- suv 187,844
- Bend, OR
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- autoshopper.com
2000 lexus rx 300 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. An on-road luxury sport-utility vehicle. introductionsince few people venture off road in sport-utility vehicles, it makes sense to design them primarily for highway use. The lexus rx 300 is such a vehicle, a hybrid luxury car/sport-utility vehicle. A low floor height makes sliding in and out easy, yet there's plenty of ground clearance for light off-highway driving. Front and side airbags are standard along with shoulder belts with pretensioners and force limiters. The lack of a three-point shoulder belt in the rear seat center position is a disappointing omission for a vehicle costing more than $33,000, however. walkaroundthe unique styling of the rx 300 seems most at home in upscale urban settings. Individual round headlamp reflectors are housed under aerodynamic clear covers, while projector-beam foglamps add to the sports appeal. Taillamp lenses designed along a similar theme complement the headlamps. Rx 300 is as aerodynamic as it looks with a low 0. 36 coefficient of drag, which helps reduce wind noise. in size, the rx 300 is slightly longer and wider than a jeep grand cherokee. Like a car, it employs a unitbody chassis instead of the inherently heavier body-on-frame design used on most trucks and sport-utilities. I think the u-shaped piece of wood trim capped by a pair of vents on the center console looks odd, but my colleagues have disagreed, saying it complements the rx 300's interior and exterior design. regardless, everything works magnificently. All the switchgear operates flawlessly and all controls are positioned exactly as one would expect. This design frees some floor space between the front seats for small packages, purses or a brace of big macs. It also makes it easier to slide over to the other seat. rear seats slide forward and aft to create legroom or increase cargo space. Underway, the rx 300 is smooth and whisper quiet, though the little sunroof spoiler generates quite a bit of wind noise when the sunroof is open. Stable in high-speed sweeping turns, the rx 300 also seems at home on winding mountain roads, dispatching them as deftly as a sedan. There's none of the wallowing and turn-in stability compromises found on truck-based suvs. with 7. 7 inches of ground clearance, the rx 300 easily forded a roadside ditch and berm. But its crisp, predictable handling on loose surfaces is what we liked best. The rx 300 can be driven quite quickly over gravel and dirt roads. Bumps do not upset the handling balance when driving hard through loose corners. Pushed beyond its limit, the front tires wash out predictably and the rear end never, ever steps out. All of this instills confidence while driving on loose surfaces. It's also a benefit when quickly rounding a slippery corner that tightens up, only to have a deer dart out onto the road. It splits engine torque equally between the front and rear wheels on the highway. When things get slippery a viscous limited-slip center differential directs torque to the wheels with the most traction. An optional limited-slip rear differential aids traction further and enhances control. No low-range gear set is available, however. This is not really an off-road vehicle; it's an off-highway vehicle. the front-drive model is well worth considering for those who live in the sunbelt because it handles beat up city streets and potholes better than many sedans. Big bumps on unpaved roads are well damped. Rx 300 does not ride quite as well on rough roads as the larger, more expensive, more off-road-oriented lexus lx 470. Washboard surfaces generated some vibration. steering is precise and direct, allowing smooth cornering lines and stable high-speed cruising. Bridgestone dueler h/t tires are quiet on the highway and provide good grip on and off road. Stiff, light-truck sidewalls give them good protection for light off-pavement use. Overall, they are a good choice. It accelerates briskly from a standstill. Passing performance at higher speeds is not its strongest suit, however, and it bogs a bit when upshifting from second to third gear. The 3. 0-liter, all-aluminum v6 delivers 220 horsepower and 222 foot-pounds of torque. Epa rates 2wd models at 19/24 mpg, 4wd models at 18/22; lexus recommends 92-octane fuel. braking is smooth and consistent, though we found the pedal a bit soft. Antilock brakes enhance control by. summarythe lexus rx 300 handles well and rides nicely. Exceptional traction on slippery surfaces makes it a good luxury car for people who frequently drive on snow-covered or unpaved roads. Rx 300 provides almost as much cargo space as a jeep grand cherokee, but boasts vastly superior ride and handling. Inside it looks, feels and drives like a luxury sports sedan. the rx 300 is not a great off-road vehicle, however, nor is it the brawniest in towing capability. But most people don't drive off road anyway. For that reason, the rx 300 heralds one of the directions suvs are headed. model lineup2wd 33,005); 4wd 34,605). assembled inkyusho, japan. options as testedleather trim package 1,280). model tested4wd 34,605). Anti-lock Brakes✔ Sunroof/Moonroof
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