Test drive Lexus RX 1998 - 2003 SUV

Energy saving

From school lessons of physics, we remember that if it arrives in one place, then it will surely lose in another. The next proof of this law was the new Lexus RX300.
We realized why, more and more often the venue for test drives of the latest new products of the car concerns choose Sardinia. Firstly, not too many curious people, approximately as we have somewhere in the Pskov region-this is not characteristic of Europe. Secondly, on the island there are many winding roads with an excellent cover, and all OFF-Road can be reduced to a highly crossed area, again with well-worn country. Thirdly, there is no extreme, but there is almost always good weather, the sun and the sea. For Lexus RX300, this is an ideal habitat.
Caught at all costs. At the airport, we get in the tested cars, nervously glancing at the watch - the plane was late for more than an hour and we are frankly late for the presentation. Fate determined the first test of high -speed driving.
From the first kilometers it became clear that the motorway is the native element of the majority Lexus. Thanks to the powerful motor and machine gun, the RX300 easily and smoothly gains a comfortable speed of 140 km/h. It is comfortable, since at higher speeds in rather steep turns Lexus no, no, and he seeks to slip off the rear wheels from the turn, and the driver's temperament begins to upset the electronic maintenance system for maintaining exchange rate stability (VSC).
The automatic box is thoughtful, but in moderation. At a speed of 100-110 km/h, it allows you to do rather sharp overtaking more quiet cars without fears. And at those moments when we went to the limit, the manual gear mode helped a lot, which allows to sharply squeeze the maximum torque from the engine.
So we not only managed to attend the banquet, but also won the time to more carefully consider the new car in the parking lot in front of the hotel.

Eye and eye. Outwardly, the new Lexus RX300 differs little from its predecessor. We note that it has become more elegant and modern. Strips of frivo disappeared in front. There are no pseudo -trees on the front and rear doors. Mirrors organically grow from the door, and do not stick out on the legs, like cancer's eyes. Add even more modern rear light blocks and a spoiler spoiler - that’s all the differences that are striking. But, nevertheless, this is not Feyslift, but a really new model.
To begin with, for the first time two curious new products are installed on the new Lexus RX. For one - the automatically opening trunk door - the ears are the first to react. It is enough to press one of the three buttons - one on the key fabric and one near the driver and the front passenger - as accompanied by an annoying squeak (take care!) The trunk door rises up. To lower it back, just press any of the three buttons or the key on the edge of the door itself. Comfortable? Very much. By the way, on the go, the lock is blocked. Thank God we did not test another novelty-this is a safety pillow that somewhat reminiscent of an inflatable mattress-it jumps out under the steering column and protects the driver's knees. In the standard SUV configuration, this is found for us for the first time.
Designing the new Lexus, the engineers made its body 160 mm longer and 30 mm wider than the old model. On paper, these numbers do not make impressions, but in practice, live, they turn into a solid additional space for passengers. Even if in front of the master imposingly spread out on his chair, then the passengers from behind are still enough space for preserving their dignity.
Having overtaken the closest modern-graders, Lexus was the first to install an air suspension that could change the clearance depending on the conditions of movement. At a speed of more than 50 km/h the Lexus body drops by 7.5 mm. Not much, but this made it possible to achieve the best in the class of the frontal resistance coefficient - 0.33.
Creeping disease. The next day, on the steep rocky slopes of the off -road route, we experienced disappointment. Firstly, this was due to the operation of an automatic gearbox, which, to put it mildly, puzzled us. Imagine the situation. Half -earth uphill along a narrow rocky path. Here we have a cool turn, which we do not fit into the first time: the path is narrow, Lexus is wide. We hand over a little back, bring the steering wheel and transfer the automatic transmission selector to position D. At the moment when the driver released the brake pedal, Lexus began to slip rather quickly, in the opposite direction from the desired movement, and even with a frightening acceleration. And the slope was not so small. This was the first time for us! I had to work as pedals, as in trivial mechanics: to release the brake and instantly burn on the gas.
For the sake of curiosity, already going down the hill, we stopped, transferred the checkpoint to the rear mode and carefully released the brake - and Lexus still crawls, but now ahead. A strange story turns out ...
The second time we were surprised by the work of the brakes. More precisely, the entire system, including ABS and VSC, which intervened very inappropriately. We move down, the slope is small, and the coating is the same stones. We slow down. Not inhibited. We slow down so that the brake pedal is literally pressed to the floor. Not inhibited, continues to drag. Stopped. UV ... I would like to advise Lexus engineers to provide the ability to turn off the cunning electronics at the nearest upgrade the car. Indeed, in an off -road driving schools, they immediately advise you to disconnect the tracsh and other controls outside the asphalt.

