Lexus RX 330 2003 Review

Things are hot at the prestige end of the AWD segment. At the time of writing new model luxury 4WD wagons are hitting Aussie roads almost weekly. In the last two years Mercedes Benz and BMW created waves with the ML and X5 ranges. In more recent times Honda's $69,990 MDX has arrived Down Under, just around the corner Volvo's XC90 and Volkswagen's 3.2lt V6 Touareg lurk -- both priced sub-$70,000.

If you want to crowd things even further consider that a revised Land Rover Discovery, new Jeeps and BMW's 3 Series based X3 are less than a year away. Hell, local heroes Ford and Holden are just a sharp intake of breathe away from jumping in also.

And now Lexus enters the fray with the stylish full-time 4WD RX330 wagon priced at $69,990 (April 2003) that's not short on style or equipment. Rather than just quickly sample the RX at its launch, CarPoint braved the Easter traffic and the North Eastern Victorian wine country to bring you this report.

Dubbed the RX330, the new wagon is a second generation version of a mid-sized RX300 soft-roader launched with much fanfare into the US in 1998. A runaway success in that market, the RX300 was never officially released Down Under, nonetheless a number of RX300s and 'sistership' Toyota Harriers did find their way to Australia via grey import channels.

The official release brings to two the number of Lexus-branded AWD models available in Oz. A class smaller than the LandCruiser-based LX470 off-roader, the RX is not aimed at mud-pluggers -- even well-heeled ones. As such there's nothing as agricultural as a transfer case full of low range ratios, nor the likes of Land Rover and BMW's hill descent control software in the RX's war chest. Indeed, Lexus spin doctors have termed the all-new V6 RX330 as a luxury sport vehicle, eschewing the utility part of the flavour-of-the-Noughties SUV tag.

In its Sports configuration, the RX330 is identically priced to Honda's MDX. The Lexus, however, boasts a full-time 4WD system with clever computer-controlled center differential plus all the equipment -- safety, convenience and otherwise -- we've come to expect from Toyota Corporation's flagship marque.

Features such as rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming heated mirrors, xenon headlamps, power front seats (plus three-way memory for position, mirrors and steering wheel), wide alloys with premium Michelin rubber, airbags (including side curtains) ABS with brake assist, stability control and electric moonroof are all standard equipment. Lashings of leather, multi-adjustable front and rear seating and plenty of timber accents mark the RX330's territory as surely as its badgework.

This five-star approach is even more evident in the RX's top-of-the-range Sports Luxury variant; for an $8510 premium a power opening/closing tailgate, Lexus Rear View camera, touch-screen GPS-based sat-nav and 11-speaker Mark Levinson audio system are all added to the spec list.

Under bonnet power for both versions is provided by a 3.3-litre V6. Equipped with VVT-i variable valve timing, the all-alloy engine delivers 172kW at 5600rpm and close to 330Nm of torque at a relatively high 3600rpm. It'll live with standard 91RON unleaded, but feels a little peppier on the high octane stuff.

Unlike the entry level Benz and BMW, there's no manual gearbox option offered to RX buyers -- a wise move, given the buyer uptake of manuals in this class is negligible. The RX's V6 is therefore mated to an electronically-controlled, five-speed automatic with both conventional automatic and sequential shift functions -- which, via the above-mentioned clever diff, distributes horses to all four wheels.

It's a smart set-up, from the fly by wire throttle all the way through, and combines traction control, Vehicle Swerve Control and Brake Assist to provide what the maker claims is a high level of dynamic safety on both sealed and unsealed roads.

In the real world the V6 is a commendably quiet mill at middling revs -- as you'd expect from the Big L. Noise levels in the cabin are cossetingly low, thanks also to special attention to defeat the bugbear of upright AWD-style vehicles -- wind noise. When pushed a little harder, however, the engine isn't quite as harmonious and things get a touch thrashy.

