Lexus RX 350L: 2018 Infotainment Review

In many ways with the Lexus infotainment offering things have remained as they have been for a few years.

Visually certainly, and largely functionally the Lexus infotainment system (or as Lexus likes to call it, the Enform system) has not evolved much from what we saw two years ago.

It is a dense, hard to penetrate, system that lacks pupil-expanding excitement or intuitiveness, but is high on feature set.

Our test the Lexus RX 350L has an interesting tech instrument layout. The main focus being the high-positioned 8.0-inch wide-screen.

Control of the system is maintained through a combination of a cluster of buttons for Menu and Map positioned ahead of the Lexus Remote Touch Controller (LRT) sitting like a computer mouse ahead of the central console. There are even well-placed side Enter buttons to further enhance the mouse-like feel of the LRT.

The LRT is polarising; Lexus likes to describe the mechanism as “intuitive”, but due to the rather convoluted and inconsistent layout of the various screens, and the sensitivity of the motions controlled by the LRT, it is recommended new owners build up confidence with navigating via the LRT in the driveway before heading out on the road.

Yes, we prefer these kinds of non-touchscreen controls for infotainment systems, the LRT simply requires practice in order to reduce driver distraction.

The way the screen handles flow between functionality is quite smart, providing a two-thirds display of the current option if desired, with the right side being contextual and related to previous selections. This can be customised with practice to be best utilised.

Other tech features in the RX 350L layout include two USB, AUX and 12-volt connectivity in the cavernous (and lit) centre console. There is a separate and stylish storage component (with cable run allowance) for a small phone.

Or, phones can be thrown under the centre facia to be charged using the wireless induction pad located there. Just ahead of this are the seating temperature settings and electronic park brake. So just be a bit careful when tossing that phone in there.

The dashboard screen is simple and functional with Lexus eschewing the trend towards dash digitising. All the information pertaining to entertainment or navigation is available on this unassuming, simple central dash screen,

Steering wheel controls are welcomingly responsive, uncluttered, functional and neat.

There is not much missing from the list of infotainment options, Lexus has had a system now for a couple of years with a feature set that remains relevant whist happy to eschew the pressures to install Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Instead we get delightful little touches like being able to rewind and replay digital (DAB+) radio, a good-quality sound system, satellite navigation that offers a satisfying number of route options and a colour theme that resurrects warm tech-nostalgia feelings of the days of VGA monitors.

The fact that there is no way to display a digital clock on the centre screen was a disappointment to younger members of the family, who were left attempting to decipher the arcane runes presented with the analogue “real” clock set below the screen. Or look at their phones…

Speaking of phones, the Lexus Enform application takes a little bit of set up, but opens up the car to many more connected features than before.

Once completing the registration process and downloading the applicable software, Enform compatible applications allow your smart device to be the conduit into the Lexus infotainment system. Weather and other information can be accessed, local amenities such as service stations and other businesses can be located, and remotely sent as destinations into the navigation system.

A Lexus representative can also be contacted for a similar set of concierge style services via the Enform system.

The voice control system in our test RX 350L is a little different from Lexus rivals. Much like the infotainment visual ergonomics, the command system process is difficult to penetrate at first. One could say that there are some unnecessary verbal hurdles to leap to get to the desired set of instructions.

It’s a little disappointing, and hopefully a software update could streamline the flow, because we certainly prefer to keep our eyes on the road to that of battling the system. On the other hand, with practice comes success.

Lexus Enform is a fully-fledged feature-rich set of technology. Like a first love-making session, there is a bit of fumbling and awkwardness in order to be overcome before the potential is revealed, but once the comfort factor and understanding is there this is a well-appointed system.