2000 Lexus RX 300 Review
Price Estimate: $4,000





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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Well-appointed interior, perfect road manners, unique styling.
Cons
- Allergic to major off-highway work, no V8 available.
What’s new
The RX 300 remains mechanically unchanged. A Mineral Green Opalescent paint replaces Desert Bronze Metallic on the order sheet.
Edmunds says
Looks like an SUV (sort of). Drives like a car. That's why this is Lexus' best-selling vehicle.
For sale nearby
31 listings
- $4,000fair price$218 below market
- 209,267 miles
- 1 accident, 3 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 16 City / 21 Hwy MPG
- Sinner Auto (50 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
Close
Located in Waubay, SD
Nice Local Consignment! Check out this nice 2000 Lexus RX 300! Loaded up, all wheel drive, good tires, runs great, priced right! The front windshield ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/21 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JT6HF10UXY0151084
Stock: 151084
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 01-18-2025 - $6,800fair price$461 above market
- 116,933 miles
- 2 accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 16 City / 21 Hwy MPG
- Private Collection Chicago (550 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
Close
Located in Naperville, IL
Timing belt was done at 81k miles! Water pump and all drive belts have been done as well. This car has extensive dealer Lexus service performed just l...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/21 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JT6HF10U7Y0104790
Stock: 2000RX300
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 06-27-2025
Vehicle overview
Lexus, like many manufacturers these days, has jumped on the sedan/sport-utility hybrid bandwagon with the RX 300. Touted as a "new breed of SUV," the RX 300 is supposed to offer the style, versatility, and poor-weather traction of an all-wheel-drive SUV without negatively affecting ride, fuel economy, or ease of entry/exit.
Rather than a conventional body-on-frame design, the RX 300 is built on a unibody platform. It is a mid-sized SUV, with dimensions similar to those of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Powering the RX 300 is a 3.0-liter V6 producing 220 horsepower and 222 foot-pounds of torque. A continuously variable valve timing (VVT-i) system allows the Lexus engine to generate more low-end torque for more pulling power and standing-start response. Eighty percent of peak torque is available as low as 1,600 rpm.
Now in its second year of production, the RX 300 can be had in front-wheel drive, which improves both performance and gas mileage. To add to the front-wheel-drive model's capability in less than perfect weather, electronic traction control is optional. Full-time four-wheel drive is also available with a viscous center coupling that directs torque to the wheels with the most traction whenever slippage occurs.
The RX 300 tackles urban pavement quite well. Body roll isn't excessive and the brakes are strong. City driving is made easy thanks to a smooth four-speed automatic transmission. The RX 300 gets a bit chicken when it comes to the serious stuff, however. It lacks a low-range transfer case, and maximum towing capacity is 3,500 pounds, which is 3,000 pounds less than a 4x4 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8's maximum towing capacity.
Sitting inside the RX 300 is like sitting in a sedan with excellent road visibility. It's spacious and comfortable in the front seats or the rear bench. The optional leather package includes leather trim on the seating surfaces and headrests, and the surfaces actually feel like leather instead of vinyl. The seats, both front and back, offer plenty of thigh support for a variety of leg sizes. Dashboard material and instruments feel substantial, though the center-console display screen can wash out in sunlight.
With its long list of luxury and safety features (side airbags are standard in the RX 300) Lexus is able to offer a lot of car (in the guise of a truck) for not a lot of money. While we wouldn't recommend the RX to anyone with serious off-road aspirations, it fulfills its intended mission of giving semi-affluent buyers an SUV that won't offend the other country club members.
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$218/mo for RX 300 Base
RX 300 Base
vs
$181/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Lexus RX 300 Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
drove it for 17 years before it died!
5 out of 5 starsStan, 08/24/2015
2000 Lexus RX 300 4dr SUV
Bought it new in May '99. Since then have put 213,000 miles on it. Have had a few repairs along the way. At 66K miles, I replaced the battery, otherwise the first major service (besides routine) was at 72K miles; a check engine light required a $170 meter. Had all the struts replaced at 96K miles. I switched to synthetic oil at 97K miles. At 100K, the engine dying while trying to … start required a $270 IAC valve and a $265 something called "Assy, Idle Spe." At 123K, needed new rear brakes. At 135K miles, spent $900, because it needed a new timing belt, all (3) engine drive belts, water pump and 3 light bulb (some of the bulbs can be replaced by anyone and a few are hard to access). At 141K, had to replace the air fuel sensor replace battery at that time also). At 147K, a passenger side CV joint was noted to be damaged. At 166K, the right front door lock actuator was replaced. At 180K, another 90K service was done and in addition an exhaust system gasket leak was repaired, a transmission pan gasket was leaking and replaced, and the power steering rack & pinion unit was leaking and was replaced (I spent over $2,000 dollars that day). Again at 200K, a front right inner CV boot and the transmission pan gasket were leaking (these were fixed, both front CV boots were replaced). Replaced the air-fuel sensor again at 201K miles. The high beams became inoperative requiring a surprising amount of diagnostic work-up; in the end it was just a bulb that was out. At some point, the radio antenna gear strip broke (antenna would not lower), but I found out how to repair that myself from the internet and it only cost about $25. Finally, about a week ago I ended up paying for a $1400 repair because the ignition switch locked up (requiring a ride back to civilization aboard a flat-bed wrecker).
I would say the majority of my service is just tire rotations and oil changes. Every once and a while a sensor goes out (especially the air-fuel sensor), A few gasket and CV leaks (but despite ruptured CV covers, the CV joints were fine). If you were to see the vehicle, it appears new inside and out.
I still like it. For a sports utility vehicle, it is very quiet, smooth, handles well, has lots of storage and more than enough power.
At over 250k miles, the transmission failed and I donated the vehicle.
185,000 Miles with ZERO Problems
5 out of 5 starsethanh18, 12/04/2013
2000 Lexus RX 300 4dr SUV AWD
My lexus has over 185,000 miles on it and
is still running great! We have had no major repairs besides maintenance, I would highly recommend this car
The good, bad and ugly
3.75 out of 5 starskolocar, 07/28/2014
2000 Lexus RX 300 4dr SUV AWD
2000 AWD, purchased used in 2011 w 110K.
The good-smooth drivetrain, ride, reasonably comfortable seats.
Only replaced 1 O2 sensor in first 40K miles.
The bad-$$$ to fix: $1200 for timing belt/H2O pump.
At 152K, knock sensor and sub harness, air fuel ratio sensor, valve cover gaskets: $2100.
At 156K, front 2 catalysts: $900. The ugly: TERRIBLE MPG: Avg 16-17 around town, rarely more than … 20 all highway.
The big culprit seems to be the gearing - very short geared - about 2900 RPM at 70MPH.
Extra weight for AWD does not help, nor do the side mirrors, the size of small flat screen TVs.
No compass. Radio and HVAC controls look the same.
Too expensive to own-would not buy another.
Love the car, hate the transmission!!!
4 out of 5 starsHeather, 08/08/2015
2000 Lexus RX 300 4dr SUV
I purchased this car with 130,000 mi. on it. The car still drives like a new car, minor wear on front leather driver seat & basically still looks new. I was aware of the transmission troubles with this model, but hoped it wouldn't happen to me, but it did! At around 160,000 mi., it went. I had a transmission put in & I am now at 180,000 mi. I drive around 100 miles daily, so it is a … work horse for sure! I will be satisfied if it will take me to 300,000 with no major issues. I will then feel that I got my money's worth!
2000 RX 300 Highlights
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 19 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $207/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 30.4 cu.ft. |
front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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