If you are referring to the original RX300, that's generally correct, although part of it, of course, depends on what one defines as a "luxury" crossover. The original Jeep Grand Cherokee, which had a unibody chassis (which is part of what defines a crossover) dates back to the early 1990s, several years before the first RX.

 

AFAIC, Lexus is yet to enter the luxury cross over market.

 

 

You don't consider the RX a luxury vehicle? I agree that the huge spindle-grille and floating-roofline effect seriously detract from its looks. But drive one, and I think you will find it quite worthy of the luxury-crosssover class, especially the non-F-Sport versions with the softer-riding suspension and tires.

 

Anything built on top of the disposable Camry platform is not a true luxury car.

 

Why's that? Audi builds cars based on VW platforms, and BMW builds X1 which is based on a Mini platform. Are they not true luxury cars either?

Not to get off topic or anything. Just curious.

I mean having driven an RX, it is at least doing a reasonably good imitation of a luxury vehicle.

 

You've nailed it.

 

Actually I think the RX is a luxury vehicle; I guess the eye roll was too subtle.

 

 

I had a ES 350 FWD and traded it in before the first oil change (terrible car)

I then upgraded to a GS 350 AWD and kept that for almost a year and I did not really like driving it so I traded it in for aLS 460 L AWD

I did not lose that much on trade in compared to the 2 Mercedes I had as the Benz is a real death trap in the snow and a money pit to maintain

After seeing the hideous grill on the LS newer models I decided to keep thew LS 2011 and buy a BMW 750 IL Xdrive

Now I can see why so many Lexus owners keep their cars for decades

Although the BMW is fun to drive and terrific 0-60 time for a large car the electronics are overwhelming at first and dependability is questionable at best

Shame Lexus had a great design and then changed it for the worse or I would have traded mine in when it hit 30,000 miles

 

If you think the IS is a Luxury car you would love Subaru Legacy

 

Having had a ES 350 FWD and the GS 350 AWD

The only car that I would consider a true luxury car is the LS it sure is a lot more comfortable then the new BMW 750 IL Xdrive The BMW was several thousand more then the LS and it is not worth it ,. So I ended up keeping both

 

The ONLY luxury cars are either my LS 460 L AWD or my 750 IL X drive all the rest are just as road worthy as a Subaru Legacy and the Subaru is a heck of a lot more dependable then the Mercedes or the BMW

If German luxury cars are the ultimate driving machines then why did I take over a $10,000 hit as soon as I left the parking lot ?

 

Having had the ES, GS and the LS I would say they're all "luxury cars" what differs is the cost of entry, and what comes with the price of entry is the quality of the product....like anything else. Of course my (and your) LS460L is a better car than an ES350...they cost twice as much.

 

Man you all are a bunch of snobs saying the RX isn't a "real" luxury car because it shares its chassis with a Toyota Camry. Go look at a Mercedes E-class, they are sold as taxi's in Germany, same car, vinyl interior(hell that still might be standard in US spec cars), sub 150hp diesel engine, older ones had manual gearboxes. Even going back before the E-class to the late 70's/early 80's W123 sedan, the infamous "240D" diesel Benz. Those were taxi's in Germany, they sold the same damn car with the same damn engine here in America for a huge markup because we are so status obessed and they could get away with it. Same thing with Cadillac and Lincoln(well post suicide door days) back in the 60's/70's, granted they had unique engines, but the frame/suspension design was the same on an Impala as a Deville, same on a Thunderbird as Mark V.