Lexus RX test drive since 2008 SUV

The hybrid challenges diesel engines

Forget about the swirling clouds of blue smoke, modern diesel cars are powerful and environmentally friendly. But is this enough to slow down the development of hybrid technologies?
You know, but here it does not stink, Holy Antoine is thoughtfully saying, releasing clubs of gray-blue cigar smoke.
Our high -rise editor is right, and not even once. Despite our immediate proximity to the exhaust pipes of three cars with launched diesel engines, we feel only the barely noticeable smell of tobacco of its cigar and the fresh winter air of the Eastern Sierra.
The lack of a noise traditional for diesel engines is also amazing. Only the fourth participant in this quartet did not surprise us in this regard: a new and unnaturally quiet Lexus RX 450H. It is finally equipped with a hybrid power plant, but the BMW X5 XDRIVE 35D, Mercedes-Benz ML320 Bluetec and Volkswagen Touareg TDI surprised us in this regard. What can their barely audible idle move about the state of development of modern diesel engines? Will they be able to compete with the latest hybrid model of the most sold in the world of SUV class luxury? To clarify the relationship, we chose mountains.
 
Traveling to the gathering place allowed us to draw the first conclusions. The BMW X5 with the third number of seats and the ability to transport seven passengers at a time turned out to be the most overall and roomy. RX450H has approximately the same Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen total length, but its 2,741 mm wheelbase turned out to be shorter than 114 mm due to the features of the suspension device.
Despite the fact that all three Germans have 3-liter 6-cylinder turbodiesels under the hood, there are still differences. In the BMW, in the bowels of the motor compartment, a in a series of Bi-turbine power unit flaunts, while Benz and VW made a choice in favor of a monotormable V-shaped installation. All three require fuel with an extremely low sulfur content and work on various variations of the adblue urea injection technology, which can significantly reduce the nitrogen oxide in exhaust gases. They are much cleaner than their predecessors, but they are still far from the unrivaled status of Sulev in Lexus (Sulev Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle, this class is assigned to those cars in which the atmosphere is 90% less compared to conventional machines).
The Mercedes has a traditional 4Matic all -wheel drive system, while X5 has a Dynamic Traction Control (traction control function) a cunning device that adds slightly extreme XDRive system. Touareg with a 4xMotion permanent all -wheel drive system turned out to be the only one offering a lower row, and Lexus RX450H again recalled its belonging to hybrids. A transverse engine and electric motor (aka generator) rotate the front axle, while the back is driven by an additional electric motor if necessary.
The main surprise of our tests was not that the X5 surpassed everyone in terms of braking and handling, but the fact that he was not the first to accelerate in the test. Despite the highest torque in this class (576 Nm), X5 is on the head in the dough to accelerate up to 100 km/h smoothly and silent during the acceleration of the RX 450H. Stunning 0.3 seconds of the difference look quite logical from the point of view of the mathematical laws of Drag-racing every 45 kg cost 0.1 seconds. But the point here is not only in weight. Yes, BMW is heavier than Lexus for those same 136 kg, but ML320, which weighed 18 kg less than X5, showed in this test the last result, it lagged behind the leader by 1.7 s. Small riddles like this multiplied in our minds as they move north along the highway 395.
Despite all the differences, these luxurious crossovers have and a common feature for the first few minutes everyone needs to get used to. After all, all this is the expensive equipment that they are stuffed, although it is designed to minimize jerks at a sharp start from a place, is still able to bring down the entire power of torque, accessible from the lower classes, for the driver and passengers.
 
The most positive emotions are caused by X5, but not only thanks to the perfectly balanced steering wheel and amazing dynamics. St. Antoine is delighted with his thrust, like that of the ocean liner. After we left Bishop on the track 395, X5 never switched down, continuing to accelerate, although we rose 2,430 meters. Height above sea level? What other height?
VW is impressive in several respects. He undoubtedly has a softer suspension, and there is a tendency to rolls in corners, but it is worth getting used to it a little, and these turns turn into true pleasure, says Mark Williams, our colleague and an off-road. In Mercedes and BMW, some noises and vibrations produced by a diesel engine sometimes get into the salon, but VW engineers broke up and coped with these undesirable noises. A very smooth and restrained car, much more quiet than BMW, Ron Kiino believes, our senior editor. Our editors and good responsiveness of Touareg to work with a gas pedal noted, despite a solid weight of almost 2.5 tons. It is very reminiscent of gasoline V8, in addition, there is no pause between pressing the gas pedal and the start, Williams noted.
The strangest was that all the diesel engines in this test seemed faster than Lexus. So, wait, and who was faster than anyone on the track?, Hurrying to find out Holy Antoine by walkie -talkie, looking at how quickly BMW is hiding around the bend, strikingly overtaking Lexus. Maybe the advantage at the start? Williams does not think so. At an altitude of 2.2 km above sea level, these diesel engines are still powerful and frisky, consuming about 15 liters per hundred kilometers. Not bad for SUV, weighing 2.2 tons or more. The much more harmonious and technological Lexus perceived fresh mountain air without enthusiasm.
 
