My Experience:

So my IS350 had to go in to the shop to do some recall work. Nothing very important – just some problem with the seat belt. (!) Anyway, the folks at my local Lexus were gracious enough to provide me with a nice 2006 RX330 to drive for the day. I ended up having the loaner for about 24 hours and put on about 75 miles of city-only driving.

This isn’t usually my class of vehicle – I usually prefer a smaller car. My main comparisons will be against my wife’s Honda Odyssey and the Infiniti FX35 that I test drove recently.

Trim Levels:

The 2006 RX330 basically comes in 2 forms: FWD and AWD. The AWD adds about $1400 and 200 lbs to the vehicle. Other than that they’re the same. My loaner was of FWD variety and included a luxury package which added a moonroof, power seats w/ memory, power telescoping wheel, etc. This vehicle did not have a Navigation system.

Exterior:

I personally don’t find the RX very appealing to look at. Certainly, I prefer the FX’s styling way more. Other vehicles in this class (VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, Mercedes M-class) are all easier on the eyes than the slightly frumpy RX. So Lexus, for whatever its worth, my vote is that it’s time for a major refresh of the RX’s styling. An "L-Finesse" makeover might be just what the doctor ordered.

Interior:

Here the RX does much better, if not quite as well as I expected. It’s still a Lexus – which means top-notch materials (mostly), good fit and finish, and excellent ergonomics.

All the controls for the doors, windows, etc. are within easy reach. The climate and radio controls (which each receive its own LED screen) are simple, effective, and easy to use. Combine this with well-padded, adjustable seats and you come away with a very comfortable interior.

The leather for the seats was good quality, if not quite as nice as that in my IS. And the wood trim on the doors and console is very attractive. Although I’m not a big fan of wood steering wheel, I must admit that it looks good in the RX. And since the RX is not meant to be sporty vehicle, I don’t find it as annoying as the same wheel in the GS300. I do wish the control buttons on the wheel felt a little more solid, though.

The RX has a console in between the front seats which offer a good amount of storage and has the ability to slide about 6 inches back towards the rear seats. Frankly, I found this a little odd and too minivan-ish for my tastes. Especially since the “track” it slides on is hard plastic and, when exposed, gives the front floor a pseudo-Chevy Astro look. I’d much rather have a fixed console up front.

And while we’re on the subject of hard plastic, there’s quite a large piece of it wrapping around the shifter for the automatic transmission. This is especially bad, in my opinion, since it sits right smack in the middle of some of that nice wood trim.

Rear seat space is adequate in the RX. Not huge, but about in-line with the other small-ish SUV’s in this class. Ditto for overall cargo space.

Performance/Handling:

The RX330 puts out 223 horsepower and 238 lb-ft of torque. It’s enough to get the RX moving as fast as most drivers will want/need. For 2007, Lexus upped the RX to a '350' trim that increases these numbers to 270 and 251, respectively. I don’t see the need, honestly - the RX’s issue is not a weak engine. My personal problem with the RX330’s performance is more around the transmission than anything else. In normal driving, the 5-speed tranny does fine. But push down on the gas pedal with any urgency, and the shifts become much too harsh and abrupt for a luxury vehicle.

Update (09/06/07): I recently drove a newer RX350 as a loaner while my IS350 was in for service again. Along with the upgraded engine, it seems as though Lexus also tweaked the transmission - it responded much better than in the RX330.

Handling does well for this size of car – certainly doesn’t feel anywhere near as large as my wife’s minivan. An FX handles much better, but the RX doesn’t have the Infiniti’s punishing ride. There’s a good amount of lean when turning hard and some springiness when the car comes back to center. And, like most Lexus cars, the feedback could be better. But the RX still feels more car-like than not, and offers a nice quiet, comfortable ride. The good braking feel also makes the car feel under control at all times.

Fuel Economy:

The RX330 is rated at an EPA estimated 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. I was averaging about 17 mpg in my driving – which is better than I usually get in my IS.

Reliability:

As with many other Lexus/Toyota products, the RX has had stellar reliability ratings.

Safety:

The RX scored well on ITHS front-crash test, but no side- or rear-impact tests results are available.

Summary:

Overall, the RX filled my need for a short-term loaner and provided a comfortable ride around town. But I wouldn’t put down $35k+ of my money for one. Personally, I’d much rather have an Infiniti FX.

Amount Paid (US$): 35000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2006