- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.3i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
172kW, 328Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 12.3L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XC
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
4 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Cream of the outcrop
The RX330 is a cafe cruiser that can handle the coarse grind, says Bill McKinnon.
Good: Excellent value for money. Lexus refinement and quality are the best in the business. Smooth, responsive, torquey 3.3 V6. Automatic shift quality and timing. First-class ride. Comfortable driver's seat. Tidy dynamics. Automatic opening tailgate. Rear-view camera. Levinson sound.
Bad: High fuel consumption relative to other vehicles. Rear seating a bit knees-up for tall adults. Dive under brakes can cause rear end instability on dirt. Air-con controls all over the place on Luxury version. Restricted rear vision. Sharp low beam cut-off.
Verdict: The X5 meets its match.
Stars: 4 (out of 5).
A few weeks ago I saw three Porsche Cayennes in Double Bay. Slightly excessive for eastern suburbs personal transport, do you think? To be fair, you need a heap of grunt to climb those New South Head Road hills, and a girl can't just walk to Cross Street in her Manolos.
There are now a dozen players in the luxury four-wheel-drive market, five of which have arrived in the past 12 months. Sales are up by an astounding 32 per cent on last year.
The Lexus RX330 is the second generation of the RX300 model, which kicked off the whole luxury 4WD boom in the US in the mid-1990s.
Lexus has brought the RX330 in at a sharp price: $69,990 -- the same as Honda's MDX -- or $78,500 with all the fruit. It's the class's second best-seller behind BMW's X5.
The five-seater RX330's unitary construction is based on the ES300 sedan platform. Under the bonnet is a 3.3-litre V6, matched to a five-speed sequential automatic transmission.
Full-time, high-range-only 4WD splits the power equally front-to-rear, with electronic distribution of torque determined by traction-control sensors. Stability control is also provided.
Suspension is fully independent; the rack and pinion power steering is engine speed-sensitive.
The Sport tag is ridiculous when applied to the RX330 and any other 4WD. Luxury is an entirely appropriate term: automatic air-conditioning, sunroof, wall-to-wall leather, power everything, in-dash six-CD stacker/cassette audio and 17-inch alloy wheels are standard.
A clever touch, especially when you're returning to the car with armloads of shopping, is the self-opening and closing tailgate, operated by a dash switch or the remote. Just push the button and up or down she goes.
The top-of-the-line version adds a superb Mark Levinson sound system, touch screen DVD-based satellite navigation/air/audio/trip computer display and a rear-vision camera.
The camera is mounted just above the rear number plate. Select reverse and it activates, revealing on a screen in the centre of the dash the area immediately behind the tailgate, which you cannot see from the driver's seat.
It's no substitute for diligence, but does certainly give you an effective second safety check when reversing out of the garage. It's also extremely handy when reverse parking.
The V6, developed from Toyota's 3.0 version, has a larger bore. Variable inlet camshaft timing improves performance across the rev range.
The 3.3 produces 172kW of power at 5600rpm, and 328Nm of torque at 3600 -- slightly lower outputs than those of the MDX, over which the Lexus has a 100kg weight advantage -- with 275Nm available from only 1500rpm.
Relatively light weight in the 4WD context (it is 200kg lighter than BMW's 3.0 X5, which produces 170kW/300Nm) and the 3.3's flexibility sees the RX330 cover the 0-100kmh sprint in 8.7 seconds, on par with the Honda and slightly quicker than the BMW.
The 3.3 V6 rivals the X5's inline six in smoothness and responsiveness and has a much stronger bottom end than the Toyota 3.0. At 2000rpm at 100kmh in fifth, it is silent and relaxed. A nice sound and some extra kick cut in from 4000 to the 6000 redline.
With adaptive programming and sequential shift modes, the five-speed auto is smooth and fluid at all times. When you choose to shift gears yourself, it will run the engine to the rev-limiter.
The BMW's dynamics are still in a class of their own, but the RX330 is much closer to it than the rest in poise, balance and precision. On bitumen and dirt, its 225/65 Michelins give good grip and permanent all-wheel-drive again shows its superiority to on-demand systems.
The suspension is compliant and disciplined, with good control on corrugations but just a touch of front-end bounce on undulating surfaces.
