I test drove an 04 rx330 on the dealer's route and bought it because I had researched the car and decided it had the specs I wanted. When I drove it home on hills near Hillsborough, NC, I realized I had made a hugh mistake. The car engine roared and the transmission downshifted a gear or two at 45mph. I traded the car the next week for a Subaru Tribeca 2008, which has plenty of power. I drove the Subaru home, avoiding my first mistake. Now I understand why I see few RX's in the North Carolina mountains. No power.

 

Trading a car in after a week, now thats a good idea

 

3.5l more power than 3.3

 

The RX330 is good for anything a car is good for highway travel and city not for any serious off roading. The engine is good for that sort of stuff. It is however underpowered for hills and etc now if you had a GX or LX you would have any problems

 

That’s funny, I live in Washington state where we have plenty of mountains, not hills. I regularly drive our RX over the mountain passes at 3k to 4k plus feet and have yet to find it lacking in power. I even got busted for speeding up Stevens Pass, on the steepest part, clocked me at 15 over in a 60 zone. We’ve cruised our RX at close to triple digits in central Nevada at altitudes of close to 7k feet and higher. I certainly have no complaints.

 

while it would be nice to have more power from the 330, living in San Francisco where we are famous with hills, ive never had a problem.

whats wrong with downshifting at 45mph? thats what a transmission is supposed to do

 

I was going to say the same thing, the tranny is suppose to downshift so if it doesn't at 45 on a hill I would trade that Subrau tomorrow.

 

tribeca has 20% more power, less mpg, less luxury, a lot less resale. Whatever floats your boat.

 

Never had any trouble with my old 300 3.0 or the new 350 3.5. Runs from the SF bay area to Reno or Tahoe were never a problem I am always the one passing the slower under powered cars and trucks.
Jeff

 

We had an 05 330 and traded up to an 07 350 when they came out. Wanted the Nav system (didn't get it on the 05 originally), the back-up camera and the extra power. I always felt the 330 was just a tad under powered for my liking. Not unsafe, but I remember wishing I had a bit more oomph getting onto highways from on-ramps.

Otherwise it was great for me. Maybe there was something wrong with that specific vehicle? Did you try any others to see if it was an anomoly?

Jay

 

I drive an 05 330 and live in western PA with lots of hills, mountains, and steep grades. No issues with power. Of course, I wasn't buying a Porsche Boxster or Corvette. It does the job quite nicely and without any complaints.

 

I own two 2004 RX's, have driven up and down the east coast, including mountains. NO ISSUES WITH POWER, no complaints with the transmission shift points. I love my cars, will probably get a couple of 09's as I don't appreciate the changes to the 2010 interior.

 

You should have gotten the bigger 3.5L engine. 270hp. I think the 3.3L has 230 but I'm not sure on that. My grandma has an 06 Highlander with the 3.3L in it and it never feels under powered. And I have driven that all through California, to Texas, Arizona... Never felt under powered...