Toyota Kluger Vs Lexus RX330 / 350 Vs Lexus RX400H / 450H for an Used Car under $25K

vjoz on 27/07/2019 - 20:25
Last edited 28/07/2019 - 17:06

I'm looking to buy an used SUV/big car under $25K. I've an old Lexus GS300 (20 years old) I bought as an used car and like a bit of luxury and Toyota's reliability.

It'll be used as a family car for school / child care pick ups and from/to train station. Occasional long drives (once a month). Considering Kluger as it's a 7 seater - will be helpful when parents or in-laws are here from overseas - usually a couple of months.

Your thoughts on Kluger vs Lexus RX for this scenario and also RX350 vs Hybrid would be appreciated.

Thanks for your time & inputs.

Poll Options expired

  • 13
    Lexus RX450H
  • 5
    Lexus RX350
  • 1
    Lexus RX400H
Automotive Car Lexus

Comments

  • spackbace on 27/07/2019 - 21:21
    +10

    Ah the old 'buy a 7-seater in an attempt to carry 7 people' line… Don't, just don't. The 3rd row seats aren't anywhere you'd want to put people, and once you do have people then you have zero storage behind the seats for stuff.

    Just compare for the features and age vs price. Don't let the extra seats go into the equation.

    • vjoz on 27/07/2019 - 21:53

      very valid point, thanks @Spackbace.

    • [Deactivated] on 27/07/2019 - 23:27

      Also likely not rated for adult passenger weights.

    • Euphemistic on 28/07/2019 - 06:31

      There is nothing wrong with small seats for short trips around town. As long as you are aware of the lack of luggage space and less comfortable third row it’s ok. . Saves extra drivers and extra parking.

      We use ours a fair bit, but haven’t had anyone in the back for a long trip - usually too much luggage.

    • bobbified on 28/07/2019 - 21:26

      Ah the old 'buy a 7-seater in an attempt to carry 7 people' line… Don't, just don't.

      Unless they go for the… Tarago! haha.
      My mate's family had one during the later years of high school and we used to take it everywhere. It was so damn spacious inside and we preferred it over our regular sports cars.

      I don't seem to see many of them on the road nowadays. (Or it could be that I just don't notice).

      • spackbace on 28/07/2019 - 23:43

        Nah, everyone thought they had to go SUV over people mover.

        It's hilarious as a salesperson when you say to someone that a people mover suits their needs perfectly, and they're like "oh but I prefer the SUV". And it's always the scenario of parents in town for a month/year or something

        • Bad Company on 01/08/2019 - 14:50

          MPVs are much better IMO, in every way (provided actually going off road is not a requirement).

          They are just so much more refined, spacious, and comfortable.

          But……..buying a car is as much an emotional choice as a rational one, so……..

  • YoungQuan on 27/07/2019 - 23:27
    +1

    RX350 has more available power…test drove RX450h and RX350 when we were looking to upgrade our car. We had our previous 2nd gen RX350 for 10 years with no issues at all, fantastic car.

  • brendanm on 28/07/2019 - 07:34

    450h is a no brainer here surely. Don't even consider the 330/400 or old Kluger if you are also considering the newer ones.

  • raytriplej on 28/07/2019 - 07:52

    It the 3rd row has split fold you have the option of seating one person (kid) back there and some luggage beside them.

    Our Kluger (2008) was the last model without the split fold. :-(

  • whooah1979 on 28/07/2019 - 08:00

    Have a look at a Prado GXL/Grande. They come with plenty of power, seats, reliability and around $25k.

    • Presence on 28/07/2019 - 09:13

      They are a pain to drive around town though. Very boaty and slow. Unless you're going off road you're paying a lot of money for useless features

  • Colenso on 29/07/2019 - 00:22
    +1

    if it's not too down market for your tastes, then you might want to consider a low mileage 2012 RAV4 V6 3.5-litre.

    The 2012 model was the last year that Toyota made the V6 RAV4 globally. Toyota only made the RAV4 V6 available in Australia and in North America (the USA, Canada and Mexico).

    The RAV4 V6 3.5-litre normally aspirated 2GR-FE engine that Toyota put in the RAV4 V6 between 2005 and 2012 was the same engine that Toyota put in its larger and heavier sibling the Kluger between 2007 and 2016.

