Test Drive Lexus RX 1998 - 2003 SUV

White bone

These cars combine not only four-wheel drive, close price and dimensions. Tuareg and RX300 Soughhead of the XXI century, taking into account all the requests of the modern buyer of such cars.

Imagine more
Lexus-RX300 is completely new car, despite the fact that his name has not changed. For the first time after going to the stage in January of this year in Detroit, by the spring he appeared on this side of the Atlantic. The European version has a more economical engine for 300 CMs of a smaller working volume, with variable gas distribution phases. The machine is equipped with an automatic 5-speed gearbox and a constant full-wheel drive with an ussociate as a soft lock. In our test, the most expensive RX300 in configuration R3 with a pneumatic suspension and a complete set of additional equipment, including the audio system Mark Levinson with 11 speakers, hatch and peering adaptive headlights behind the angle.
 
Volkswagen-Tuareg was represented by the public last fall, but really affordable for the order became only after almost six months. Hardware options have already been a lot. Buyers are offered Tuaregs with gasoline engines V6 3.2 liters and V8 4.2 liters and turbo diesel engines: 5-cylinder 2.5 liters and heavy duty five-liter V10 in 313 liters. from. Any option can be obtained with a 6-speed automaton, and the most modest versions of a gasoline and diesel engine with a mechanical 5-speed transmission. Pneumatic suspension option for all machines, except V10TDI, where it is installed serially. The price of the skill is to quit for 55 and climb 85 mm is 27303020 euros.
 
You understand, 174-strong diesel taircraft in the basic equipment with the RX300 it is meaningless. As well as Lexus from 204 liters. from. Not a competitor with a super-power Volkswagen model 5,0tdi with a price for 80 thousand green. Therefore, from the entire variety of German cars, we chose a 6-cylinder engine, an automatic and pneumatic suspension.
 
Not yet generals
Image is nothing only for those who drink sprite from the bottle in the middle of the street. The one who buys cars for $ 50 thousand and higher, it is sometimes more important than the price. Tuareg, on the one hand, already possesses the right German origin, but not yet included in the prestigious club of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Porsche.
 
Lexus, of course, the number one brand in the Toyota hierarchical staircase, and the degree of confidence in Japanese technology in Russia is very high. That's just the word Lexus itself is not synonymous with luxury and aristocracy. At least, far from motorism, it does not say anything at all. So crawls will have to take away from both contestants.
 
Five minutes handsome
Lexus-RX300 is like himself. It does not praise and not condemnation is a statement of fact. If you take the former RX300 and try to imagine how the next thing should look, it will turn out to be a modern RX300. Is it good or bad? Good pleasant proportions, grinding height inclined rear body rack, fashionable crystal lighting, slightly more faceted appearance, relief plastic hood, large sizes and increased per 100 mm Wheel base. Worse than new ideas in the design of the car a little. And the overall impression is not more than a fourth with a plus. Only the owners of the former model are drawn to the new RX300 on the street.
 
Taureg NEW from the category of long expected. Expectations are always overestimated, and the first impression is rarely suspended. Yes, an externally car is not too original. In the profile, he reminds an enlarged Passat version at all. But the fight is quite another thing. With all the obvious simplicity of Registration, Tuareg has its own person emitting it from the total Volkswagensky series. And yet his appearance is very conservative, even despite playing turn signals in the ears of the rearview mirrors. Fashion requirements clearly lost to the general desire to make a solid car.
 
 
Yes, Tourareg is much more active than Lexus, draws attention to passers-by and passage. But it is not surprising: we have not seen such a big folkswagen. Just look at a huge emblem size with a dining room.
 
 
Not all that is gold that glitters
You can easily argue about style and design, but it is impossible not to note the magnificent body assembly quality. Smooth small gaps, an excellent coincidence of the planes, even in the most difficult places, perfect coloring. However, inside the difference between Volkswagen and Lexus is noticeable much more than outside.
 
Tuarega dashboard. Decent example of high-tech style. With all the external standard, it is hard to confuse with the other. But even despite the anti-reflective glass, instrument readings are difficult to read in bright light. The light gray arms of control of the audio system and climate installation, impeccable in appearance, are not too pleasant, leaving the feeling of cheap Chinese radio tape recorder. Buttons opening boxing between front seats, tight and walk. And even gorgeous in the form and style lever of the gearbox selector to the touch hard and plastic. Maybe it is acceptable for the machine of the average price class, but Tuareg is difficult to attribute to it.
 
With its slight advantage in dimensions and, especially, a more spacious salon can be expected to be expected from Volkswagen. However, in fact, all the advantage of 20 mm in width for the rear passengers. A larger space over the driver's head in Tuareg, the result of the absence of a sliding hatch in the roof.
 