Yes, one cannot help but admire Lexus. The start of the engine from the button is similar to starting the latest computer with a quadrinary processor. Suspending, buzzing and blinking of light bulbs create a feeling of the beginning of the work of complex artificial intelligence.
A light touch of the gas pedal sends only electronic impulses to electric motors, although as a result the car rides, and quite quickly. The full pressing of the pedal awakens a 3.5-liter V6, but this happens completely imperceptibly for you. By buzzing the variator, it is almost impossible to determine the moment when the engine begins to work to help the electric motors of any vibrations, only a barely distinguishable noise appears.
And such is all Lexus, from beginning to end. Wherever you look, everywhere he has the most sophisticated electronics, starting from the LCD display and headlights, the brightness of which is automatically reduced when the oncoming transport is approaching, and to the latest controller called Remote Touch. It is a cross between the sensory display and trackball and allows the user to practically feel the touch of the arrow-index to virtual icons and buttons. At first it scares a little, but you get used to it very quickly. The Remote Touch system fully corresponds to its name, providing an indescribable sensation of the contact of the hand with the buttons on the screen. Everything is very clear and simple, says St. Antoine. Williams is no less impressed: if in 10 years, every car leaving the conveyor will not be equipped with a similar device, I will not be surprised at all.
Against such a background, BMW and Mercedes look empty and strongly lagging behind in terms of technical equipment. The ascetic, completely black X5 salon causes the most complaints: a very gloomy interior, and I am still not enthusiastic about the IDRive system interface, especially when it comes to navigation because of it, I constantly be late for meetings, Kiino says. St. Antoine gently pats the Benz sitting: perhaps it is not as chic as in the VW salon, but in general it is very pleasant. It is very convenient to manage some systems, for example, climate control, but some are just horror.
 
Frustrated by the ratio of low cost and rich configuration, our judges, nevertheless, dispersed in opinion about the general execution of Lexus. Some considered it futuristic, technically innovative, while others are modern, but cheaply looking because of the trends mixed in it. Williams says: I don’t really like the exterior solution, the front part looks somewhat damp, but from the salon I am in complete delight. It feels like every part, each surface is processed so as to create as much free space and maximum review inside the car. St. Antoine does not share such delight: the interior does not reach the luxury that you expect to find inside Lexus. The central panel looks unforgivably cheap.
With Volkswagen, everything is different. Kiino compares his salon with a glamorous forest hut somewhere in Alaska, while St. Antoine is full of enthusiasm: an ideal atmosphere to completely focus on driving a car. The Touareg salon is very serious, but at the same time very stylish and convenient. See BMW? This can be achieved.
Halfway home, Williams reports on the radio that Lexus has 58 km fuel. According to the plan, we had a stop after 322 km, but we had to stop, although all the diesel engines had another half a tank of fuel and a march of about 480 km. Since fuel consumption is not least bothering us, here we thought.
 
