Lexus RX test drive since 2012 SUV

Distant relatives

BMW X3
It has been produced since 2003, proposed in Russia since 2004.
It is produced with three engines in row gasoline sixes of 2.5 and 3.0 l with a capacity of 141 kW/192 liters. with. and 170 kW/231 l. with. and turbodiesel 3.0 liters, 150 kW/204 l. with.
The option for the Russian market is so far only with a 3-liter gasoline engine. The other two will be presented soon. For all cars, a six -speed mechanical transmission or a five -stage machine is possible.
Price from 55 900 euros. Test car 56 900 euros.

Lexus RX300
It has been produced since 2003.
Currently, with two engines of gasoline V6, 3.0 and 3.3 liters with a capacity of 150 and 169 kW (204 and 230 h.), Front or all -wheel drive, and automatic transmission is completed.
The Russian market is delivered only with all -wheel drive and a 3.0 liter engine. Pneumatic suspension with regulation of road clearance in the trim levels R2 and R3.
The price is from $ 56,400 (equipment R1) to $ 65 900 (R3). Test car $ 65 900.

Land Rover Freelander
It has been produced since 1997, restyling in the fall of 2003.
Execution options: three- and five-door body, gasoline engines 1.8 liters, 86 kW/117 liters. with. and 2.5 l, V6 130 kW/177 l. with. (only with automatic transmission) and a turbodiesel 2.0 liters, 82 kW/112 l. with.
Only models with gasoline engines are delivered to Russia. Standard sets of configuration S, SE, HSE.
The price of basic modifications with an engine of 1.8 liters from $ 28 900,
2.5 V6 from $ 35 900 to 39 900. Test car $ 37,400.

