2011 Lexus RX 350, RX 450h released in Australia

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By Tim Beissmann | November 30th, 2010

Lexus Australia has released the upgraded 2011 Lexus RX range, with added safety features and interior technology among the key improvements.

Lexus’ Advanced Pre-Collision Safety (APCS) system with pre-collision seatbelts and brakes is available in the Sports and Sports Luxury RX 350 and 450h models.

The APCS system uses a wave-based radar to monitor the road ahead, scanning for potential hazards.

If it determines that a frontal crash cannot be avoided, the seatbelts are pretensioned, the brakes are primed and an audible warning is sounded. The brakes will be engaged if the driver does not react to the warnings.

All RX models also receive an upgraded navigation and audio system with full USB connectivity, allowing iPod/iPhone content to be displayed, browsed and selected through the navigation screen.

All models also receive a 12V power outlet below the centre console.

The upgraded 2011 Lexus RX range is available now, with prices unchanged from the 2010 model.

• RX 350 Prestige – $82,900
• RX 350 Sports – $89,900
• RX 350 Sports Luxury – $96,900
• RX 450h Prestige – $89,900
• RX 450h Sports – $96,900
• RX 450h Sports Luxury – $107,900

Cranky Franky

This is an overpriced tacky vehicle that appeals to American driving dynamics and Asian tastes.

ST

[italics]Love your racial generalisation![/italics]
Duckula

Its made by an asian company for the american market – which australians obviously are happy with, cos we buy lots of them.. I’m all good with american driving dynamics, but not so sure what you think ‘asian tastes are’ as most cars made in asia are almost the same in spec in australia anyways…
MF

In Lexus, dealers look after their customers.

In MB/BMW, dealers rip off their customers.

Duckula

oh look its exactly the same as it was 10 years ago – another great job by Toyota… Im not sure who has an easier job, Toyota designers or 911 designers…

MF

That proves good designs dont need to be changed often.

Duckula

If you think the exterior or interior of this thing still looks good after so many years then u need some new glasses…

MF

This is purely subjective. If they still sell well without doing much change with it, then it is a good design. Old things not necessarily equal bad, you need to open up your mind…

Duckula

And you need to move on from a tired old design… just cos its good, doesnt mean it shouldnt change… its called evolution… go back to your good old Black and White TV why dont u…
Handsome Al

What MF trying to say is that the design could stay similar to the old one as long as it works, but the technology and everything else are improved. That’s why MF doesnt have a Black and White tv anymore.. and I guess Duckula must have a Hexagon TV instead of a more regular design of Square??
MF

Yea exactly. I never say “dont change a thing”! Did i?

(Firstly i said dont need to be changed often, lastly i said without doing much change.)

For example, pens, all pens look pretty similar, like a stick. The original design is already so good that u dont need to change the basic shape of it.

matt

wow thats considered a luxury car make interior? gross

brent

My wife drives a RX350 from 2007 and we’d struggle with an upgrade to that fugly dash. Like the Mercs – in most cases I much prefer the 2007 designs to the current models.

Nat

agreed i have an 2008 rx350 and dont wanna go to a new rx350 as im not to fussed on the inside i prefer the previous interior to the new one its much nicer. As for the service i cant agree more bmw/merc/audi all seem to be the same with there ignorant arrogant staff that look right through you because you dont dress up in suits or look “rich enough”. The lexus dealers on the other hand like you say couldnt do enough to help with any questions and as per they covenant they treat you as you would a friend in your house. I say bmw/merc and audi really really need to learn a thing or two from lexus about how to deliver professional customer service, lexus even sent my partner flowers on her birthday i mean thats service certainly dont get that from other makers.

brent

Can’t argue there . Our family has a Merc and a Lexus and the purchasing experience was a tale of two experiences.

I walked into a number of Merc dealers and the sales people just looked through me – apparently I was too young and didn’t look rich enough. In the end the only way I was taken seriously was after ringing and arranging a test drive.

The Lexus dealerships were all extremely professional and couldn’t do enough to help.

I got the feeling Lexus were honoured to have me as a customer (whether they were or not) and Merc would perhaps consider bestowing me with the honour of being a customer.

brent

that was intended to be a reply to MF in regards to dealers.
Alexander

The rudeness in Audi/BMW dealers astounds me, I was treated pretty badly when seriously considering an A3 TDIe or a 120D, they obviously didn’t see me as a worthy customer, due to being pretty young. I ended up walking into Sydney City Toyota & being treated MUCH better, and buying a Toyota…

Duckula

AUDI dealers are the worst dealers ever…. the worst of the worst are at the Audi headoffice ( showroom) in Waterloo in Sydney – everyone should go there… its sooo bad its funny, you swear your on Candid Camera its that bad…

Monster

I have been there before to help my friend to take delivery of her S5, the questions they ask is quite patronising and the entire delivery experience was disgusting with no customer service at all. The S5 isn’t some cheap Audi and we expected to receive some decent customer service, but no.
The Realist

Interesting, the same type of thing happened to me.

Seems if you’re not a snappy dresser the morons at Audi don’t care.

What was funny was I drove in with my colleague in his BMW M6 and when I handed over my business card some sleazebag firstly cracked a cheap joke about my qualifications, and then thought the M6 was a 3 series…

My friends who work in banking swear by Audis though!!

