2004 Lexus RX330 Preview

[Doggiedog]

Unfortunately, that is the problem. Acura has no other SUVs in their line up but the price range is right in the middle of 2 different classes of vehicles. Which would explain why C&D compares the MDX to both a GX and an RX.

Supposedly, they are coming out with a smaller SUV. I think that would resolve the class issues. There are also rumblings that the 2005 MDX will have 400HP in a hybrid engine. I know on the MDX site, Honda has people snooping around trying to get recommendations on what to improve or what they want in the next MDX. #1 request? For $40K, standard HIDs would be nice.

Edit: Sequoia's rear legroom is 29.8". The MDX's is 29.3. They should be considered comparable in that case. I've had a lot of people sit back there and no one has complained (unless they preferred walking ). It isn't too bad unless you are 6' tall and are sitting there longer than an hour.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

[Nissan fanboy] I like the FX35 & Murano better [/Nissan fanboy]

Lexus should get rid of the metal trip on the sides of the "center pod" (not sure what the proper term for it is) and leave it with real wood, or they should leave the metal trim there and replace the wood between the seats with metal trim. I don't like the garish combination of the two.

That said, the interior is nice but the exterior leaves something to be desired. And while I'm sure the iterior is of better quality than the FX & Murano, its still not THAT much better to overcome the rest of its properties over the FX and Murano.

Still a good car for my mom or uncle (who's seriously looking into the RX).

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
No the beetle is a girl car this is a girl SUV.

no it ain't its a girl station wagon

 

[KokomoGST]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
No the beetle is a girl car this is a girl SUV.

no it ain't its a girl station wagon

No, that would be a Jetta wagon...
Hopefully Toyota will build a Highlander on the platform too. I can't stand the way the RX looks.

 

[bolido2000]

I saw it at the auto show. Very nice looking SUV. Air suspension and he headlight thingy are pretty cool.
FX45 and the RX330 are the only decent looking SUV's in the 40-50K market.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Wtf? How can the RX330 NOT be a competitor for the MDX???

 

[tefunk]

I liked the Murano better. But maybe that's because I just got one 2 days ago. 32k nicely equipped. Lots of people think that's too much for a Nissan but the price is just right for me. The Murano is stuck in between the cheaper Highlander/Pilot and the more expensive RX300/MDX/XC90. I think it does a good job providing luxury slightly below its more expensive competitors and more aggressive styling than its cheaper boring counterparts.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: tefunk
I liked the Murano better. But maybe that's because I just got one 2 days ago. 32k nicely equipped. Lots of people think that's too much for a Nissan but the price is just right for me. The Murano is stuck in between the cheaper Highlander/Pilot and the more expensive RX300/MDX/XC90. I think it does a good job providing luxury slightly below its more expensive competitors and more aggressive styling than its cheaper boring counterparts.

Pics? I'd love to see a ton of inside/outside pics, I will gladly host them for you.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: tefunk
I liked the Murano better. But maybe that's because I just got one 2 days ago. 32k nicely equipped. Lots of people think that's too much for a Nissan but the price is just right for me. The Murano is stuck in between the cheaper Highlander/Pilot and the more expensive RX300/MDX/XC90. I think it does a good job providing luxury slightly below its more expensive competitors and more aggressive styling than its cheaper boring counterparts.

I think that's a fair assessment. I like the Murano

Wtf? How can the RX330 NOT be a competitor for the MDX???

That's what I'm sayin'!

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
Wtf? How can the RX330 NOT be a competitor for the MDX???

Because it doesn't have a third row of seats thats why. Compare the RX to an X5 or Touareg. Compare the MDX to a Sequoia or GX. They are only competitors in price. People don't cross shop these two vehicles seriously.

A person who is looking at a Touareg as a first choice will not look at an MDX. A person who wants a Sequoia will not cross shop an RX.

One is for someone who wants something bigger than a car with AWD while another is for someone who wants the space of a minivan but more luxurious with AWD.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
Wtf? How can the RX330 NOT be a competitor for the MDX???

Because it doesn't have a third row of seats thats why. Compare the RX to an X5 or Touareg. Compare the MDX to a Sequoia or GX. They are only competitors in price. People don't cross shop these two vehicles seriously.

A person who is looking at a Touareg as a first choice will not look at an MDX. A person who wants a Sequoia will not cross shop an RX.

One is for someone who wants something bigger than a car with AWD while another is for someone who wants the space of a minivan but more luxurious with AWD.

A person who is buying a Sequoia DOES NOT cross shop an MDX. The MDX is a puny little car-based crossover compared to a Sequoia. Not even comparable passenger space or cargo wise. A person buying a Sequoia would cross shop an Expedition or Tahoe. The Sequoia/Expedition/Tahoe are also about 10 - 20 inches longer than an MDX (closer to 20 inches in the case of the Expedition and 15 inches longer for the Sequoia).

