Category: Sporting 4x4s 
Price Range: No data available
Smart, discrete 4x4 with a bias towards on-road behaviour. Comfortable, luxurious interior with typically solid Lexus build quality.
Forgotten in a marketplace that's now dominated by the X5, the Lexus has only one engine choice, others better it on and off road.
The RX 300 was late to arrive in the UK due to the insatiable US demand. Arriving in 2000 its short reign as king of the luxury road-biased 4x4s was short due to the arrival of the BMW X5. Since then it's faded into obscurity.
The main appeal of cars like the RX 300 is the lofty driving position which gives you a decent view over the traffic. A Range Rover driver will still be able to see over your roof but the RX 300 is high enough. Visibility is good to the front and side, but with the privacy glass, which is so often fitted, the rear view can be slightly obstructed - especially at night. The automatic means you don't have to worry about shifting cogs and the clear controls are all sensibly laid out around the quality cabin. It doesn't feel as big around town as its rivals, making it easier to slot through busy traffic. You don't buy cars like the RX 300 if super-sharp sports car responses are high on your list of priorities, but the RX 300 can be fun to drive. It rides well, resists too much roll in corners and absorbs higher speed bumps without pitching and wallowing all over the shop. It steers accurately and corners enthusiastically for a car of its lofty proportions too. The V6 allows you to drive at decent pace should you want, the chassis response to enthusiastic driving being more rewarding. It drives very much like a large RAV4.
It's clear that the RX 300 was designed for the road rather than off it. Lexus specifically tuned the RX 300's suspension to suit the higher cruising speeds encountered in the UK and throughout Europe, with a view to long-distance cruising. With 201bhp there's no shortage of power, though it's not the sort of car that'll have you throwing it about. More suited to wafting you about in comfort and style, the performance is effortless and the smooth transmission shifts cleanly.
