Ride quality and on-road handling are among the RX 300's best features. Underway, the RX 300 is smooth and whisper quiet. It's stable in high-speed sweeping turns, but also seems at home on winding mountain roads, dispatching them almost as deftly as a sedan. There's none of the wallowing, or compromised turn-in stability suffered by truck-based SUVs. Vehicle Skid Control, which detects when either the front or rear wheels lose traction and reduces power or selectively applies brakes to correct the skid, adds a measurable improvement to the RX 300's driving abilities.
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 its 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. In this situation, the RX 300 performs precisely and predictably.
The available four-wheel-drive system operates full time and requires no action from the driver. 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. Lexus developed a four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with an integrated transfer case to work with the system. 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 worth considering for those who live in the Sunbelt, because it handles beat-up city streets and potholes better than many sedans. Being lighter, it is a bit quicker than the four-wheel-drive model, and electronic traction control is available to help with slippery surfaces. Still, it seems a shame to pass on the RX 300's four-wheel-drive system because it increases stability in the rain and improves driver control in emergency maneuvers, even on dry, sunny days.
Ride quality on paved roads is silky and controlled. 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. Our test vehicle had Bridgestone Dueler H/T tires, which 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, although some RX 300's are delivered with analogous Goodyears. Slightly more aggressive tires would reduce braking distances and provide a better cornering grip on dirt or gravel roads; that's something to be considered by anyone who frequently drives on unpaved roads.
The V6 engine is silky smooth and offers excellent around-town and highway performance. It accelerates the RX 300 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. It's a sophisticated unit with four cams, 24 valves, continuously variable valve timing, a three-stage variable intake system and a two-way bypass exhaust system. EPA rates 2WD models at 19/23 mpg, 4WD models at 18/22; Lexus recommends 92-octane (premium) fuel for optimal performance, but you can use 87-octane safely.
Braking is smooth and consistent, though we found the pedal a bit soft. Antilock brakes enhance control by allowing the driver to brake and steer away from hazards without losing control. Come around a corner, panic, slam on the brakes, and the RX 300 steers and stops without unwanted drama. Lexus added a Brake Assist feature in 2001, which determines when the driver is attempting emergency braking and supplements the applied braking power until the ABS engages.
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