3rd row != competing with the big boys

If someone is SERIOUS about the 3rd row, they'd get something larger. If they use it on occasion, they stick with the little child-happy 3rd row seats in the Explorer and MDX.

Saying that just b/c the MDX has a 3rd row seat that it competes with the Sequoia is like saying that the Accord Coupe EX V6 6-speed competes with the Mustang Cobra b/c they both have two doors and a manual transmission

 

[Doggiedog]

Saying that just b/c the MDX has a 3rd row seat that it competes with the Sequoia is like saying that the Accord Coupe EX V6 6-speed competes with the Mustang Cobra b/c they both have two doors and a manual transmission

That is a real bad analogy. The Mustang Cobra goes for $40K while an Accord Coupe goes for $27K. By your rationale you are comparing an Escalade to an RX.

A Sequoia is directly comparable to an MDX. Look at the 7+ passenger SUVs on the market now. There is the Sequoia, Pilot and GX470, Explorer/Expedition/Excursion, Envoy SLT/Suburban/Tahoe/Escalade, Montero, Suzuki XL7, Landcruiser/LX470, MB ML, Land Rover Discovery, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer. Cut that down to $35-$45K and you get Explorer/Expedition, Envoy SLT/Tahoe, Montero, ML, LR Disco, Mountaineer, Sequoia, GX470. If you wanted a luxury SUV in that price range, you're stuck with the Envoy, Montero, ML, Disco, Mountaineer, Sequoia, GX470. Take the GX470 out of the equation because it is brand new. Out of 7 remaining, Envoy, Montero, ML, Disco, Mountaineer, Sequoia, MDX, I personally would rule out the Disco since I know people who have it and they have tons of problems with it, I would rule out the Mountaineer since I personally think it is ugly and not worth the money and I would rule out the Montero since it is Mitsubishi. For me it was down to 4 choices and after reading all the bad stuff on the ML, I nixed it.

I went with the MDX because I thought the Envoy XL was really ugly. The 5 passenger Envoy looked ok but the stretched one was hard on the eyes. I didn't go with the Sequoia because it had terrible mileage and I didn't need a super sophisticated 4WD system that I would never use.

When buying a car, you don't go into the inconsequential details of inches. You don't say damn this car is 6" longer than that other one so it's off the list. You go by your wants, preferences when it comes to looks and feel. If I needed a 5 passenger SUV then the world opens up because I can include 7 passenger SUVs if they fit the other criteria. But if I need a 7 passenger SUV, I am limited to 7 and above not below.

In hindsight, if I were to look at the 7 passenger SUV market today, I would probably go with a stripped down GX as the interior is so nice I'd forget about the bad mileage. But I got my car in August and it wasn't out yet and I couldn't wait as the rear seat in my GS was getting really cramped with 2 child seats and mom in law inside.

 

[NFS4]

That is a real bad analogy. The Mustang Cobra goes for $40K while an Accord Coupe goes for $27K. By your rationale you are comparing an Escalade to an RX.

Mustang Cobra: $33,000 (no options available)
Accord Coupe EX V6 6-speed: $32,000 (light options)

A Sequoia is directly comparable to an MDX. Look at the 7+ passenger SUVs on the market now. There is the Sequoia, Pilot and GX470, Explorer/Expedition/Excursion, Envoy SLT/Suburban/Tahoe/Escalade, Montero, Suzuki XL7, Landcruiser/LX470, MB ML, Land Rover Discovery, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer. Cut that down to $35-$45K and you get Explorer/Expedition, Envoy SLT/Tahoe, Montero, ML, LR Disco, Mountaineer, Sequoia, GX470. If you wanted a luxury SUV in that price range, you're stuck with the Envoy, Montero, ML, Disco, Mountaineer, Sequoia, GX470. Take the GX470 out of the equation because it is brand new. Out of 7 remaining, Envoy, Montero, ML, Disco, Mountaineer, Sequoia, MDX, I personally would rule out the Disco since I know people who have it and they have tons of problems with it, I would rule out the Mountaineer since I personally think it is ugly and not worth the money and I would rule out the Montero since it is Mitsubishi. For me it was down to 4 choices and after reading all the bad stuff on the ML, I nixed it.

There's a difference between sitting 7 passengers comfortably and sitting 7 passengers cramped. For $20,000, you could sit 5 people in a Jetta or 5 people in a Camry. There is no question about which 5 will be more comfortable. THAT is my point as far as vehicle price/size goes and comparing vehicles.

There are also other things to consider when cross shopping vehicles. A Sequoia compared to an MDX is going to take up much more garage space and it also is going to suck up a lot more gas. The MDX is a smooth riding luxo cruiser. The Sequoia has a more truckish ride an axle hop over bumps. By your methodology, I should cross shop a Camry XLE with a Ford Crown Vic b/c they seat 5 and are in the same price range...I don't think so

I understand what you are saying about needing a 7 passenger vehicle, but honestly I seriously doubt that people are buying MDX's b/c they seat 7 people. They are buying it b/c it's an Acura SUV. The third row option is just an added bonus.

