|
Lexus RX 330
The Lexus brand name represents the finest
that Toyota can produce, even if they would like you to think
that Lexus is a stand-alone company. In different parts of the
world some vehicles are badged as Lexus, and in others as
Toyota. The RX series Lexus is, I believe, one of those, being
called a Toyota Harrier in Japan, but a Lexus here and in
Australia, where our down-under correspondent John Weinthal
has just finished testing the latest RX 330. The RX 300 is
catalogued as being sold in Thailand, and commands the
whacking price of just under 4 million baht. Ouch! For an
‘off-roader’ too. Is it that good? Here’s what John
Weinthal thought of it.
 “The
Lexus RX Series was the first of the relatively new wave of
luxury sometime off-roaders. The first RX was launched in the
US in 1998. It was an instant and enduring hit. Australia gets
the second generation high riding luxury full-time
four-wheel-drive five-seater Lexus; the all-new RX330.
“Its primary competitors are the
similarly pedigreed Mercedes Benz ML wagons and the BMW X5.
Both are substantially more expensive - and even more so if
you tick enough boxes on the order form to get close to the
Lexus’ lavish equipment levels.
 “No
doubt all these factors contribute to the Lexus’ domination
of this rapidly growing sector in the USA, even though the
Lexus is imported from Japan while both the BMW and Mercedes
Benz are home-grown Yanks.
“The Lexus is sold in both front wheel
and 4-wheel-drive outside Australia, while the BMW and Merc
are 4-wheel-drive only. There are other competitors including
VW’s true luxury on and off-roader - the all-new Touareg.
However the excellent Touareg, which we will report on
shortly, is more sensibly positioned compared with its sister,
the Porsche Cayenne and Britain’s brilliant Range Rover.
Honda sees its MDX as a competitor, but I suspect few
customers will.
 “These
may well be vehicles without real purpose. They are heavier,
less wieldy and, in spite of the ads, only remotely car-like
in their driving characteristics. As off-roaders there are
perhaps a dozen much more useful devices around, most of which
cost less, carry more and go further. Lexus at least makes no
pretence about off-roading intentions for the RX 330; they
call it a sports recreation vehicle.
“As with the Benz and to a lesser degree
the BMW these are neither sporty nor terribly useful. Their
primary purpose is to provide a luxurious ride slightly above
the mass of traffic with their high fashion badges prominently
applied to impress or incense the neighbours.
“The Lexus does not offer the swag of
models and engines of the Benz and BMW.
This can confuse comparisons. The American
pair need a host of expensive extras before they come near to
matching the Lexus standard specification and these can take
them anything up to AUD 20,000 above the Lexus asking price,
before ticking the box for their most powerful V8s. There’s
one 172 kW 3.3 litre Lexus-smooth V6 model. It costs AUD
69,990.
“There’s just one option pack call
Sports Luxury which costs an extra AUD 8500. For this you add
a no doubt frightfully clever colour rear view fascia mounted
TV screen - which I found to be almost totally useless in the
real world; a multi-vision display, sat nav and an Opera House
quality Mark Levinson audio system.
“So, you get that lot plus the standard
RX330’s moon roof, steptronic-style automatic transmission,
climate-control air-con, 17 inch alloy wheels, leather trim,
power sun-roof and too much more to list here for less than
AUD 80,000. At this stage the Lexus starts to look something
of a bargain compared with the Merc and BMW.
“In the real world the Merc may be best
off-road and the BMW offers the most communication with the
road for a relatively sporty drive. The Lexus is quickest as
it is the lightest and most aerodynamic of this trio - until
you stretch way beyond AUD 100,000 for the V8 BMW and Benz.
“I drove and enjoyed a friend’s V8 BMW
while I had the Lexus but he was quick to comment on the solid
feel, the quiet and the refinement of the Lexus. All three are
immediately apparent when you move from one to the other.
“Safety is a big deal in each three of
these larger luxury soft-roaders with all the electronic aids
imaginable and air bags everywhere. There is even one for the
driver’s knees in the Lexus.
“Did I enjoy it? Too right I did, even if
it makes little sense beyond its pose value and the
satisfaction one derives from being in command of something of
such tangible quality, not to mention one of the most
appealing fascia designs of almost any car I know, regardless
of purpose.
“For anyone with any serious off-roading
pretensions, or of a practical bent, the recently tested 4
litre 179kW Toyota Prado Grande for about the same money makes
far more sense. The Prado has greater carrying capacity and
can seat eight when required. But no Toyota has the cachet of
the same company’s Lexus badge, even when both exude similar
quality and comfort traits. Both represent good value in their
respective fields, with Toyota and Lexus quality and
reliability as added attractions.”
(I must say I do agree with John
Weinthal’s comments regarding the practicality of these cars
as pseudo-offroaders. One wonders why bother, but it probably
is for the snob value. Whoever thought that one day a
“Toyota” would have snob appeal? Shows that we are living
in an ever-changing world. Dr. Iain.)
|
It
was also interesting to hear the views of both the drivers.
Schumacher saying, “Yeah, it was already tight in the first
corner. I had a lock-up into the first corner and almost
didn’t make the chicane. I had the option to go straight on
or make the chicane in a sort of not very good way. I thought
it was better to do the chicane, although I might lose a
position which almost happened, because Juan came on the
outside and we had a nice fight through these two corners,
very hard but fair and I think that’s what people love to
see. In the end I was able to win that fight and run up a lead
which was vital to win the race.”