It's no secret that the hybrid Lexus is a champion in the field of fuel saving in the world of real roads. At a consumption of 10.2 liters per 100 km, the RX450H costs its nearest rival X5, which was surprisingly economical by 0.4 liters. The last one is Touareg, whose consumption turned out to be larger than Lexus, almost 2 liters. Do you think everything is extremely simple? Not at all, because the consumption is only one of the ways to solve this equation.
Another way is money, because on a 965-km trip the owner of LEXUS will spend only $ 10.17 less than the owner of the Touareg. Do you think this is just luck? But look what you get for these additional ten bucks: 551 Nm of torque and the ability to carry up to 3.5 tons on a trailer, which is twice as much as Lexus can pull. Did we take this opportunity on this trip? No, but this is undoubtedly an occasion to think for anyone who considers it to be granted that SUV can carry a boat or a whole bunch of equipment on the trailer.
The range also matters. Against the background of spacious gas tanks of diesel cars, RX450H with its 72 liters of fuel looks more than modest and is clearly in a disadvantage. In this case, even efficiency does not help out in this case. VW, for example, according to ERA calculations, is able to overcome 1,062 km of the highway on a full tank. Our tests showed a slight deviation from theoretical calculations, and, nevertheless, on one tank of fuel, Touareg is able to drive almost 160 km more than Lexus (711 km against 872 km of the best result in the group).
The problem is only in floating fuel prices. At the first stop for refueling diesel fuel, it cost 20 cents more than gasoline. When we drove for a second gas station, prices remained at the same level. As far as we know, this difference is maintained thanks to the list of average fuel prices for each state compiled by the Energy Department. Unfortunately, adherents of diesel engines, a relatively small difference between the cost of diesel fuel and gasoline observed in California, is rarely found outside this state. In some regions, this difference is from 40 to 80 cents, which clearly does not play in favor of diesel cars.
By the time our tests were completed, BMW and Mercedes-Benz were in outsiders. Despite the fact that the X5 XDRive 35D turned out to be the most economical diesel and demonstrated amazing dynamics, and obvious contradictions and inconsistencies were found in it. Michelin tires, which showed themselves so well on city streets, turned out to be absolutely unsuitable for off-road, as well as a full-wheel drive system configured for movement along asphalt tracks. Our x5 was stuck three times, which is three times more than Lexus and Volkswagen. We expected more flexibility from luxury SUV, especially considering that it costs nearly $ 65,000. St. Antoine is categorical: it is beautiful on dry asphalt, it has an incomparable motor, but I did not like the interior, and the absence of acceptable cross -country ability is outside the road. Surrounded. Well, the price tag just finished off.
 
ML320 Bluetech showed itself the exact opposite. He goes very smoothly and stably, but does not leave behind any memorable impression, despite very interesting technical moments, such as shock absorbers adjustable in stiffness. Kiino turned out to be more tolerant, but even his praise sounds a little doubtful. He called Benz a good compromise and possibly the most predictable of the participants. Williams agreed with him: he did not show himself the best in any of the categories, but adequately showed himself in each of them.
As a result, the question came to the following: what exactly are you planning to do with your SUV? If you are ill all week in traffic jams, and on the weekend, brisk stone jungle, then perhaps the technological Lexus will be the best option for you. Yes, he won’t cope with the trailer, and on the off -road he feels more than uncomfortable, and he has a small stroke on one tank, but otherwise he is very good. A lively, responsive, excellent family car, Kiino believes. St. Antoine agrees with him: he is stuffed with high technologies under the eyeballs, which is very flattering at its cost. But he, unfortunately, does not pull on a full -fledged SUV.
We are deeply convinced that SUV, no matter, standard or luxury, hybrid or diesel, should have sports dynamics and at the same time universality. Therefore, our choice of VW Touareg TDI.
St. Antoine believes that this is the most full -fledged SUV from our four. It combines good dynamics and utilitarianism in my list of preferences at number one. Kiino agrees with him: on the Touareg road amazes with its smoothness and noiselessness in combination with a hurricane power of the diesel engine. He is good on off -road. He turned out to be very economical, closely approaching the best indicator in this class, while possessing such abilities that other participants in the dough can only dream of. He gives you a maximum of possibilities, and he does not have to compromise. Touareg, as Williams accurately noticed, is a real car for any time of the year.
 
1st place: Volkswagen Touareg TDI
It offers the most complete package of traditional opportunities for SUV, while possessing an impressive appearance and optimally combining high technologies with cross -country ability outside the roads.
2nd place: Lexus RX450H
An ideal car for an amateur of the iPhone, who is rarely selected outside the city. Because equations with unknown in the form of long travels with a trailer and frequent congresses with the highway for this car are too complicated.
3rd place: Mercedes-Benz ml320 Bluetech
Stably and calmly travels both along the highway and beyond, but without a light that was at the founder of this series.
4th place: BMW X5 XDRive 35D
The most economical of diesel engines and definitely the best in terms of controllability and dynamics. Everyone spoils the astronomical cost and narrow specialization.
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: Motor Trend