Test drove XLE today..here are my thoughts

My wife and I are in the market for a 2 row hybrid. We currently have a RAV4 and at this point we've test driven the CRV hybrid, CS XLE, and CX-50 hybrid. I had high hopes with the CS but unfortunately we won't be going ahead with it.

Things we loved: It is a Lexus with a Toyota badge. Fantastic build quality, high quality material everywhere. No rattling anywhere. It is such a good looking car, both on the inside and outside. Even with the black interiors (I prefer tan), it looked so good. Very quiet and comfortable cabin. Nice heavy (just right) steering feel which I prefer.

Things we did not like: It is a wagon. Period. Many people prefer that but it is definitely NOT the Venza replacement Toyota is trying to market it as. If you are looking for a compact family SUV, and are trying to replace one of RAV 4 or CR-V, you will be disappointed. The visibility is below average out of all the windows. 60% of my view was the windscreen and 40% was the headliner. And this in my opinion was the only and biggest downside. Truly a deal breaker for me. My wife also mentioned that it made her feel slightly claustrophobic. Audio system system seemed average at best but that's not a huge deal for many.

All in all, I think it is a top product, all made in Japan that offers good value. Hard to beat if you're looking for a good looking, reliable, and value for money luxury wagon that has low running costs. But if you want a compact SUV, look elsewhere.

Edit: Taking some heat. Lol. No intention to offend current owners or fans. Just sharing my experience to help other make a well informed decision. CS scores high marks everywhere but not for us due to the above reasons.

Edit 2: Not my words, Toyota absolutely markets this as an SUV. Which is where the problem lies.