Body roll and understeer the bane of tall, heavy 4WD wagons do not intrude until quite high cornering speeds. The steering itself is tactile and accurate without being too sharp, a characteristic which on some rivals causes excessive rear-end weight transfer when turning into corners.
The brakes have good pedal feel and plenty of power at moderate pedal pressures. Full power emergency brake force assistance is standard.
The front end dives under brakes, though, which lightens the rear quite noticeably. On dirt, it's a bit too easy when braking at the approach to a bend to get the back end inadvertently slightly sideways before the stability control intervenes.
Just in case you fail to grasp the fact that you're not pointed in the right direction, a loud warning chime alerts you to the matter.
Ride comfort and the suppression of road and suspension noise top the class. The RX is supple, quiet and very comfortable on any surface.
Leading the field in style and efficiency, the RX's interior also looks and feels opulent, without the tired old cliches. There are quite a few Germanic cues in the cabin, particularly in the dash architecture, while the control layout is typical Toyota in its ease of use.
The touch screen is much simpler than a cursor-based system to navigate, but the mix of touch screen and conventional buttons to control the air conditioning is not intuitive.
The high, stubby gear lever, one-touch cruise control and audio controls fall easily to hand. Plenty of oddment storage includes big, fold-out Audi-style door bins. A chromatic rear-view mirror and rain-sensing wipers (which are not sensitive enough) are also standard.
Xenon gas projector-type low beam headlights throw a brilliant, even light, with an accurate self-levelling system that prevents it from annoying oncoming drivers.
However, as is often the case with such lights, the cut-off is very sharp, with virtually no diffusion beyond. It can be disconcerting on a black night out in the country, where, past the cut-off, not even the guidepost reflectors are visible. Conventional high beams are average in penetration and spread.
The large driver's armchair has long travel. The leather-wrapped wheel, also power adjustable for height and reach, automatically retracts for easy entry and exit when you remove the key. A smaller airbag to protect the driver's knees supplements the front and side airbags; side curtain airbags are included.
The back window is relatively small, so vision is rather restricted, especially with the rear head restraints in place.
Honda's MDX wins the space contest in the back seat and load area. Its two extra seats in the back fold into the floor.
Shaped for two, the RX330's rear seat is, like the fronts, generously padded. Split it 40-20-40 and the centre section folds down to accommodate long objects; split it 60-40 and each side adjusts through 120mm of travel.
Rear occupants sit low, slightly knees-up but with supportive backrest contouring. Leg room for tall adults is reasonable when the seat is pushed back.
Three child-restraint anchors are on the rear of the seat. A steeply angled rear window restricts carrying capacity, which is similar to the X5 but significantly less than the MDX.
The load floor easily extends to 1.85 metres; there are two storage bins underneath and a load cover is provided. A full-size spare on an alloy wheel is carried under the rear of the car.
In the RX330, BMW's X5 faces its most serious competition to date. Honda's MDX is also a good thing with seven seats but its ride, steering and part-time 4WD are slightly off the pace.
The RX carries the Lexus trademarks of impeccable quality and attention to detail, best-in-the-business refinement, all the fruit on the tree and great comfort -- plus strong performance and fine dynamics.
It also costs $13,510 less than the 3.0 automatic X5. Drive both and judge for yourself whether the BMW's price premium is reflected in attributes other than its badge.
Vital signs
Lexus RX330
Engine: 3.3-litre 24-valve fuel-injected V6.
Power: 172kW at 5600rpm (average).
Performance: 0-100kmh in 8.7 seconds (quick).
Brakes: Discs with ABS, emergency brake force assistance and VSC (good).
Economy: 12.2 litres/100km highway; 16.8 city (average).
Prices: Recommended retail -- $69,990. Street price -- Selling well and short supply, so no deals.
Main options: Luxury pack $8510.
Warranty: Four years/100,000km (above average).
Residual value: New model, no history.
Safety rating: Not yet tested; expect at least four stars out of five.
Alternatives (automatics):
BMW X5 3.0 -- $83,500
Honda MDX -- $69,990
Mercedes-Benz ML350 Classic -- $72,900
Volvo XC90 2.5T -- $69,950
Prices and details correct at publication date.