2009 Lexus RX 350 Pebble Beach edition. Click image to enlarge

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2009 Lexus RX 350

Oshawa, Ontario – Pebble Beach isn’t my idea of a prime vacation location; save for its annual gathering of classic cars, its emphasis on golf doesn’t hold much appeal to me. Still, I could have used a shot of its California weather when faced with a drive along Ontario’s Highway 401 in one of this winter’s nastier snowstorms. As it was, while I didn’t have west-coast sunshine, I had the Pebble Beach Edition of the 2009 Lexus RX 350 instead.

The Pebble Beach package is one of the few changes for the 2009 version, as the RX morphs into an all-new model for 2010. Previously added to the SC 430 convertible, the option package been expanded to other models for 2009, including the ES 350 and LS 600h L.

Lexus “steps up” its trim packages, and the Pebble Beach edition is an additional $11,050 on top of the RX 350’s base $42,950 tag. It encompasses the Premium Package ($5,000 on its own, with premium stereo, power liftgate, sunroof, wood and leather steering wheel, adaptive headlamps and premium illuminated entry system), the Premium with Navigation ($8,650 by itself, which adds DVD-based navigation system, backup camera, Bluetooth and a cassette deck), and the Touring Package ($9,550 alone, and adding all of the above, plus 18-inch alloy wheels). The Pebble Beach then adds uniquely-styled 18-inch wheels, Beach-specific grille, floor mats and badges, colour-matched rear spoiler, and a “gift set” – not handed over with my tester, but undoubtedly very nice – of a leather bag and matching wallet.

The package normally comes with all-season tires, but mine had been swapped for some aggressive Bridgestone Blizzak winter meats. The combination of these tires and the RX 350’s standard full-time four-wheel drive meant that my winter trip required only a little more concentration than usual. In some areas, a line of white-knuckled drivers guided their all-season-shod charges along two cleared ruts at a blistering 60 km/h, no doubt with nasty words as I went by them in the unploughed lane at 80 km/h. The conditions were nasty enough that I didn’t want to take it any higher than that – the normal speed limit is 100 km/h – but at no time did I feel even the slightest loss of control.

2009 Lexus RX 350 Pebble Beach edition. Click image to enlarge

With the hybrid version temporarily discontinued for 2009, the sole engine choice is a 3.5-litre V6, producing 270 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque, and mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. You’re not going to go drag racing with it, but it works very well: it’s quiet, creamy smooth, and handles hills with authority. The 2010 version uses a six-speed automatic transmission, but the 2009’s five-speed is a good fit; there’s no manual mode, but that’s no loss, as the shift points are well tuned to the engine and do their job unobtrusively. The official ratings are 12.4 L/100 km in the city and 9.0 on the highway; in combined winter driving, I averaged a respectable 11.9, although it does ask for premium fuel.

As would be expected, the ride is very settled, and is more big sedan than SUV; even with the aggressive tires, broken pavement is something you see but don’t feel. My sole complaint in that regard is with the steering, which is far too light. It’s uncomfortably overboosted at low speed, and even though the progressive rack-and-pinion tightens up at highway speeds, it still needs more weight even at its firmest. The four-wheel system normally divides torque equally between the axles, but will redistribute it when necessary. Naturally, vehicle stability control and traction control are standard equipment.

The RX’s interior is a lovely place to be, especially since Lexus hasn’t tried to stuff three rows into it, and has concentrated instead on making its maximum five passengers as comfortable as they can possibly be. A five-hour trek was no hardship in the supportive seats, while rear-seat passengers get substantial legroom, and enough space under the front seats that those with very long limbs can store their feet there.

2009 Lexus RX 350 Pebble Beach edition. Click image to enlarge

Controls are a mixed bag, however. I gave thumbs-up to a navigation system that doesn’t require you to hit “accept” each time you read the warning about watching the road; to large, simple and well-marked centre stack buttons; to the vents, which are easy to direct or close; and to the simple but elegant instrument cluster. Thumbs down? That went to the mirror switch, mounted too low on the dash and hidden behind a cover; to the tiny seat heater controls, which must first be pressed to access them, and then are too small and slippery to adjust when wearing gloves; and to fan speed and vent mode controls that lacked buttons, and could only be adjusted through the navigation screen (without the optional electro-map system, the climate control has a fan speed button). The otherwise impressive stereo lacks an iPod connector, and the cassette deck looks as out of place as an eight-track player.

The wipers are of the rain-sensing variety, and as with every other type I’ve ever used – and I’ve tried them from Hyundai to Bentley – they worked well until they encountered drizzle. I finally exploded and yelled that I shouldn’t have to fiddle this much with “automatic” wipers (well, that’s not exactly the word I used, but you get the idea).

2009 Lexus RX 350 Pebble Beach edition. Click image to enlarge

If this silly feature must be included, at least make it an add-on to the gold standard of variable intermittent wipers, as Volvo does. Each time I complain about rain sensors, I inevitably get mail from readers, who disagree and tell me they have rain sensors that work great “in almost all conditions.” In my world, when I’m piloting two tons of steel in foul weather, “almost” is simply unacceptable.

Small-item storage is very good in the RX 350. The centre stack and console are not connected, which means there’s room to keep a purse or bag up front on the floor between the seats. The centre console storage cubby has two doors, which both open and close automatically at the touch of a button; it’s a nice touch, although I wonder about the latch’s longevity. The glove box and door pockets are generous, and cupholders hide away under a tastefully woodgrained cover.

With the seats up, the cargo area is 98 cm long; fold the rear seats, and you’ve got a flat 177 cm. There are two hidden storage compartments under the floor, as well. The front passenger seat doesn’t fold forward, but if you remove its head restraint, you can recline it fully, and in a pinch, you can bring home cargo that’s up to 260 cm long.

Designed specifically for North America, and built exclusively at Toyota’s plant in Cambridge, Ontario, the RX comes by its popularity honestly: it’s intelligently sized, roomy, sure-footed, and it coddles its passengers in comfort. I may not care for golf, but this would be a fine way to get me to the nineteenth hole where I can wait for my friends who do.

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