Background: Some vehicles are born to lead; others to follow. Lexus' RX 300, a trail blazer in its own right, combines interior comfort of a sports utility with a car-like ride of an upscale, luxury-appointed vehicle; and a trend-setting body. Back at the 1997 Chicago Auto Show, Lexus debuted the SLV concept vehicle for the first time ever to the general public. The crafty SLV beared a striking resemblance to the current RX 300. The buzz among local automotive writers at the time was Lexus' out-of-the-box thinking produced a winning design with a huge sales potential. Thirteen months later, the concept became reality as the 1999 RX 300s started arriving at dealers. Last month, RX 300 sales totaled 5,860 units, the vehicle's best sales month of its year-long tenure. Lexus, the luxury arm of Toyota, first began selling cars in the United States in September of 1989. Lexus designed RX 300 as a true hybrid vehicle with sport-utility looks based partly on the Lexus ES 300 automotive platform. In fact, the four-door SUV-like vehicle gets classified as a midsize wagon. But with a 7.5-inch ground clearance, RX 300 rides as high as a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Two-wheel drive versions include a front-wheel drive system usually found on cars, not trucks. Front-wheel drive provides better traction in snow than rear-drive, found in most mid-size sport utilities with two-wheel drive. RX 300 also comes in permanently-engaged four-wheel drive. Rough off-road travel is not RX 300's forte. No four-wheel drive low gear or transfer case graces the posh interior. This futuristic-looking vehicle, feels more at home in suburban cul-de-sacs than splashing through Amazon jungles.
Safety features: Dual front air bags; front seat-mounted side air bags; four-channel anti-lock brakes; daytime running lights; side-impact door beams; vehicle security system and keyless remote entry adorn both offerings.
Engine: Both two-wheel and four-wheel drive versions share the same 3.0-liter, all-aluminum, 24-valve V-6 powertrain producing 220 horsepower and 222 pound-feet of torque.
Standard equipment: Like most luxury-appointed Lexus vehicles, the RX 300 comes loaded with standard features while offering limited options. Included with the price of admission: air conditioning; rear window defogger; power rack-and-pinion steering; cruise control; seven speaker AM/FM/cassette stereo; four-speed automatic transmission; variable-speed front windshield wipers; tilt steering wheel; power windows, locks and mirrors and intermittent rear wipers.
Options: All RX 300s come prewired for the optional compact disc player with a changer that fits in the glove box. Other options include moonroofs, roof rack heated front seats, and a leather trim package with driver's seat memory and air filtration system.
Price: The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the four-wheel-drive RX 300 checks in at $33,205. With options including in-dash compact disc player and multi-disc changer ($1,080), moonroof ($1,000), leather seats with memory ($1,920) heated front seats ($440) and $494 destination charge, the bottom line checked in at $39,111. Two-wheel front drive editions start at $31,805.
Interior: Genuine walnut wood trim gets interspersed throughout the interior. The mostly analog instrument panel, with white lettering flush against a black background, incorporates a large, center-placed speedometer flanked by a smaller tachometer on the right and fuel and temperature gauges on the left. A secondary, vertical gear-shift indicator also rests on the left side. The ignition cylinder, found on the dashboard left of the steering column, illuminates with green day glow lighting. The odometer logs in as the only digital instrument panel display. Lexus smartly incorporates the transmission gear shift lever with the central lower portion of the instrument panel, providing drivers with an easy reach when shifting gears. Stereo and climate controls situate above the gear shift. At the top center of the dashboard sits a square, blue LCD information screen with white lettering and graphics providing climate control and sound system visuals. Functions including a digital clock, outside temperature and even an alarm clock are built into the system. Rectangular radio preset buttons situate on a sill at the foot of the screen. Temperature settings and fan speed monitor by twisting knobs while fan direction is changed by pressing a knob. Headlights switch on from the turn signal stalk. Both front and rear windshield wipers operate from a right-hand side steering column stalk. Four-link front wipers sweep 89 percent of the windshield for greater visibility during inclement weather. Also jetting out from the steering column's right side is a cruise control lever. Two cup holders retract forward from the from a center console between the front bucket seats. The console's top, hinged on the left, flips open revealing two more cup holders usable by back seat passengers. A remote fuel door release lever is found on the floor between the door and driver's seat. Side view mirror controls are dashboard located, left of the steering column. The RX 300 interior is just as quiet as other Lexus products. Engine noise, barely audible at idle, is kept from seeping into the opulent interior. The only uplevel feature missing is steering wheel mounted secondary controls for radio and temperature settings.