Chief Trump Lexus ATTENTION TO THERMS. Steal switches, gearbox selector fully match the car. Even the smallest button on the console leaves the impression of a flawlessly working mechanism, and any click of the switch does not leave doubt that some special materials are applied. In fact, the console is very modest, and the capabilities of the on-board computer is not a couple of Volkswagenovsky. But to the devices stubborn in deep wells, it is impossible to complain, they are perfectly visible at any lighting. And individual adjustment of the rear seats? And sliding boxing under the front seats? No, for the interior, Lexus deservedly gets the highest score.
 
 
Extra three centners
Six cylinders, three liters of volume, more than 200 horses of any of the engines could be perfectly expressing themselves under the hood of a business class sedan. But in a severe sacrifice, it is not so much. Especially in such a difficult, like a tuareg, the oven mass over 2.2 tons. On his background, Lexus, which did not reach 1900 kg a little, seems to be a car.
 
What is more important than 300 kilograms, 200 cubes or 26 horses? Alas, 300 kilograms. Neither a slight advantage in torque and power, nor the 6-speed automatic, nor the short major pair helped the Volkswagen to overtake the Lexus. Sometimes his lag was minimal, but he could not focus on a Japanese competitor. Of course, if under his hood there was a 4-liter eight or turbodiesel V10TDI, he would be jokingly fell with the Japanese. But in the next category there are already other rivals.
 
The difference in dynamics is not so large per 100 km / h Lexus wins a second, 160 km / h little more than three. On improvised overtaking, the taureg is almost not inferior to the RX300, short transfers and a fast reaction of a 6-speed automaton are affected. In general, the speed possibilities of both are quite sufficient for fast and casual movement, but it is not worth talking about sports ambitions. But the brakes did not pumped both demonstrated the slowdown above 9.3 m / s. Excellent result for cars of this class.
 

Comfort Limit
Making sure that our wards accelerate almost up to 200 km / h, to check well as they cope with winding road. At first glance, under these conditions, Lexus is more pleasant to manage. But only before a certain limit that we will call the limit of comfort. If you want to go really quickly, the insufficient informativeness of the steering wheel gets out, and the correct operation of the VSC rate resistance system is not always. She clearly stifles the motor at the exit from turn and at the same time resets when it is necessary to pay off the already started skid. Sharp disruption, rich, exchange oscillations come unexpectedly and can catch the driver by surprise. You do not expect that a teddy bear will bite you?
 
Touareg is not going so at ease, but diligently. In the same turns as Lexus, he forces more to twist the Barank, it earlier begins to creak tires, causing a feeling of a large heavy car, which is essentially. With obvious crossbar, he is inclined to fall out of turn, although in a critical situation is more reliable and predictable. Yes, and the intervention of electronics is not so intrusive.
 
 
I love Molchunov
At speeds above 150 km / h, the Lesxus engine is barely heard, and the aerodynamic noises are surprisingly small. And even the tires seem to do not touch the roadbed. Comfort suspension is impressive. It seems specifically created for our roads cracks, chips, small potholes disappear as a magic wand. On moderate speeds, the atmosphere of the conservatory in the cabin can break only Mark Levinson.
 
Touareg with conventional coarse suspension. Although its springs have a worthy margin of strength for unexpected pits and Koldybin. Comfort even on a broken road is quite acceptable, but to compete with silk-smooth lexus in such a configuration it is hard for him. Therefore, our advice to buy this Volkswagen must be required with pneumatics (the same can be said about Lexus, it is hardly worth stopping on the most modest execution R1). Such a suspension makes Tourareg as silk, comfortable. Almost Lexus. Why almost? Everything decided silence in the Japanese salon. The sound of the taguega engine at high speeds, though pleasant on the timbre, but obsessing, and the transmission and tires do not forget to remind of their existence.
  
Proper level
Both vehicles have an excellent security arsenal, starting with frontal and side airbags, ending with side pillows for heads and even drivers' knees (RX300). Independent expertise both cars have not yet passed, but it must be assumed that, thanks to the non-real-free security arsenal and a solid body, they will show excellent results. However, we will not forget that high jeeps, according to experts, still expose their cat seams increased compared to conventional risk cars.
 
