CD07 RX330 LAYOUT 9/25/03 2:31 PM Page 4

will be. This is a car of subtleties. It takes

awhile to notice that the interior doesn’t
glare on bright days. Shapes and textures
absorb light rather than bouncing it into
your eyes. And all the mirrors are self-
dimming.
The HID headlights are subtle, too, in
that they don’t turn the world some
unusual color. But the pattern is excep-
tionally uniform, and the light is truly
excellent for depth perception. Both test
cars had HID beams: One had the fixed-
in-place kind; the other had the steerables
(includes a switch on the dash so you can
see what you’d be missing if you cheaped
out). We think this: The basic HID
package throws a superb pattern to the

2004 LEXUS RX330

Vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, Ground clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.5–8.3 in
5-door wagon Curb weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4249 lb
Weight distribution, F/R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56.9/43.1%
Price as tested: $43,313 Fuel capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19.2 gal
Oil capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.8 qt
Price and option breakdown: base Lexus RX330 Water capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.7 qt
(includes $575 freight), $35,600; Performance package
(includes sunroof, air suspension, power liftgate, high-intensity- CHASSIS/BODY
discharge headlights, and 18-inch wheels and tires), $5455; 4- Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .unit construction
wheel drive, $1400; heated front seats, $540; Towing package, Body material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .welded steel stampings
$160; cargo mat, $92; wheel locks, $66
INTERIOR
Major standard accessories: power steering, SAE volume, front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 cu ft
windows, seats, and locks; A/C; cruise control; tilting steering rear seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 cu ft
wheel; rear defroster and wiper cargo volume, seats up/folded . . . . . .38/85 cu ft
Practical cargo room, length of pipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131.0 in

C / D TEST RESULTS Sound system: Lexus AM/FM-stereo radio/cassette/

CD changer, 6 speakers
ACCELERATION Seconds
ENGINE
Zero to 30 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.4
Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .V-6, aluminum block and heads
40 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.0
Bore x stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.62 x 3.27 in, 92.0 x 83.0mm
50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.7
Displacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202 cu in, 3311cc
60 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.8
Compression ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.8:1
70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.6
Engine-control system . . . . . . . . .Toyota with port fuel injection
80 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.7
Emissions controls . . . . . . .3-way catalytic converter, feedback
90 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17.9
air-fuel-ratio control
100 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24.6
Valve gear . . . . . .belt- and gear-driven double overhead cams,
Street start, 5–60 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.2
4 valves per cylinder, variable
Top-gear acceleration, 30–50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.2
intake-valve timing
50–70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.1
Power (SAE net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .230 bhp @ 5600 rpm
Standing 1/4 -mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16.2 sec @ 86 mph Torque (SAE net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .242 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm
Top speed (governor limited) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 mph Redline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5900 rpm
BRAKING DRIVETRAIN
70–0 mph @ impending lockup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176 ft Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-speed automatic with lockup
Fade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .none light moderate heavy torque converter
Final-drive ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.48:1, electronic limited slip
HANDLING Gear Ratio Mph/1000 rpm Max. test speed
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.75 g I 4.24 5.5 32 mph (5900 rpm)
Understeer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .minimal moderate excessive II 2.36 9.8 58 mph (5900 rpm)
III 1.52 15.2 90 mph (5900 rpm)
FUEL ECONOMY IV 1.05 22.1 110 mph (5000 rpm)
EPA city driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 mpg V 0.76 30.6 110 mph (3600 rpm)
EPA highway driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 mpg
C/D-observed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 mpg DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Wheelbase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106.9 in
INTERIOR SOUND LEVEL Track, F/R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62.0/61.2 in
Idle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 dBA Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186.2 in
Full-throttle acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 dBA Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72.6 in
70-mph cruising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 dBA Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66.1 in
Frontal area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28.3 sq ft
largest sheet of plywood . . . . . . . . .75.0 x 39.0 in
no. of 10 x 10 x 16-in boxes,
seats up/folded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14/31
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bucket
Seat adjustments . . .fore and aft, seatback angle, front height,
rear height, lumbar support
Restraint systems, front . . . . . .manual 3-point belts; driver and
passenger front, side, curtain, and
driver’s-knee airbags
rear . . . . . . . .manual 3-point belts, outboard
curtain airbags
General comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .poor fair good excellent
Fore-and-aft support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .poor fair good excellent
Lateral support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .poor fair good excellent
SUSPENSION
F: . . . . . . . . . . . . .ind, strut located by a control arm, air springs,
anti-roll bar
R: . . . . . . .ind, strut located by 1 trailing link and 2 lateral links
per side, air springs, anti-roll bar
STEERING
Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rack-and-pinion, power-assisted
Turns lock-to-lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.0
Turning circle curb-to-curb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37.4 ft
BRAKES
F: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12.6 x 1.1-in vented disc
R: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.3 x 0.4-in disc
Power assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vacuum with anti-lock control
WHEELS AND TIRES
Wheel size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.0 x 18 in
Wheel type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cast aluminum
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Goodyear Eagle RS-A, P235/55VR-18
Test inflation pressures, F/R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30/30 psi

0—60 mph
CURRENT BASE PRICE* dollars x 1000 ACCELERATION seconds 1/4- mile BRAKING 70—0 mph, feet ROADHOLDING 300-foot skidpad, g EPA CITY FUEL ECONOMY mpg
GMC ENVOY SLT ACURA MDX BMW X5 3.0i BMW X5 3.0i LEXUS RX330

ACURA MDX LEXUS RX330 LEXUS RX330 LEXUS RX330 ACURA MDX

LEXUS RX330 (2004) BMW X5 3.0i GMC ENVOY SLT ACURA MDX BMW X5 3.0i

BMW X5 3.0i GMC ENVOY SLT ACURA MDX GMC ENVOY SLT GMC ENVOY SLT

0 9 18 27 36 45 0 4 8 12 16 20 160 170 180 190 200 210 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00 0 4 8 12 16 20
*Base price includes freight, any performance options, and applicable gas-guzzler taxes.

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