Used Lexus RX 2003 - 2009 review

Like the brand’s upmarket saloons, the Lexus RX is very refined: the engines are smooth and quiet, and wind and road noise are almost non-existent.

Comfort is a strong point, too, with an electrically adjustable driver's seat on all models, and decent space for five. However, the RX isn’t as big inside as a BMW X5 or Land Rover Discovery and, unlike those rivals, it isn’t available with seven seats.

On the road, the RX's emphasis is on comfort, especially in cars with air suspension. If you want a sporty drive, the X5 will do a much better job.

The earliest RXs (badged RX 300) were offered with a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, and while this is the least powerful option, it still responds well enough. It was replaced in 2006 by the more powerful, yet more economical RX 350.

Usually, the alternative to a petrol engine would be a diesel, but in the RX it's the RX 400h petrol-electric hybrid. This is more efficient – not to mention less polluting – than diesel rivals in town and can give fuel economy of well over 30mpg if driven gently, although a diesel will be cheaper to run if you do a lot of motorway miles.

You can pick up an early RX 300 for about £3000, and while these cars will have covered mega miles, this isn’t as big a concern as it would be with some other brands, given Lexus’s reputation for reliability.

The hybrid didn’t go on sale until 2005, and these cars start at about £5000. However, you’ll need to find closer to £11,000 for a low mileage example built towards the end of the RX’s production run.

While later RXs are quite expensive to buy, in terms of other running costs things don’t look so bad.

Of its prestige 4x4 rivals, only diesel versions of the Land Rover Discovery cost significantly less to insure, and routine servicing bills – even for the 400h hybrid – are on par with any other big SUV.

Fuel economy is respectable, too; even the petrol versions look frugal alongside comparable rivals. And while you'll find labour rates at dealers are quite high, repair bills are average.

The petrol versions might be cheaper, but the RX is at its best in hybrid form, switching almost imperceptibly between petrol and electric power to maximise efficiency.

Trim-wise, it's just a question of how much luxury you want, because even the basic car is anything but. However, it’s worth going for an SE-L if your budget will stretch to it because it has satellite-navigation and air suspension.

Our favourite used Lexus RX: 400h SE-L

If you’re looking for something more practical than the RX, the Land Rover Discovery is well worth considering. It’s roomy enough to let seven adults stretch out, plus it’s just as comfortable as the RX on road and a lot more capable off it. Instead, it’s the Discovery’s reliability record that might make you think twice.

Another seven-seat option is the Volvo XC90. Like the Discovery, it’s a practical 4x4 that can play the comfortable long-distance cruiser. And while its diesel engines and interior feel dated, there are lots of XC90s on the used market, some at very tempting prices.

The BMW X5 offers different qualities. It’s more enjoyable to drive, with precise steering and agile handling, while the interior is very classy. However, it isn’t as practical as the Discovery or XC90 because you couldn’t specify it with seven seats until the second-generation version arrived in 2006, and even then the third-row seats were both optional and tiny.

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