Theoretical advantages
Scarlet setting sun painted by a tangerine tamper heated in the day of the golden sand beach. The splash of the azure waves caresses the eternal hearing eternal hum. Easy breeze is expelled by a meal heat and inspires the evening coolness what is missing in this picture? Shovels! And even good cable and tractor. But they are already going
 
Yes, damn it, we came again on the same rake, while planting a car in a bulk sand. We were protected by the angles of entry and the congress, the road clearance, the moves of the suspension, but did not take into account one. A full-wheel drive car with a flat bottom is perfectly in the sand while the slaughter of the shallow, but barely touching the belly, it sits tightly. And if there is no good shovel at hand, then you have to pass an exam for the post of big sandy crot
 
Yes, in all measurements of Volkswagen ahead. Road clearance of a 195 mm taguega under the plastic protection of the engine compartment (without it, the clearance is 237 mm under the crankcase), more than 220 mm under the rest of the units, it has better corners of the entrance and a congress, more on 35 mm rear suspension. Moreover, the pneumatics can raise the body for another 65 mm, ensuring an impressive 258 mm or 300 under the crankcase without protection. But the most important trump card Volkswagen is a full-fledged transmission with rigid inter-axis differential and downstream transmission 2.7. In fairness, we note that the Bridgestone-Turans-ER30's highway tires is not required their coupling qualities even in the sand is extremely weak. Human-needle-RS-A, in which Lexus wise, is also completely toothless, but rowing is not an example better. Climbing on a 50% rise, Tuareg did not require a downward transfer and defeated the mountain from a place with a huge margin, wounded by the end of the lift to accelerate to the second transfer.
 
Lexus-RX300 in a normal position has 170 mm from the road. Lower point is a plastic fuel tank cover. At the same time, the rest of the car is only a little higher than 185 mm, just this number of the Japanese is called the RX300 official clearance. So, even when Lexus rises on tiptoe, under it 200 mm (or official 215 mm). In the raised mood you can easily ride, although not too fast. The reasons are two: first, about 50 km / h, Lexus is automatically lowered, secondly, in this state the suspension lacks the passage of the abnormality and the knock of the limiters in the cabin is clearly heard. The thrust in the deep sand at Lexus is enough at the limit, heavy soil or deep snow is not his specialty short and boil the box.
 
We waited for a tractor, because it was not possible to dig a manually. Summing up the competition in the passability, we will recall again from tires again. Want to confidently feel on dirt roads to take care of the appropriate tires. In the test configuration, the apparent advantages of the taguega in the road list, the corners of the entrance and the congress, traction indicators and the possibilities of the transmission did not work precisely because of the tires, although in general the passability of both cars corresponds to the best representatives of the parquets.
 
Percentage difference
It is clear that both cars are not cheap. The price of RX300 from $ 54,900 (Equipment R1) to $ 63 400 (R3), visiting our test. The intermediate option (R2 equipment) costs $ 59,900 and differs from the base of the pneumatic suspension, 18-inch wheels, leather multifunctional steering wheel and the rear door electric drive. So it is not necessary to think about the choice.
 
Prices for touareg with such a motor and automatic transmission start from 44,460 euros. If you retain Volkswagen to Lexus level, then its price will be 56,470 euros or $ 64 376 per $ 1000 or 1.5 percent more expensive than Japanese.
 
For 40,280 euros you can buy a basic diesel taureg (2,5TDI, mechanical checkpoint). For 72,280 euro turbodiesel V10TDI. The eight-cylinder taouareg begins with 61 310 euros. However, do not think that you will be able to limit ourselves to the base. After all, even the right to hang on the stern a full spare wheel costs 1,100 euros. In the standard, a small-sized spare wheel with it can only be docking on asphalt.
 
Volkswagen's approach impreams you can choose everything that I like. Even the hatch in the roof can be ordinary or with a solar panel. And tires to choose from. Not only in size 17, 18, 19 inches, but also 65, 60, 55 and 45 of the profile (respectively, with a width of 235 to 275 mm), and even on the brand and type of tread. Do not want toothless Bridgestone-ER30, take Pirelli-Scorpio-a / t. Choosing Lexus can only dream of such a variety.
    
We decided:
If scrupulously calculate points, it turns out that the average estimate of the RX300 is 4.3, and the result of the taguega for one tenth is worse. A little more dynamic and comfortable, Lexus gave way to manageability and passability. And everything decided the advantage of the Japanese car as an assembly and interior decoration into one-only score. So both cars have earned estimates. Only to use the advantages of the other machine according to the full program, in our opinion, Tuareg needs to be purchased with gasoline eight. True, in this case, the price of a car will increase to about $ 75,000, which goes far beyond the price frames of the RX300.
 
For Lexus, on the contrary, allow themselves to recommend the R2 bundle for $ 59,900, which most fully reflects the dignity of the car in terms of comfort. From the top version, it is distinguished by a more modest audio system, the lack of a hatch in the roof, religs on it and rotating headlights.
 
In conclusion, once again about tires for Tuareg, if you intend to even occasionally leave the asphalt. Rehend to their choice with special attention, otherwise it will not be possible to use it off-road advantages. Our recommendation: Pirelli-scorpion-a / t for episodic trips to nature and Pirelli-Pi-Zero-Rosso-N0 or Yokohama-x816 on 19-inch wheels for pure asphalt.
 
     
Anatoly Fomin, Maxim Goncharov
 
 

A source: Limousine magazine [09/03]