2012 Lexus RX 350

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(4.9) 47 reviews
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2012 Lexus RX 350
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Key Specs
Our Take
Overview
Photos
Reviews
Safety & Recalls
Warranty & CPO
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Key Specs

of the 2012 Lexus RX 350. Base trim shown.

Our Take

From the Cars.com Vehicle Test Team

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

Notable Features of the 2012 Lexus RX 350

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

2012 Lexus RX 350 Overview

By Cars.com Editors
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 capa...

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

 


View 19 Photos

Latest 2012 RX 350 Stories

See all 2012 Lexus RX 350 articles >

Consumer Reviews

4.9
47 reviews
Exterior Styling
(4.7)
Performance
(4.7)
Interior Design
(4.7)
Comfort
(4.8)
Reliability
(4.9)
Value For The Money
(4.7)

What Drivers Are Saying

(5.0)

Happiest with this car than any other we owned

by Erskine from Winter park florida on August 19, 2018

This is the best car we have owned, we have had it serviced whenever it is due. Have not had any problems so far. I don?t think we have ever owned a car this long. The service has always been ... Read full review

(4.0)

Great family car

by Harps from Palo Alto on May 31, 2018

Great family car. Not too big for the daily drop-offs but large enough for the long haul road trips. Very reliable and easy to maintain. Would recommend. Read full review

Safety & Recalls

Recalls

The 2012 Lexus RX 350 currently has 1 recall

IIHS 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.

Manufacturer Warranty

  • Bumper-to-Bumper

    48 months / 50,000 miles

  • Powertrain

    72 months / 70,000 miles

  • Roadside Assistance

    48 months / unlimited distance

CPO Program & Warranty

Certified Pre-Owned by Lexus

Program Benefits

Every L/Certified vehicle now comes with an unlimited-mileage warranty up to 6 years, complimentary maintenance plan. Each L/Certified Pre-Owned Lexus must pass a rigorous inspection and be thoroughly reconditioned to meet the same high standards as a new Lexus. Exclusively at a Lexus dealership.

  • Limited Warranty

    Unlimited Mileage Warranty Up To 6 Years

    Warranty is valid for a minimum of two years/unlimited mileage after the expiration of 4 yr/50,000 mile new vehicle Basic Warranty, or two years from L/Certified purchase or lease date, whichever occurs later.

  • Eligibility

    Under 6 years / 70,000 miles

    Vehicles receive a 161 point inspection and reconditioning.

    See inspection details.

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