Smart will not go uphill. Even without looking back at these two but new RX300, you will not surprise you with its jeper capabilities, despite the permanent all -wheel drive in a ratio of 50:50 between the front and rear wheels. This is, after all, all, not an off-road machine, and you should not overestimate your strength. Although in the new Lexus RX300 they refused to use a differential of limited friction and viscousyft in the transmission. On the one hand, this made it possible to significantly reduce the weight of the car and simplify the structure. Now the TRC electronic system is monitored to clutch the wheels, which in a timely manner inhibits slipping wheels and directs the traction force to those wheels that have more confident adhesion to the surface. Yes, such a system works much faster than the previous one (with a differential of limited friction and viscousyft), and is more effective on a solid surface - on snow -capped or wet asphalt, on a gravel road. But electronics loses to mechanics in the case when under the wheels a rather deep dirt or a high obstacle. We were convinced of this when we tried on our own, outside the route proposed by the organizers, to go to the side of the road. The RX300 could not overcome a rather high rocky tubercle - he frantically scraped with all four wheels, angrily rushed with stones, but did not climb the mountain.
Step to the left, step to the right. And did not climb correctly. And you don’t really need to jump in such a car in the mountains: this is not Defender or even LX470 to you. After all, the Lexus RX300 is perhaps the most striking representative of the SUV class in our market: expensive, but comfortable, stylish, moreover, reliable.
Unfortunately, the measure of this very comfort for our customers has already been measured by sellers and the manufacturer. So, the new RX300 will be delivered to us in three trim levels, while each with a tough and mandatory set of options. And even if someone really wants to order the cheapest version, but with an expensive and very good Mark Levinson audio system, and there is money-it is impossible. Because this sound goes exclusively in the load to the most expensive configuration and any options are almost impossible.
At the same time, let's say thanks to the native state, which can not solve the issue using navigation - all Lexus will come to Russia without it, and therefore, without the display and rear view chambers.
However, the basic charms of the new Lexus RX300 are still available to Russians-and air suspension, and an adaptive light system, and a smart fifth door. All this will undoubtedly appeal to the new owners of this car. And
Text Nikolay Kachurin, photo of the author
 
Model/Modification Lexus RX300
Manufacturer/country Toyota Motor Co./yaponia
Bearing element of the body
Number of doors/places 5/5
ENGINE
Type/number/location of gasoline cylinders/6/V-shaped
Working volume (cubic cub) 2995
Power (kW (L.S.) at about./Min.) 150 (204) at 5600
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 283 at 4500
TRANSMISSION
The drive is complete
Automatic gearbox, 5-speed, sectral type
Brakes, safety
Front/rear circular ventilated/disk
ABS, assisting electronic systems 4-channel; Electronic braking (BAS), an electronic distribution system of brake force (EBD), a system for maintaining exchange rate stability (VSC) and a traction control system on wheels (TRC)
Pillows of the frontal safety for the driver and passenger, inflatable curtains in front and rear, side pillows for the driver and front passenger, a pillow that protects the driver's knees.
Dimensions/mass
Length/width/height (mm) 4740/1845/1705
Wheel base/clearance (mm) 2715/190
Tires 225/60 R17 or 235/55 R18
Mass weight/full (kg) 1835-1915/2380
The volume of the fuel tank (L) 72
Maximum speed (km/h) 200
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 9.0
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 16.9/9.4
The price in Moscow is $ 54.9 thousand.

 

Source: "Autopilot"