The Macquarie Pass reminds me a bit of the Tai Tam Road. The 8km stretch, about an hour's drive south of Sydney, cuts through lush rainforest and has terrific views of valleys and ridges.
This drive also proves more fun than expected in the new Lexus RX 350. The twisties would have been a chore in the old model, but Lexus has given the latest, slightly bigger and heavier incarnation of the model more balance and grip. Launched this month at Ocean Terminal, the fresh-bodied RX sports utility vehicle has an updated engine, the marque's super electronic control transmission and all-wheel drive with torque control.
The standard equipment for the premium SUV includes the Lexus premium sound system, with an in-dash six-disc changer and radio with nine speakers and adaptive HID headlights. The car also has a new grille, more chrome bling and Lexus Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management traction control, which combines vehicle stability control with co-operative steering, traction control, anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. Other features include 19-inch alloy wheels, heated electrochromatic exterior mirrors with a memory and power driver and passenger front seats with lumbar adjustment and memory.
The test car's Lexus Remote Touch central controller might remind you of BMW's iDrive, as it features a mouse, menu and map buttons, along with a side-mounted display. Lexus has also positioned the control screen higher in the new model and claims it reduces drivers' eye movement by 30 per cent. The system is easy to use, and makes the bafflingly complex early generations of iDrive seem archaic.
The interior is a crisp, roomy affair, with neat storage features such as hinged door pockets and a hollow in the centre console.
The dashboard is ergonomic and easy to get used to. The Smart Entry design replaces the traditional black button mounted on the door handle and the card key is smaller than a credit card. The Smart Entry system also employs a proximity set-up: touch either the top or bottom of the door handle to lock or unlock the vehicle while the keycard is 70cm to a metre from the door.
