Category: Sporting 4x4s 
Price Range: No data available
Quality, nice engine noise when you can hear it, very quiet, looks good; excellent Lexus reliability and customer service.
Lacklustre performance, no diesel, auto 'box, float with coil springs, thump with air-suspension, not really an off-roader or towing vehicle.
Scores well for refinement and specification, and a very good car for on-road use, but not particularly dynamic to drive, and not very versatile for something so large.
This big Lexus off-roader is one of the company's bestsellers worldwide, notching up around half a million sales since it was launched in the US in 1998. Cars specifically targeted at US buyers don't always go down well in Europe, but the RX has been an exception with healthy sales in the UK since its launch in 2000. Key to its success is Lexus's continued good results in customer satisfaction surveys and the company's reputation for making very refined, reliable cars. Keen pricing and high equipment levels are also major contributors to the company's achievements.
The RX 300 was thoroughly revised in 2003, gaining more power and a better auto gearbox, though it is now beginning to feel a little dated next to newer rivals such as the BMW X5, latest Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Volvo XC90 and Volkswagen Touareg as it's neither the most agile-handling nor roomiest model in the class. It's also not really a proper off-roader, nor is it capable of heavy towing duties. It continues to be a highly-refined, comfortable and well-made option for unencumbered road use, however - and for the cost- and eco-conscious, the range now also includes the hybrid petrol-electric RX 400h (reviewed separately).
