2004 Lexus RX330
by Cordell Koland

One of the best ways to really put a vehicle through its paces is a long
road trip. So, we loaded up the RX330 and dashed from California¹s central
coast to Los Angeles and back in one short weekend to attend our son¹s
college graduation. All in all, we drove 800 miles or more.

The short story is that we were very impressed with the RX330. It is fast
and comfortable, has ample power and pampers driver and passenger with a
host of features almost too numerous to mention, but we¹ll try.

First, let¹s credit Lexus for a nice redesign that not only adds
functionality, but is more attractive than its predecessor. The RX330¹s
wheelbase has been extended by nearly four inches, which improves the ride
quality. The vehicle¹s overall length has been stretched by 6 inches, which
can be noticed in terms of interior room, particularly cargo area. Visually,
the added length and the redesign of the roofline transforms the previous
RX300¹s top-heavy Humpty-Dumpty look into something much more sleek.

The new SUV also delivers a slight increase in horsepower and torque, which
is welcome. Lexus says that the new RX330 cuts about a second off of the
zero-to-60 miles per hour dash and now records it in 7.7-seconds for the
front-wheel-driver version, which we tested. The increase in power was not
achieved at the expense of gasoline mileage.  The new model actually
increased highway mileage by 3 miles per gallon, which is significant. On
the road, the RX330 delivered excellent acceleration, both from a stop and
for passing at speed.

On the value side of the equation, you can get into a front-wheel-drive
RX330 for a base MSRP of $35,025. But to really get the full effect of what
Lexus offers in the new vehicle, I would recommend what might be called the
super-dooper upgrade package. It includes the satellite navigation system,
high-end Mark Levinson audio system, rear back-up camera, remote-controlled power rear door, tilt and telescope steering wheel, and moonroof. These goodies add $6,700 to the list price, but made the trip more tolerable, even enjoyable. In addition, our test car added adaptive cruise control at $600, 18-inch wheels and tires at $215, heated front seats with rain-sensing front wipers and headlight washers at $665. The last item, the rear seat
entertainment system with DVD player at $1,840 is probably a worthwhile
expenditure for families with small children, which are only a distant
memory in our case.

The RX330 distinguished itself on the long drive. It was stable at the
autobahn speeds that have become the norm on Interstate 5. We experienced
some strong crosswinds, but the Lexus SUV maintained its composure. Handling and ride quality are first class for a vehicle in this segment. My only
disappointment was a modest degree of wind noise at high speeds. Lexus
vehicles have been noted for their ultra quiet interiors and I expected that
in terms of defeating wind noise, the new RX330 would deliver best-in-class
sound absorption. 

We put some of the optional features to extensive test. The satellite
navigation was particularly useful once as we got to Los Angeles. We had
rough familiarity with the area, but not enough to proceed without
directions.  The Lexus system uses a combination of a console video screen,
plus voice prompts. The system moved us quickly around the city and took a
lot of pressure off the driver and navigator. The navigation system is also
quite easy to use, offering a lot of prompts to aid in inputting addresses.

But there are caveats. Although navigation systems have been around for a
decade or so, they are not foolproof. For example, the system refused to
accept an address on Colorado Boulevard in Los Angeles, even though the
location had been around forever. It also delivered some strange directions
for our return trip. If we had follow system guidance, we would have driven
many miles out of our way. So, while useful, these systems require human
oversight.

The Mark Levinson sound system in the Lexus SC430 luxury convertible is by
far the most impressive automotive sound system I have ever auditioned.
While not quite up to that standard, the Levinson system in the RX330 was
clear and finely detailed. Where it fell short was sound imaging, or the
sense that singers or musicians occupy physical space‹actually performing
from a sound stage.

Some of the other optional features were also useful. We particularly liked
the power rear door. Even with both arms full, it was still possible to
grasp the key, press the right button and there, right before our eyes, the
liftgate swung up and allowed us to deposit our bags directly into the cargo
area. 

On the other hand, the rear back-up camera seemed of marginal value. Lexus
has mounted a video camera in the rear end, which is wired to the video
display mounted on the dashboard. Somehow, it seems counterintuitive to look
forward, while backing up.
 

Vehicle: Lexus RX330

Price as tested: $45,848

Engine:

         Type: 3.3-liter V-6

         Horsepower: 230 @ 5,600 rpm

         Torque: 242-ft. lbs. @ 3,600 rpm

Fuel economy, automatic transmission

         City - 20 mpg

         Highway - 26 mpg

Curb Weight: 3,860 lbs.