There are more and more on the roads every day. Crossovers, SUVs, cars for outdoor activities, as soon as these station wagons with all -wheel drive and light off -road slope in appearance are not called. Such a variety of models gives a lot of opportunities to manifest individuality.
Today, our test collectors of six -cylinder engines and automatic transmission privileged estates among compact all -terrain vehicles. However, compactness is relative: Lexus, for example, noticeably longer than rivals, a land-rover is higher, and a leader in the BMW wheelbase.
Style and means
A real all -terrain vehicle is undoubtedly a very serious and male car. His style is rude, massive, chopped. You will not find anything similar to the SUVs. The most aggressive appearance is distinguished by BMW X3, but it is also devoid of stylistic sharpness. An unusual silhouette with a proprietary long hood, with short overhangs shade massive bumers and black threshold lining. The rear bumper looks even too heavy and bulky against the background of the car itself.
The appearance of the BMW X3 in many ways echoes the older brother of the BMW X5, but the youngest looks more compact and dynamic. The body kit of unpainted plastic hints at the possibility of use outside the roads. But it is hinting, because the new X-Drive transmission was created primarily for even highways. Why a little later.
The old acquaintance (ZR, 2003, No. 8) Lexus RX300 is not at all like an all -around. The calm design of the body with an intricate rear persistent destroys boxing associations. Moreover, the Japanese is completely deprived of external attributes of all -terrain vehicles like plastic expanders of wheeled arches and overhead thresholds.
Feel the difference by looking at the Freilender Lend Rover. His profile with a characteristic step roof will not be confused with anyone else. Its FAS is also expressive, after restyling resembling a ranger-rover. Perhaps in our Trinity this is the most recognizable car at any perspective.
COMMUNICATION EXPERIENCE
It begins with fitting. It is easiest to occupy a driver’s or passenger place in Lexus convenient openings, large door opening angles, the optimal height of the seats, the steering wheel automatically leaving after turning off the ignition, the widest salon. The design of the rear seat unobtrusively resembles it for two. But you can’t call them with traveling economy class, moving the rear seat away, you can accommodate quite comfortably.
The pillows and backs of the seats are soft and hospitable. However, their configuration is not so successful for a medium -sized driver, and even more a high pillow is short. But the range of adjustments, including the steering wheel. It is difficult to make claims to the deep wells planted in deep wells with electrolyuminescent backlighting. It is even more difficult to blame them for the modesty of the finish.
Against this background, BMW is not so unequivocal, a high landing is combined in it with a high level of floor, so the sensations behind the wheel of X3 are more like a passenger car than an all -around. The deliberately rude interior tries to convince the opposite. Even to the touch, the skin on the steering wheel is rough and cellular so conceived? But, for example, the finish of the seat with longitudinal seams only an element of style or something more?
However, the seat itself is much more important. Perhaps, only a very thin driver will not praise his profile and side support to everyone else will have a form and a form of longitudinal adjustment. But with a vertical you do not walk even in a car without a hatch soon resting on the ceiling.
The width is sufficient, but the protruding upholstery of the doors does not allow freedom. With an impressive height of the cabin, the rear seat pillow, on the contrary, is very low above the head is full of space, and the knees are uncomfortable to sit uncomfortable. I wonder how much the back weighs when laying out it seems that you are raising a cast -iron hatch. Of course, the requirements of passive safety are holy, and it catches the load in the accident, but in this, not otherwise, armor plate
The absence of a full -sized spare wheel will not be very pleased with Russian drivers: there is even a place for her. If you lay the 17-inch wheel on the floor, it will clutter up almost the entire luggage compartment. By the way, the mobile floor in it can be put either with a fibrous side up for pure luggage, or rubberized for ski, fishing and other causals.
Finally, Lend Rover. The best that it has a proprietary, high, Landruper landing and a low glazing line. It is easier to maneuver in cramped conditions than on a BMW with parking sensors. When everything is visible, you do not need to think in which ear it squeals. But the seats adjustment range is hardly suitable for those who are higher than 185 cm and the ceiling is close, and the roof hangs with a visor.
A medium -sized driver is more comfortable here, although the seat adjustment is not provided in height. There is heating and adjustment of the lumbar backup, but there is no up and down! Well, the driver tall above the average will face the problem of planting the doorway is quite large, but the pillow is high. Do not bend you risk with an ear on the roof. Everything is repeated from behind, with the only difference being that the raised roof gives more space for the head. A high landing guarantees a convenient position of the legs even on a long trip.
Freilender's trunk is the most spacious, if you do not fold the rear seat. With the folded, he is noticeably inferior to the rivals, the car is much shorter. But there are no problems with the reserve, it hangs on the back door simply and accessible. The main thing is not for everyone who wants one of the bolts with secrets.
ROAD SIGNS
Full -wheel drive cars with increased road clearance are not created for dashing turns. But this does not apply to BMW. Perhaps, even the older brother of the BMW X5 surpassed in the controllability of X3. Hardly another all -tribe is able to perceive the driver’s requirements so zealously and fulfill so confidently. Right, many cars have something to learn from him. The question is at what price it has been achieved.
If the car is uncompromising in management, look for a compromise in something else. In this case, they sacrificed the smoothness of the stroke and the sensitivity of the steering. Even on relatively flat roads, BMW strains the driver with the intensity of vertical accelerations and a rather nervous steering wheel. Well, it’s not bad to grab around the city on it, but if the trip stretches for a thousand or two kilometers?
At such distances, a yellow T -shirt at Lexus. Its pendants easily cope with small and medium defects in the road surface, and even annoying waves on the asphalt it smoothes, like an iron. Behind his steering, it seems that problems with roads in Russia have been resolved. But you should not especially lift up. Other surprises of spring are able to break through its pendants
Understanding comfort and noiselessness are complemented by a strongly dumped steering control: it removes all the unpleasant sensations on a luxurious wooden barracks. But there is no need to count on the accuracy of management: Lexus does not require a second -class trajectory control, but it does not invite you to pass turns too quickly. The rolls and buildup are too pronounced, and the intervention of an unlotted stabilization system is not always timely and also sharp.
Honestly, miracles did not expect miracles from Freilender. But reality was more attractive. Of course, it is necessary to get used to its governing bodies. At first, the steering wheel and the gas pedal are unusually heavy. They are in the answer for the feeling of a large and heavy car, which causes this compact and not at all a heavy alternate. Stability on the line is combined with quite adequate behavior with a sharp change of strip, and the accelerated dynamics with a completely quick five -speed automatic. By the way, for layouts, the main pair of Frilelender was made by two-stage, and its total gear ratio is almost 5. So there is simply no increase in the transmission of a small land-rover. Pros, as usual, in the dynamics of acceleration, minus in fuel consumption. The owner of the most modest motor is not inferior in appetite to machines that are more heavier than 300 kg and have excess half -liters of the engine volume.
The suspension was pleased with a successful compromise with quite decent manageability, it is very energy -intensive, it copes well with the buildup and large coating defects. Perhaps the freemlander is the only of the three cars that can quickly drive not only along the broken asphalt, but also on a bumpy primer, this is what the big stroke of the suspension means!
Checking outside the road
Naturally, talking about the serious off -road abilities of our Trinity is frivolous. None of the cars have hard locks in the transmission, and you can’t call the road clearance impressive. According to our measurements on unloaded machines, the leader of the freelander with 205 mm, then there are BMW with 195 mm and Lexus with 170 (a car with a pneumatic suspension, presented for a test, can stand at 30 mm at speeds up to 50 km/h, increasing the lumen to 200) . However, a detailed advertising avenue of the English all -terrain vehicle mentions the modest 186 mm under the protection of the motor compartment.
By the size of the freilender suspension moves, as we have already noticed, ahead. Moving around the uneven field, he never hung the wheels. Lexus in the middle position of the air suspension copes with bmW better, the upper is worse: there is almost no end of the end of the end. Outside of the road, the BMW suspension is clearly inappropriately very rigid reptile stability stability. The X-Drive system, which automatically connecting the front wheels when slipping the rear, behaves in the best way on slippery soil. There is an assumption that touching on loose sand will be problematic. However, these are only suspicions that arose when observing how BMW X3 climbed a slippery rise.
Interestingly compare the recommendations of manufacturers regarding overcoming obstacles. The instructions of Lexus bypasses the off-road, the Lend Rover describes in detail the capabilities of the machine, BMW only mentions that X3 was created not for off-road, but a maximum for bad roads. You should not clarify the difference between a bad road in Germany and in Russia it is obvious. But the stated BMW depth of the overcoming fords is higher than that of the Lend Rover: 500 mm versus 400. What is the confidence that the owners of X3 will not rush to force water barriers? Half a meter is higher than cutting doors, with all the ensuing, excuse the consequences.
We noted something else if Lexus and Frilelander when the puddle passes back water to the sides, then BMW diligently waters his own windshield. And so much dirt sticks to his powerful rapids after the primer that it is impossible to get out of the car without staining the trousers.
Instead of wise thoughts
What is common between these three cars? Perhaps only the type of body, engine, all -wheel drive and five -speed automatic transmission. Otherwise, the trinity resembles a swan, cancer and pike as you know, they can all swim, but everyone has their own specialization. Lexus sets a sky-high bar of comfort, BMW demonstrates aggressiveness and speed on a good road, a land rover, despite the parquet essence, still retains a noticeable off-road slope. Despite the solid age (and Frilelander is already the eighth year!), He demonstrates not only cross -country ability, but also good road manners. It can be attributed to the younger class of SUVs, and a powerful engine and a solid list of additional equipment allows it to attract the attention of potential buyers of more expensive cars.

