During a week with an all-wheel drive model, I found it to be as quiet as any other Lexus, quick, and absolutely smooth and civilized. If it's closer in character to being an ES300 wagon than a bone-crushing truck, that is exactly what many modern SUV shoppers are looking for. The RX300 certainly has interesting styling. No boring, slab-sided truck, it has the high, boxy SUV silhouette. But is far more styled than is the norm for SUVs.
Every body panel has some styling device to keep it interesting.
The trapezoidal Lexus grille has vertical, radially-fanned bars and is flanked by complex, faired headlamp clusters. The grille is set into the front of a prominent hood bulge. A high beltline crease and slight fender flares give interest to the sides. The windshield is more highly raked than is the SUV norm, and the passenger cabin is extremely styled, with oddly-shaped small windows in front of the mirrors. Hey, this is a Lexus.