car has been inspected to meet minimum quality standards and typically includes some type of warranty. While dealers and third parties certify cars, the gold standard is an automaker-certified vehicle that provides a factory-backed warranty, often extending the original coverage. Vehicles must be in excellent condition and have low miles and wear to be certified, which is why off-lease vehicles feed many CPO programs.

See also the latest CPO incentives by automaker

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