2006 Lexus RX 330 Model Update

Smooth Operator

Lexus' formula for style, comfort and competence continues to dazzle in the RX 330.

The Lexus RX 330 is a handsome, luxurious and versatile SUV with a taut but compliant car-like ride.

It remains virtually unchanged for 2006, save for the addition of a two-way power lumbar support for the front passenger seat, new LED illumination for the glovebox and center console storage, and minor shuffling of options packages.

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Bigger news is the introduction of a gas/electric hybrid version, the RX 400h, in the spring of 2005 as an early 2006 model.

Lexus’ RX line is in its second generation, having debuted in the spring of 1998 as the 1999 RX 300. It was the first luxury crossover – a sport utility vehicle built like a car instead of a truck for better handling on the road – to be sold in the U.S. and quickly became not only the best-seller in Lexus’ lineup but also the most popular luxury SUV on the market at the time.

The RX was completely overhauled for the 2004 model year and renamed the RX 330 by virtue of its larger 3.3-liter V6 engine that produces 223 horsepower. With sleeker styling and added features, it became the first Lexus to be built in North America and shares platforms and many components with the more conservative-looking and less-opulent Toyota Highlander.

Because it’s based on a car platform, rather than a truck chassis, it offers a smoother ride and crisper handling than any truck-based SUV, while also having a lower step-in height. The RX 330 isn’t capable of tackling rough terrain, but when equipped with optional all-wheel drive, it can traverse moderate trails and handle slippery roads in stride.

The V6 engine is smooth and responsive. A slick shifting five-speed automatic transmission is standard; a sequential-shift gearbox that allows manual shifting is optional. The available all-wheel drive system can distribute power evenly between the front and rear wheels to maintain traction.

Stability control is standard. Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes feature brake assist, which automatically applies full power if the system detects the driver is panic braking. An optional air-suspension system offers four selectable ride heights for a tauter ride or added ground clearance.

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The wood- and leather-trimmed interior is comfortable and well equipped. Ventilation, stereo and other controls are intuitive. Front-side, side-curtain, and driver’s-side knee-height airbags are standard, as is a power-operated rear lift-gate. Convenient and ingenious storage bins are sprinkled throughout the cabin.

The RX 330 seats five, with the rear seat-back able to easily fold forward in two sections to expand cargo capacity. A third-row seat is not available.

Several high-tech features are on the options list: adaptive headlights that illuminate the road around turns; a back-up camera that displays the rear view to aid parking maneuvers; and an adaptive cruise-control system that can automatically maintain a preset distance between the vehicle ahead.