Barnes and Noble introduces the NOOK
CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 07/25/2006
- Released on: 02/24/2006
Our tester came with the Performance Package ($4,955), which includes four-wheel air suspension, sequential automatic transmission, and adaptive front lighting. While its enhanced performance will grab the notice of luxury sedan owners with growing families, the RX 350 comes with all of the standard appointments and safety features one would expect on an upscale SUV: leather- and wood-trimmed interior, a decent standard audio system with a six-disc in-dash changer, and automatic controls for everything from the heated outside mirrors to the rear tailgate. À la carte options on the RX 350 include Lexus's fifth-generation voice-activated GPS satellite navigation system with an integrated backup camera, Bluetooth hands-free calling ($2,650), and a rear-seat entertainment system ($1,740). An upgraded Mark Levinson stereo system is available only as part of a package that includes navigation, Bluetooth, and performance upgrades, for $6,190.
Without any of the major information/entertainment options, our tester based at $37,400; with the performance package, which includes optional multistage heated front seats ($540), a $92 cargo mat, and a delivery fee of $695, it leaves the lot for $43,682.Our RX 350 was decked out with the usual Lexus cabin luxury in the shape of ivory-leather trim with (imaginatively named) golden bird's-eye maple accents. The driving position in the RX 350 offers a commanding view of the road, and there is ample legroom and headroom for taller passengers, both in front and in the back. The RX 350's cargo space of 84.7 cubic feet is respectable for a car-based SUV and is maximized by the folding, 40/20/40-split rear seats, which can slide forward and backward depending on passenger or cargo priorities.
Rear visibility is somewhat hindered, however, by the RX 350's raked roofline and wide C-pillars. Up front, 10-way power seats with optional heating and ventilation as well as dual-zone climate control keep the driver and the front passenger in their comfort zone. Our test car also came with a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel with memory as part of the Performance Package.
Unfortunately, the test model did not come with many of the optional gadgets that would differentiate the RX 350 from lesser SUVs. Most conspicuously, it did without Lexus's fifth-generation navigation unit, which so impressed us in the 2006 Lexus IS 350. Navigation, along with a backup camera and a Bluetooth hands-free interface, is available for an additional $2,650 or as part of the Luxury Value Edition package, which also includes an upgraded 11-speaker 210-watt audio system from Mark Levinson. This upgraded system needs to be outstanding if it is to justify an upgrade from the RX 350's standard satellite-ready, MP3- and WMA-compatible AM/FM/CD audio system with a six-disc in-dash changer, which we found to be by far the most impressive feature of our admittedly low-tech tester. While the display of ID3-tag information for MP3 and WMA CDs is limited to a single, truncated line of text, sound quality through the six speakers is excellent for a standard system.
Incorporating an Automatic Sound Levelizer (ASL) and a digital sound processor, the audio system delivers clean bass and clear separation across a range of music genres, and audio clarity is enhanced by the RX 350's inclusion of vibration-canceling engine mounts.
The other major entertainment option available on the RX 350 is the rear-seat DVD entertainment system with the roof-mounted LCD and wireless headphones that we saw in the 2006 RX 400h, and which comes with a 9-inch screen--2 inches bigger than that in the RX 330.
Also available--but not featured in our model--is adaptive (or in Lexus-speak, Dynamic Laser) cruise control to enable drivers to electronically maintain a preset distance while following vehicles on the highway.The only significant external difference between the RX 350 and the outgoing RX 330 (the car it replaces) is the addition of a grille below the front bumper. The 3.5-liter V-6 RX 350 is more powerful than the Lexus RX 330, generating a healthy 270 horsepower, which is enough to propel the 4,090-pound RX 350 from standing to 60mph in 7.3 seconds. Engine tech is also upgraded in the RX 350, which uses dual variable-valve timing to optimize performance and reduce emissions. With the Performance Package, the RX 350's 5-speed automatic gearbox includes sequential transmission.
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