According to Lexus, the 0-100km/h sprint is dispatched in 8.4sec. Of more importance to most users, overtaking performance is sufficient, rather than strong. We found the transmission's penchant for hunting between top and fourth in even slightly undulating country at odds with the otherwise relaxed and cultured nature of the RX's performance on the highway. It was a factor especially remarked upon by our significant other.

On the steep climb to the bushfire-ravaged Mt Buffalo National Park, we abandoned the full auto mode and slotted the wood-topped shifter across into sequential to escape the buffeting of constant upshifting and downshifting.

The upside of the RX's propensity to jump into its overdrive fifth gear is good fuel figures. Over the 850km-plus we put under the RX's Michelins the trip computer showed our average fuel consumption at better than 12 litres/100km. This is a handy 23mpg or thereabouts in the old money and better than the likes of CarPoint's own long term Ford Escape over similar going.

Though the two vehicles are hardly likely to appear on the same shopping list, it's worth mentioning that with four onboard the 'little' Ford offers at least the equal (if not a little more) in terms of usuable luggage space. We know -- we've had to stuff the same Samsonites in both.

Clearly the RX offers a significant step up in the level of accommodation offered in this class and price range. Having spent some time in the entry-level version of BMW's X5, it's the standard equipment of the Lexus that impresses. At $78,500 the full-house RX330 is on a par price-wise with the base (manual) 3.0 litre BMW. The one thing you'd definitely need to take with you to your local BMW dealer to option up the X5 to this level would be a calculator.

What the Bavarian rival delivers, however, is a more dynamically convincing package. The RX330 is no slouch in this department but does not have the class-leading manners of the X5. There's more body roll in the Lexus and turn-in and general 'wieldiness' is a touch woollier than the X-truck. That's more so the case on the black top. On the loose dirt roads between Whitfield and Myrtleford the RX aquitted itself well, insulating us from road noise and the usual thumps and bumps. A special thumbs up to its excellent climate control and great dust sealing.

The front seats are top notch, offering great support and all-day comfort. The perfect driving position is achieved with little button twiddling and thanks to the memory settings, once set, a single button push away. We didn't take advantage of the adjustable rear seats or sliding console. The latter seems more gimmick than gain.

A key attractor for many drivers of this type of vehicle, vision forward from the RX is commanding. We wish the same could be said to the rear. The rear three-quarter styling of the RX has produced a high bustle and thick, thick, thick, C-pillars, thus we found the rear view camera almost a must-have. What do buyers of the sans-TV Sport variant do?

A little less convincing was the DVD-based touch screen sat-nav system -- also part of the RX's Sport Luxury upgrade pack. Though easy to use, the screen demanded a waiver acknowledgement at every start up, and then locked out destination input once the vehicle was moving. Not to mention a knack of accumulating oily fingerprints.

The system worked well in town, but out of the big smoke it was less at home. Given the lifestyle bent of the car the database seemed a little light. Even though destinations such as wineries make the POI (point of interest) database the area we were exploring was not well served.

For example: We could locate Milawa using the system, but not the massive Brown Brothers Vineyard. When a tourist trap like Yackandandah is AWOL, we were prompted to enter a number of favourite bolt holes only to come up blank. And while the voice commands were delivered in a comely Pommie voice, Bitchin' Betty seemed to regularly mistake highway turnouts with 'real' exits.

Lexus claims that the RX will attract a new type of buyer to the segment thanks to "wagon-like space and four-wheel drive security with luxury appointments and contemporary style". It could be right.

As mentioned in our intro, the RX goes literally head-to-head with Honda MDX, VW Touareg and Volvo XC90. However, what hasn't been talked about out loud is this vehicle will likely also target buyers of the new-to-Oz BMW 3 Series Touring, Benz C-class wagon and Audi A4 Avant.

For our money that's most likely where the conquests will come.

What is for certain is the battle in this burgeoning segment is set and will be waged on features, specification and badge cachet -- the latter especially, given that all of the above marques are pitching themselves as luxury players. The RX330 will be a success -- its build quality, and equipment-driven value for money will ensure that. What it doesn't deliver in comparison to the X5 is as convincing dynamics. For this writer that's always going to be decider.