My experience at the Perth Audi showroom was no better, and I drove in with my M5 to test drive an S5!

kennyboye

Hear Hear. I am a snappy dresser and earn reasonable $ but still feel intimidated and put off by Audi showroom in Brisbane which is not conducive to buying their cars I can tell you. Feels like you are going to the bank manager to ask for an overdraft on the mortgage….VW were fine, BMW were OK but indifferent (gave me a tester with 50K on the clock!) and LR/Volvo seemed the most helpful and friendly. At the end of the day I suppose the most important thing is getting a decent test drive then going straight to a broker!
Leave the wank for the wankers.

Luxury009

I have personally found BMW dealerships around Melbourne to be the best and most consistent. We bought our BMW from the South Melbourne dealership and everyone we’ve dealt with there have been fantastic – I even got a birthday card from them.

Lexus – it depends on which dealership one is dealing with. Melbourne City Lexus has a rather ‘cheap’ feel and the salesman we got gave us the hard sell the minute we walked in – no tact, didn’t listen to a word we said, tried to sell us another vehicle (the discounts are better) than the one we wanted. On the other hand, I’ve had stellar experiences with Lexus of Brighton. We went in to test drive the IS250C and whilst doing the test drive, they cleaned our car for us and we found tea and coffee satchels and some flowers in our boot. Mind you this was only a test drive – we did tell them we’re still undecided on IS250C vs Audi A5 Cab!

Mercedes – my opinion might be a little skewed as a mateo f mine is branch manager at one of the dealerships.

Audi have been by far the worst – ranging from outright rude and unhelpful (the city dealership) to indifferent (Audi Brighton).

brent

I can vouch for the Audi experience too – I walked around Audi Doncaster for 20 mins waiting for someone to so much as establish eye contact and they all just sat at their desks playing solitaire or whatever.

Before I left I went over and asked them about the S6 and S8 (enough to make any smart salesman’s eyes light up). The best answer I got was “there’s none in Australia and dunno when there will be”. Okay then………

Luxury009

It is a real shame. Audi has such aspiration for their brand, and has done a great job in marketing. I want to get an A5 but the problem is trying to get their attention in the first place lol. I’m willing to put up with less-than-excellent service if i really like the car, after all I’m not driving the service, but what’s the use of having an excellent product if people have to try so hard to obtain them in the first place.

PS – anti-spam word Porsche

Nat

I will say i went to bmw townsville about 2months ago to look at the x5 and they only had one x40d and i was going to cairns for a holiday for a week so they put plates on it and registered it for us to take for a week to cairns so their service was awesome really good. Audi also gave us a car for a couple of days and really looked after us quite good. But range rover just appalling really put me off buying the car and i wanted a range rover when i asked about a courtesy car for servicing oh you’ll have to fit in with us i said i live 6hours away and work awkward mining rosters still couldn’t get a guarantee of any car hopeless mind you a service is nearly $800. But i cant believe some of the stories these dealerships should be bending over backwards for business. If i get bad customer service i just turn up the asshole meter and treat em like shit and be rude they wanna do it to me ill do it back.

Camski

I concur, at 18 Lexus didn’t look at me stupid and were happy enough to let in their IS F test driver (only one in Australia at the time).

BMW – forget it. Benz though, that’s dealer dependent, if you’re dealing with a decent dealer and you’re looking at something a bit more upmarket away from a B Class or C200, they treat you decently. Although I think this can also apply to BMW, just not my personal experience – if you stick to the same dealer and own a couple of cars from them, they tend to do their best to keep you there in the showroom.

Nat

I recently looked at a new bmw x5 through townsville bmw and i will say they were quite good with they service but it still wasnt to the lexus standard quite annoying. However like you say i had my first lexus and 19 and they were happy to let me test drive anything i wanted which was good. I only go to dealers with the best service and price was going to look at range rover but in townsville they were soo hopeless i walked out smoking infront of me trying to buy a car doesnt sweeten the deal sorry. Lexus townsville is a bit hopeless but they still try hard.

Monster

Actually I have quite the opposite experience with Lexus. I walked into their showroom, and within a few minutes the sales person asked if I am going to purchase a ‘prestige vehicle’ So I went off at him, which he apologise and said many people walk through the Lexus show room to the Toyota showroom.

So I went to the MB showroom and they treated me as proper customer.

MF

Wellz at least he apologised i guess. But yea, dat wouldnt be a good experience.
Lexus lends u a free loan car when u have ur car serviced though. I think dats a big plus!

Shak

Is that pic of the bridge before you arrive at the Barangaroo development area?
bangel

Wow the fan boys are out in strength today .

Shak

They are right though. While i have only had positive experiences with MB in the past, Audi and BMW have been no where near what i got from Lexus. One key example was at AIMS. The lady helping us out actually made me feel like she wanted to be there, and she had genuine knowledge about her product, and it felt as if she truly loved the CT200h. Lexus just have the Germans trumped in dealer service quality. There is little point in the germans claiming they drive better when they pretty much put you off driving their cars in the first place.

simon

..put who off?
the german brands are selling a lot more than lexus..& lexus are cheaper..

Dady

Your wrong my bro.

The german brands goes stronger down with the prices.
ohreally

how many of these comments were written by german car dealership folk?

I can see at least 4 obviously fake experiences written to discredit a rival company or toot their own horn.

I can attest to being met with ridicule when being greeted by luxury car dealers. Does someone need to drive in with a luxury rental to be treated with any respect?