The interior of this BMW is noticeably different from its cars
collectors, which can not be said about landing at the wheel. Among the interesting details we note the multifunctional armrest in the back, an original combination of devices (small dials inside the tachometer); In the trunk anchor for fastening cargo.

The decoration of Lexus attracts a successful combination of expensive materials and first -class work, creating high spirits. Stylishly decorated and well read devices with fluorescent backlight. The rear seats are adjusted separately, which gives the advantage to high passengers.

The driver's place of the Lend Rover will suit those who are no higher than the average; In addition, the intricate digitization of devices is poorly read. But the rear sofa is quite convenient, although not a non -shell. The glass of the fifth door is departure, but does not know the intermediate positions.

SUMMARY
BMW X3
+ Excellent acceleration dynamics, exemplary controllability, accurate steering, comfortable front seats, significant salon height.
- a small volume of the trunk, the lack of a full-sized spare wheel, a hard suspension, a high price, the thresholds are very contaminated, the X-Drive drive system is not optimal on slippery soil.

SUMMARY
Lexus RX300
+ High suspension comfort, excellent sound insulation, spacious interior, separate rear seats with adjustment, excellent build quality and finishes.
- The driver's isolation from the management process, limited equipment.

SUMMARY
Land Rover Freelander
+ Good comfort and high energy intensity of the suspension, excellent visibility, the best indicators of geometric patency, spacious trunk, full -size reserve.
- The heavy steering wheel and gas pedal, the adjustments of the seats are inconvenient for tall drivers, the location of the seats relative to the doorway is not thought out.
 
 
 
 

 

Anatoly Fomin. Photo: Konstantin Yakubov

Source: The magazine "Driving"