Seating comfort: Since seating is higher up than in most conventional sedans, drivers enjoy a good road perception in all directions. Even though it's a higher perch, slipping into the front bucket seats requires a step-down motion rather than lunging up as with the larger, Lexus LX 470. Lower positioned headrests in back also clear the way for rearview mirror perception. Lexus promotes RX 300 as a five seater. While three adults can fit in back, two travel most comfortably. The 60/40 split back seats fold down to semi-flat positions for carting items. Driver's power bucket seats maneuver 10 ways while front passengers seats power move four ways. Standard cloth seating is upgradable to leather seats with option packages.
Exterior: The RX 300's rounded, high-positioned sport utility like exterior make the vehicle one of the most recognizable on the road. Strap-like door handles and square, heated sideview mirrors share the same body color with the rest of the vehicle. A retractable power radio antenna lifts up and down from the right rear quarter panel. Sixteen-inch aluminum alloy wheels also come standard providing an aggressive stance. A locking fuel door, found on the left-side rear quarter panel, does not included a tethered cap inside, but does feature prongs to rest the cap in when fueling. The rear hatch door, hinged at the top, opens as one unit along with the back window. In front, the grille includes vertical bars with a central Lexus "L" logo. Headlights wrap around to side fenders.
Cargo area: A full-size spare tire rests quietly beneath the flat-floored cargo area thanks to a molded holder preventing excessive rattling. This out-of-view stowing keeps the back window clear of obstructions. Some mid-size sport utilities mount the tire on the hatch door, interfering with rearview mirror perception. With rear seats folded flat, cargo volume increases to 75 cubic feet from 30.4 cubic feet with the seats up.
Target audience: Lexus estimates 55 percent of the RX 300's target audience is men 35 to 45 years of age. Seventy-five percent are married, half of these married folks are raising families. A large percentage, 75, are college graduates with a healthy household income between $100,000 and $150,000.
Fuel economy: Considering our test-drive RX 300 included all-wheel drive, which can be a bit taxing on fuel readings, average miles-per-gallon estimates were quite good. The RX 300 registers 19 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 m.p.g. on the highway. Not spectacular, but better than many other competitors. Two-wheel drive editions squeak out two-miles per gallon better on the highway. The fuel tank holds 17.2 gallons of 87 octane unleaded regular fuel, although 92 octane is recommended.
Dimensions: Wheelbase: 103 inches Overall length: 180.1 inches Overall width: 71.5 inches Overall height: 65.7 inches Weight: 4,037 pounds Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds
Final thoughts: The RX 300 represents Lexus' second foray into sport utility territory. The huge, V-8 powered LX 450 debuted in 1996 (and renamed as the LX 470 for the 1999 model year) is a rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser. The nimble RX 300 rides and handles with more car-like precision than the gas-gulping LX 470. Considering it falls in the 'luxury' category, The RX 300's $32,000 starting price tag is justifiable, if not a bargain. One of RX 300's closest rivals, the Mercedes-Benz ML320 mid-size V-6 , all-wheel drive sports wagon, includes a starting price of $35,000. A fully-loaded mid size Chevrolet Blazer checks in at approximately $30,000. This vehicles, as with other Lexus products, should retain a high resale value. |