Lexus RX 330

Not only does Lexus make beautiful and realiable vehicles, its dealerships offer the best service that many other luxury brands cannot even compare. One of the many perquisites of servicing a Lexus at the dealership is getting a loaner car. Unlike other dealerships such as BMW or Mercedes, most Lexus dealerships do not provide its customers with low end budget loaners. All their loaners are brand new Lexus ES or RX models. I took my car in for service today and they gave me the keys to a brand new 2004 RX330 with only 400 miles on it. The RX series is the most popular model in the Lexus line up. It accounts for more than 50% of the total Lexus sales year after year. I was very excited to get a chance to test drive this car for over 24 hours with plenty of driving distance because I live an hour away from my dealership.

A 3.3 liter 230 horsepower V6 engine powers this sexy and elegant sports utility vehicle. The acceleration is quite peppy. From 0 to 60 mph takes just under 8 seconds. Weighing in at 5245 lbs, this heavy weight is one of the fastest in its class. The transmission is smooth but also responsive. Passing someone on the highway is an ease. The RX can quickly go from a cruising speed of 60 mph to speeding at 80 mph with a snap.
The ride is very comfortable. The drive feels more sporty with better handling than other SUVs I have driven in the past. As a past owner of a 1997 4Runner myself, the RX certainly drives more like a big sedan rather than a truck like a 4Runner. With that said, I do not think the RX can outperform the 4Runner in off-road situations especially when the going gets tough. Its styling and profile are too low to handle some of the rougher terrains that 4Runners can easily conquer. I do not think any RX buyers are complaining. How many luxury SUVs do you see crawling over boulders anyway? The only off-road condition most luxury SUVs encounter are gravel driveways or grass fields by the horse tracks.

The interior screams luxury as you can see from the pictures above. This particular loaner included the wood trim steering wheel which looked nice but unpractical. The wood surface felt hard, uncomfortable, and slippery. The center console, dash, audio interface, and climate controls are well placed with stylish brushed aluminum trims and touches. All the buttons and controls can be accessed and located with ease. Power tilt and telescope adjustment for the steering wheel lets you better fine tune optimal driving positions. The memory seating will store side mirror, seat, and steering wheel positions. The spacious interior can easily accomodate 5 adults with plenty of room to stretch those legs. The sliding rear seats can be moved to increase either cargo or leg room.

Although I, personally, am not very fond of SUVs, the RX would be on the top of my list if I were ever to purchase one. And of course, what would be the point of getting a nice loaner such as the RX330 without taking a picture like the one below? I give the RX two very big thumbs up!