 

[ElFenix]

how do you not cross shop the RX/MDX/Pilot/Highlander/Murano/that fugly buick thing/Outlander? they're all roughly the same thing, that is the station wagon reborn with a larger body.

 

[SuperTool]

The interior looks like it was designed by someone who couldn't decide what material to use.
We have black plastic dashboard, white leather and plastic seats and doors, wood trim pieces, aluminium stereo controls, and chrome gauge rings. All they are missing is a carbon fiber shiftknob, and they'll have all the bases covered. The designer needs to learn a little restraint IMO.
The exterior starts off descent, but falls apart after the C-pillar. It looks too much like a raised station wagon with big wheels (which is of course what it is, but still) Altezzas have got to go. It's over.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
The interior looks like it was designed by someone who couldn't decide what material to use.
We have black plastic dashboard, white leather and plastic seats and doors, wood trim pieces, aluminium stereo controls, and chrome gauge rings. All they are missing is a carbon fiber shiftknob, and they'll have all the bases covered. The designer needs to learn a little restraint IMO.
The exterior starts off descent, but falls apart after the C-pillar. It looks too much like a raised station wagon with big wheels (which is of course what it is, but still) Altezzas have got to go. It's over.

As to the interior...WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!?? Nearly every Lexus interior is two-toned (dark upper, light lower) with wood trim. The ONLY thing different on the RX330 is the silver colored center dash area and control knobs.

ES300 interior

That being said, the RX330 interior blows away any Nissan/Honda interior...even Doggiedog admits that

 

[Nemesis77]

Touareg > RX330

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: SuperTool
The interior looks like it was designed by someone who couldn't decide what material to use.
We have black plastic dashboard, white leather and plastic seats and doors, wood trim pieces, aluminium stereo controls, and chrome gauge rings. All they are missing is a carbon fiber shiftknob, and they'll have all the bases covered. The designer needs to learn a little restraint IMO.
The exterior starts off descent, but falls apart after the C-pillar. It looks too much like a raised station wagon with big wheels (which is of course what it is, but still) Altezzas have got to go. It's over.

As to the interior...WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!?? Nearly every Lexus interior is two-toned (dark upper, light lower) with wood trim. The ONLY thing different on the RX330 is the silver colored center dash area and control knobs.

ES300 interior

That being said, the RX330 interior blows away any Nissan/Honda interior...even Doggiedog admits that

normally i would agree with you but the RX330 interior is garish. I don't know why they didn't stick with two different materials instead of three. And finally while Lexus has extremly good quality of interior materials, their actual designs suck ass (to me anyway).

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

In hindsight, if I were to look at the 7 passenger SUV market today, I would probably go with a stripped down GX as the interior is so nice I'd forget about the bad mileage. But I got my car in August and it wasn't out yet and I couldn't wait as the rear seat in my GS was getting really cramped with 2 child seats and mom in law inside.

The GS has a small backseat? Really? I thought it was quite big!

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

In hindsight, if I were to look at the 7 passenger SUV market today, I would probably go with a stripped down GX as the interior is so nice I'd forget about the bad mileage. But I got my car in August and it wasn't out yet and I couldn't wait as the rear seat in my GS was getting really cramped with 2 child seats and mom in law inside.

The GS has a small backseat? Really? I thought it was quite big!

Not when you have 2 child seats in it. It really isn't all that big. The Maxima is a lot bigger than the GS believe it or not.

 

[Doggiedog]

NFS4, one other thing I forgot to mention about the MDX that is fantastic is the transmission computer.

It is the best I have ever used. The computer doesn't have sport mode or soft mode but it is the smartest one I have ever driven. It knows exactly when to upshift or downshift on hills or straightaways. When you need to floor it, it does so without hesitation and it is always in the right gear. It is almost like it is reading my mind. I have never had a wrong or hesitant shift from it. The GS in comparison had a decent transmission computer but it would still get confused or hesitate. When I drive the MDX, it feels like I am driving my manual car when it comes to shifting.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: SuperTool
The interior looks like it was designed by someone who couldn't decide what material to use.
We have black plastic dashboard, white leather and plastic seats and doors, wood trim pieces, aluminium stereo controls, and chrome gauge rings. All they are missing is a carbon fiber shiftknob, and they'll have all the bases covered. The designer needs to learn a little restraint IMO.
The exterior starts off descent, but falls apart after the C-pillar. It looks too much like a raised station wagon with big wheels (which is of course what it is, but still) Altezzas have got to go. It's over.

