Which year is the Lexus RX 300?
The Lexus RX 300 was offered in the United States from model year 1999 through 2003; after 2003, Lexus shifted the lineup to the RX 330 and the naming evolved from there.
The RX 300 represents Lexus’s first-generation mid-size SUV, built on a Toyota Harrier-derived platform. It bridged Lexus’s luxury ambitions with a practical, car-based SUV package and laid the groundwork for subsequent RX models, which expanded in power and refinements before becoming the RX 350 in later years.
Model-year timeline
Here is a concise timeline of the RX 300 and how the name evolved in the following years.
- 1999 model year — RX 300 debuts in the U.S. with a 3.0-liter V6 engine and available all-wheel drive in several trims.
- 2000 model year — RX 300 continues with minor equipment and option updates.
- 2001 model year — Continued RX 300 production with incremental interior and feature changes.
- 2002 model year — Minor refinements and ongoing availability of RX 300.
- 2003 model year — Final year of the RX 300 in the United States; engine remains the 3.0L V6.
After 2003, Lexus shifted the naming to RX 330, signaling a larger engine and updated styling.
Nomenclature and subsequent models
The RX 300 was succeeded by the RX 330 for model years 2004 through 2006, featuring a 3.3-liter engine and refreshed styling. Beginning with the 2007 model year, the line moved to the RX 350, adopting a 3.5-liter V6 and further enhancements. This naming progression reflects Lexus’s ongoing updates to the RX family while preserving the model family’s identity.
In summary, RX 300 (1999–2003) paved the way for subsequent generations, which carried the RX 330 name (2004–2006) and then the RX 350 (2007 onward).
Summary
The RX 300 designation applies to model years 1999 through 2003 in the U.S. market. From 2004 onward, Lexus renamed the line RX 330 and later RX 350 as the generation evolved and engine options expanded.
