In the bid to garner column inches, the Lexus RX seems to have been rather unfairly overlooked. Yes, the clever hybrid model is the darling of moneyed environmentalists but what of the rest of the range? It seems to have been swamped by new - and predominantly German - rivals. Lexus isn't taking this laying down and strikes back with the RX350 Limited Edition. It battles on a familiar Japanese tack. If in doubt, throw lots of kit at it.

Customers in this section of the market expect a certain amount of pampering and, by and large, they get it. What's worth bearing in mind, however, is that the RX350 is the entry-level RX model and goes head to head with entry-level BMW X5s, Mercedes M-Classes and Porsche Cayennes. These are all cars where the badge is more important than the bum warmers and but equipped with both kit and cachet, this Lexus Limited Edition can score serious showroom points.

If you're buying a luxury 4x4 of this type, you probably want things like electrically-powered and heated leather seats, big 18-inch alloy wheels and metallic paint, none of which come with the entry-level RX350. For these things, you have to opt for the SE version (at £36,185) or even the SE-L variant (at £42,650). Paying this kind of cash puts rather a dent into one of the reasons that buyers choose this Lexus in the first place: namely that it offers much better value than its European competitors.

Hence the need for the RX350 Limited Edition model featured here. At £34,597, it costs only around £2,500 more than the most basic RX350, yet includes £3,500-worth of extra kit - including the aforementioned leather, heated and electrically-powered seats, metallic paint and 18-inc alloys. Moreover, you can specify the clever Lexus Navigator satellite navigation system as a £2,245 option, something impossible to do with the base RX.

This system features convenient voice recognition control, Electronic Traffic Avoidance (which automatically provides an alternative route if delays are detected on the road ahead) and Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free use of compatible mobile telephones. The package also includes Lexus's Parking Assist Monitor, which relays images from a rear-mounted miniature camera to aid safe and simple reverse parking manoeuvres.

"Exactly the blend of virtues and specification that most buyers of this car will be looking for ."

Also available (for £2,200 more) is an In-Car Entertainment package, comprising a DVD player with twin monitors mounted neatly in the back of the front seat head restraints. Rear seat passengers can enjoy movies on the move, CDs, music from MP3 files, or, with the benefit of additional connectors (not supplied by Lexus), computer games. Infra red headsets are provided which allow passengers in the front to continue listening to the RX 300's audio system undisturbed.

The Limited Edition model's extra spec (and various options) come in addition of course to the standard variant's pretty comprehensive kit quotient. This runs to cruise control, an eight-speaker sound system with in-dash six-disc CD autochanger, five-speed automatic transmission, a leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, High Intensity Discharge headlights, rear and side privacy glass, climate control air-conditioning and speed-sensitive power steering.

Enough of the specification tweaks, what's this car really like? Well, for a start, it's a big step forward from the original RX300. This time round there's a bigger engine, better economy and a keener value proposition. The powerplant in question stumps up with 272bhp which is enough to endow the RX350 with a reasonable turn of pace, getting it to 60mph in 7.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 124mph. A combined fuel economy figure of 25.2mpg is a reasonable return for such a quick, heavy vehicle, the old RX300 managing a figure of 23.2mpg. These figures make the Lexus the quickest and most economical sports utility in its class, eclipsing the likes of the Mercedes ML350, the BMW X5 3.0 auto and the Porsche Cayenne 3.2 on both counts.

The RX350's engine is beautifully refined at typical motorway speeds, although the big door mirrors create a reasonable amount of wind noise. When extended, the V6 engine responds with a rather tuneless turbine-like thrum that's rarely intrusive. The automatic gearbox slurs between ratios smoothly although it can be found wanting for drive when accelerating out of tight turns. In this instance, you'll probably prefer to knock the stick over into a tiptronic-style mode and change gear yourself between the five ratios. The steering has been revised to offer better feel at higher speed and more assistance at low speed but the helm is still probably the RX's least impressive feature. For a model that prides itself on its on-road handling and performance, the steering is not hugely confidence inspiring.

Styling is one of the main reasons that RX350 owners cite for their purchase - inside as well as out. In the interior, perhaps the most noticeable feature is the two brushed metal dash inlays that border the LCD information system and ventilation controls. The instruments are housed in a conventional three pod cluster, Lexus choosing not to extend the old IS series' chronometer look here.

The RX350 Limited Edition offers exactly the blend of virtues and specification that most buyers of this car will be looking for. In fact, it would make much more sense for the importers to make this the standard entry-level model. Buy in sufficient numbers and they probably will.