As to the interior...WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!?? Nearly every Lexus interior is two-toned (dark upper, light lower) with wood trim. The ONLY thing different on the RX330 is the silver colored center dash area and control knobs.

ES300 interior

That being said, the RX330 interior blows away any Nissan/Honda interior...even Doggiedog admits that

This is where you and I part company. I don't see where Lexus was going with that interior, it's either luxury or sports. Same thing with exterior, trying too hard to look sporty. They have the whole message confused and it shows. I guess they are trying to attract some male buyers while retaining their female clientelle, and it's not going to work.
I think the Nissan murano has a much better designed and cleaner
interior without going into materials overload. Pick Wood, Aluminium, or Carbon fiber and stick to it.
ES300 interior looks much better because they don't have that ugly silver thingy on top.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: SuperTool
The interior looks like it was designed by someone who couldn't decide what material to use.
We have black plastic dashboard, white leather and plastic seats and doors, wood trim pieces, aluminium stereo controls, and chrome gauge rings. All they are missing is a carbon fiber shiftknob, and they'll have all the bases covered. The designer needs to learn a little restraint IMO.
The exterior starts off descent, but falls apart after the C-pillar. It looks too much like a raised station wagon with big wheels (which is of course what it is, but still) Altezzas have got to go. It's over.

As to the interior...WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!?? Nearly every Lexus interior is two-toned (dark upper, light lower) with wood trim. The ONLY thing different on the RX330 is the silver colored center dash area and control knobs.

ES300 interior

That being said, the RX330 interior blows away any Nissan/Honda interior...even Doggiedog admits that

This is where you and I part company. I don't see where Lexus was going with that interior, it's either luxury or sports. Same thing with exterior, trying too hard to look sporty. They have the whole message confused and it shows. I guess they are trying to attract some male buyers while retaining their female clientelle, and it's not going to work.
I think the Nissan murano has a much better designed and cleaner
interior without going into materials overload. Pick Wood, Aluminium, or Carbon fiber and stick to it.
ES300 interior looks much better because they don't have that ugly silver thingy on top.

Dude, the Murano interior isn't any better. You've got a grey upper dash, a gawd awful orange/copper mid dash and a grey lower dash. Add to that orange steering wheel and doors. Then you've got aluminum accents on the dash and console and door along with black pull handles and window switches. Then silver plastic around the guages. Then you have the black console buttons.

Yeah, that's MUCH better

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: SuperTool
The interior looks like it was designed by someone who couldn't decide what material to use.
We have black plastic dashboard, white leather and plastic seats and doors, wood trim pieces, aluminium stereo controls, and chrome gauge rings. All they are missing is a carbon fiber shiftknob, and they'll have all the bases covered. The designer needs to learn a little restraint IMO.
The exterior starts off descent, but falls apart after the C-pillar. It looks too much like a raised station wagon with big wheels (which is of course what it is, but still) Altezzas have got to go. It's over.

As to the interior...WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!?? Nearly every Lexus interior is two-toned (dark upper, light lower) with wood trim. The ONLY thing different on the RX330 is the silver colored center dash area and control knobs.

ES300 interior

That being said, the RX330 interior blows away any Nissan/Honda interior...even Doggiedog admits that

This is where you and I part company. I don't see where Lexus was going with that interior, it's either luxury or sports. Same thing with exterior, trying too hard to look sporty. They have the whole message confused and it shows. I guess they are trying to attract some male buyers while retaining their female clientelle, and it's not going to work.
I think the Nissan murano has a much better designed and cleaner
interior without going into materials overload. Pick Wood, Aluminium, or Carbon fiber and stick to it.
ES300 interior looks much better because they don't have that ugly silver thingy on top.

Dude, the Murano interior isn't any better. You've got a grey upper dash, a gawd awful orange/copper mid dash and a grey lower dash. Add to that orange steering wheel and doors. Then you've got aluminum accents on the dash and console and door along with black pull handles and window switches. Then silver plastic around the guages. Then you have the black console buttons.

Yeah, that's MUCH better

OK, I'll agree with you on one thing. they should get rid of the grey upper dash and change to black. Overall though it looks very good and simple.
If lexus replaced all the wood with that aluminium trim, it would look very good. Or if they replaced the aluminium with wood on the top, it would look great. As it stands now, we have aluminium and wood. To me it's like oil and water. One is modern, the other is classic. One is luxury, the other is sport, but put them both together and you don't get sports-luxury, you get a confused design. Would you buy a table that is is aluminium legs with walnut top? I wouldn't I would rather have a table made entirely of wood (classic) or a table made of aluminium legs and maybe glass top (modern). It's not that different with cars wood and aluminium don't go well together.

 

[ElFenix]

the colors on the murano are ugly but it still looks better than the lexus. less to de-busify. just change the color from burnt orange to something that appeals to more than UT die-hards (like another shade of gray).