    Consequently, for a normally aspirated engine, the power to mass and torque to inertia ratio of the V6 RAV4 were amongst the best in class for a SUV in that price range.

    Power — 201kW @ 6200rpm
    Torque — 333Nm @ 4700rpm
    Power to mass ratio (W/kg) — 124.5
    Acceleration 0-100km/h (s) — 7.4

    At the time, Consumer Reports (the US version of Australia's Choice magazine) rated the V6 RAV4 the best SUV it had ever tested at that price point. According to CR, the V6 had a similar fuel economy to the four-cylinder RAV4.

    The RAV4 V6 is available in three trim options: CV6; SX6; ZR6. I bought my wife a low mileage 2012 CV6; I bought my daughter a low mileage 2012 SX6. The 2012 CV6 is much more luxurious than the standard four-cylinder RAV4 of the same vintage, and the SX6 is a step up again. To me, the ZR6 seems very luxurious, but then I'm a man of simple tastes.

  • spackbace on 29/07/2019 - 00:29
    +1

    Why buy a 7yo car for the sake of a V6 engine? Old safety tech, old feature list just to go a bit quicker, all while drinking more fuel?

    • whooah1979 on 29/07/2019 - 05:44

      It could be the shape.

      • smartazz104 on 31/07/2019 - 07:59
        +1

        None of those have a particularly appealing shape.

  • andyman1908 on 30/07/2019 - 23:11

    I had the same decision to make about 9 months ago. Ended up with an rx450h. To be honest it's pretty slow and not much of a driving experience (duh) compared to the is350 I had prior but excellent fuel efficient (between 8-9l/100km) considering my is350 was doing 14-15l/100km and was a much lighter/smaller car.

  • Bad Company on 01/08/2019 - 09:53

    I'd be getting a RX350 if I were you. Sure the 450h is more refined when stopped because the engine stops running, and the fact that you use less fuel means less visits to the fuel station, I can't help but worry about reliability of the hybrid system.

    They are reliable cars, but even reliable cars fail. I'd hate to think about the cost to fix the hybrid system. Better to stick to the simpler RX350 IMO.

    • spackbace on 01/08/2019 - 14:16

      I've seen Prius's hit 780,000kms. All the taxis and ubers are choosing hybrid now. Don't hate on it just coz it's 'new', the tech is reliable

      • Bad Company on 01/08/2019 - 14:23

        I don't hate it, and I don't ignore 500k km + hybrid taxis, but I'd like to remind you that picking the extreme ones aren't representative of the overall picture.

        • spackbace on 01/08/2019 - 14:25

          Find me reports of the hybrid engine dying, by any significant portion of the sales, and I'll agree with your advice. To have a blanket statement along the lines of "oh no avoid the new things, new things must be bad and will die!" is kinda ridiculous.

          • Bad Company on 01/08/2019 - 14:32

            @spackbace: New? Toyota started making the Prius since the late 90s. How's the "new"? Where did I say it's "new"?

            Anyway like I said, your blanket "780,000 km Prius" is not representative of the overall picture. Neither is my "hybrid system broken after 100,000 km" example if I choose to find one.

            • spackbace on 01/08/2019 - 14:37

              @Bad Company: So why avoid hybrid? What basis are you forming that on as a judgement call on hybrid?

              • Bad Company on 01/08/2019 - 14:45

                @spackbace: I thought I already explained it? They are reliable vehicles, no doubt, but reliable vehicles fail too. If, god forbid, OP's RX450h experiences hybrid drivetrain issues, the cost of fixing can be easily in the range of thousands of dollars.

                Even though the chance of failure is small, the consequence is huge. If I were the OP I'd simply avoid this possibility, no matter how small.

                Here's an example of a hybrid taxi failing after 230k km. It is by no means representative, but neither is your 780k km Prius.

                https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/q-and-a/lifespan-of-…

  • DanAndrews on 16/09/2019 - 19:24

    I bought a 2010 Rx450h after having a 2007 RAV4. A huge upgrade, the cabin silence is stunning specially at traffic light stops as the engine stops running. Nice interior.

    I am getting 7l/100 km in summers and 8l/100km in winters. Asked Lexus service centre about battery replacement costs just in case (nothing wrong with mine), they said $4K in total of owner pays but sometimes Lexus replaces at their cost. He said he hasn't seen any battery replacement due to failure in many years. A few people did replace however pre-emptively.

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