Scottsdale soccer mom hits the road in a Lexus RX 350 F Sport

The Lexus RX 350 F Sport is a luxurious option for Scottsdale soccer moms

By Kristin Caliendo

As a parent, you know the most important thing about driving kids around town is getting them where they need to be in a safe and reliable car. According to car enthusiasts and even the most discerning car owners, the Lexus brand speaks uncompromised luxury and has made great strides in the high-performance category with the sport luxury packages that we have seen available in the F-Sport models.

A busy Scottsdale soccer mom of two and a lifestyle writer, I wanted to see how the Lexus RX 350 would appeal to moms both on and off the soccer field. I admit, sometimes reluctantly, that I a minivan-loving mom so when given the keys to a stunning nebula gray pearl Lexus RX350 F-Sport to test drive and write about, I could hardly wait to hang up my beloved minivan keys for seven days. After all, any opportunity to whip around town in a vehicle sans Cheerios glued to carpet floors is quite the luxury escape for this mom.

What makes crossovers so attractive to moms? They just make sense in our hurried world. The crossover trend eliminates the stigma attached to car buying that many moms dread when expanding their families and need for more trunk space. The Lexus RX 350 models were redesigned for 2016 and certainly don’t disappoint when it comes to comfort, interior quality and safety. With plenty of room in the back seat for carpooling and a sufficient number of USB ports, it’s not surprising that the Lexus RX350 was ranked one of the 2015 Best Cars for Families in a recent U.S. News & World Report.

At first glance, the upgraded Lexus RX 350 F Sport had all the features I needed and wanted in a family car such as 10 airbags, intuitive parking assist, large cargo area and power back door for the ease of loading soccer gear, bikes and typical kid paraphernalia. The 9-speaker premium audio system with a 12.3 inch display was a pleasant surprise and the ventilated F Sport front seats were sublime for the unusually hot spring days we’ve been dealt here in Scottsdale.

With a week to put both the vehicle and my driving prowess to the ultimate test, the F Sport substantiated it’s claim as a great family car; with too many whistles and bells to list, my review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the overall cool factor and my supposed need for speed my husband pointed out from the passenger seat.

Don’t misinterpret my lead foot for hot-rodding around town, but with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that churns out 295-horsepower, it’s easy to drive this SUV the way it yearns to be driven. I took the F Sport on the highway and was impressed with the comfortable ride. I started off in Eco mode, which boosts fuel economy, but soon switched into manual transmission using the paddles and toggled between Sport and Sport+ mode. The handling and speed of the Lexus could please any adrenaline junky yet still be appropriately peppy enough for any parent needing to make a quick getaway for the nearest restroom!

Even the base model RX350 is loaded with options and luxury appointments and at the core it’s reliable, safe and efficient; it’s truly a family car that gets you to the soccer game in style.

Let’s now consider what this vehicle did for restoring my image. Just a week ago I was schlepping kids around in a minivan, today I was behind the wheel of a sexy automobile, all windows down, jamming to throwback tunes reliving my 20’s. Now, how’s that for having the best of both worlds?

The seductive lines of the Lexus RX 350 F Sport leave other moms and your husband wishing they had one too!